Key Takeaways
- Top 5 states with the highest annual average salary for behavioral therapists, ABA, and BCBA/BCaBA:
- Washington
- New York
- Massachusetts
- Alaska
- Vermont
- Factors affecting salary range:
- Education level
- BACB certification level
- Experience and fieldwork hours
- Type of employer
- Job setting: schools vs. clinics vs. hospitals
- Geographical location
- Industries with the highest employment levels for behavioral therapists:
- Insurance carriers
- Child care services
- Elementary and secondary schools
- Colleges and universities
- Specialty hospitals
- Bachelor’s level median weekly pay for all occupations:
- $1,747
- Master’s and higher degree levels median weekly pay for all occupations:
- Up to $4,809
Top 5 Highest Paying States for ABA Therapists
Here are the top 5 states that have the highest average salaries for ABA, BCBA, BCaBA, and other behavior therapists.
| Washington | $50,516 |
| New York | $48,796 |
| Massachusetts | $48,710 |
| Alaska | $48,033 |
| Vermont | $47,423 |
Source: ZipRecruiter
Note: All data is as of December 2025.
What is the National Average Salary for All Occupations?
There is still limited data regarding the average wages and salaries in the US as of 2025. However, BLS does have a weekly wage report that tells us the:
- Median wage
- Wage and differences in terms of age, sex, and ethnicity
- Full-time or part-time
- Seasonally adjusted or not
According to the report, the median annual salary for full-time workers in 2025 is approximately $62,000.
Top 5 states with the highest average annual salary
The following states have an average annual salary ranking higher than the national average.
| New York | 64,026 |
| Washington | $62,878 |
| Massachusetts | $62,826 |
| District of Columbia | $62,782 |
| Hawaii | $62,020 |
Source: ZipRecruiter
Note: All data is as of December 2025.
What Factors Affect the Behavioral Therapist Salary Range?
The national average wage, as well as the average wages based on occupations, are just estimated measures. Therefore, these estimates do not tell you exactly what you will be offered when you step into the professional world. Some important factors can affect your average salary prospects. Let’s have a look!
Education and Certification Level
There are various education levels within the ABA industry that can specify the job level and pay scale you may be eligible for. Here are some categories of educational levels in the ABA industry:
|
College Education |
|
| Professional degree |
Level |
| Associate’s degree | 2 year basic degree that teaches basic fundamentals with little specialized knowledge and skills |
| Bachelor’s degree | 4 year professional degree with focus on specializations and skill building, necessary for entry-level jobs in clinics, schools, and hospitals |
| Master’s degree | Varied duration professional, advanced career degree needed for senior or mid-level roles |
|
BACB Certifications |
|
| RBT | After high-school diploma with basic training, working under BCaBA and BCBA |
| BCaBA | Undergraduate level, needed for entry to mid-level jobs as ABA professionals, work under supervision |
| BCBA | Advanced, graduate-level needed for independent roles as supervisors |
According to ZipRecruiter, a BCBA professional makes $89,075 a year, while RBTs make $56,657 a year. Therefore, the salary varies based on your educational attainment.
Location (State and City)
The geographical location of your job also plays a vital role in determining the salary that may be offered to you. Most salaries and their ranges vary based on factors such as living cost in a particular state and city, and the overall demand for the services.
Typically, large metropolitan areas like New York have higher pay scales, while smaller cities or suburban areas might not have high or even lower than average salaries, often with low market demand.
According to BLS, the highest paying metropolitan areas for behavioral disorder and mental health counselors are:
| Anchorage, AK | $90,940 |
| Fairbanks-College, AK | $90,340 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $88,330 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $85,680 |
| Boulder, CO | $85,330 |
| Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $83,510 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $83,140 |
Type of Employer: Schools vs. Clinics
Of course, the type of employer and job setting also determines what salary you will be offered. So, some common career paths and types of employers you may come across are:
- Private practices led by BCBA or higher qualified individuals, usually pay a decent amount but not higher than average
- Schools for special education needs and behavioral therapy offer higher job security but the pay may be lower, especially for state-funded schools
- Clinics or hospitals with various departments and specialized units often have the best pay scale due to sufficient funding and constant demand for services
Read more: Career Guide | Working in Schools vs. Clinics as BCaBA/BCBA Certified
Experience
Just as with other professions, behavioral therapist salary range also depends on what level of experience you offer to the employer. This is one of the most important reasons why most ABA professionals track their supervision hours thoroughly. In this industry, you will be eligible for job roles and responsibilities based on the fieldwork hours. Read more on how to log supervision hours efficiently.
Not only the hours, but also the kind of work experience you have will matter. This means that the type of disorders, family cases, or challenges you have dealt with in your overall work history count. So, focus on gaining hands-on experience, take on new challenges, and make sure to document all your work to become eligible for a high-paying ABA job role.
US States and Average Behavioral Therapist Salary
Complete list of state-wise information regarding behavioral therapist salaries:
|
State |
Annual Salary |
| Washington | $50,516 |
| New York | $48,796 |
| Massachusetts | $48,710 |
| Alaska | $48,033 |
| Vermont | $47,423 |
| North Dakota | $47,192 |
| Oregon | $47,156 |
| Colorado | $46,899 |
| Hawaii | $46,339 |
| Nevada | $45,418 |
| New Jersey | $45,281 |
| Wisconsin | $45,019 |
| Pennsylvania | $44,709 |
| Delaware | $44,640 |
| South Dakota | $44,601 |
| Virginia | $44,219 |
| California | $44,017 |
| Minnesota | $43,683 |
| Rhode Island | $43,679 |
| New Hampshire | $43,375 |
| Maryland | $43,287 |
| New Mexico | $43,222 |
| Illinois | $43,220 |
| Maine | $43,183 |
| Wyoming | $42,872 |
| Nebraska | $42,525 |
| Indiana | $42,441 |
| Connecticut | $42,429 |
| Ohio | $42,402 |
| Mississippi | $42,241 |
| Idaho | $41,965 |
| Iowa | $41,893 |
| Missouri | $41,836 |
| Arizona | $41,564 |
| Texas | $41,553 |
| South Carolina | $41,388 |
| Oklahoma | $41,182 |
| Montana | $40,937 |
| Utah | $40,604 |
| North Carolina | $40,534 |
| Tennessee | $40,481 |
| Alabama | $40,426 |
| Kansas | $39,778 |
| Michigan | $38,874 |
| Kentucky | $38,738 |
| Louisiana | $38,140 |
| Georgia | $37,661 |
| Arkansas | $36,881 |
| West Virginia | $34,529 |
| Florida | $33,330 |
Source: ZipRecruiter
Note: All data is as of December 2025.
Behavioral Therapist Salary (and related professions) and Employment Information by State
In this section of the article, you will find a lot of state-specific information regarding employment levels, average salaries, and other information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The BLS is one of the most renowned and credible sources of such information. Therefore, we have compiled all the important information you will find come in handy. Keep in mind that all the data is updated by BLS up to May 2024.
Another thing to note here is that the BLS has broad categories for various kinds of jobs and professions. For ABA related roles such as BCBA and BCaBA practitioner, we are referring to the “Psychologists and all” other category.
States with the highest employment level
States that have the top employment levels:
|
State |
Employment Opportunities |
| California | 1,370 |
| Florida | 910 |
| Texas | 840 |
| Wisconsin | 770 |
| New York | 660 |
Top-paying states for psychologists and all other related professions
States with the highest pay scale for psychologists and all other professions:
|
State |
Average Annual Pay |
| California | $134,360 |
| Hawaii | $125,790 |
| Oregon | $125,130 |
| Nevada | $124,650 |
| Massachusetts | $122,690 |
Industries with the highest number of employment for psychologists, and other related professions
Industries that have the highest employment levels with their average yearly pay:
|
Industry |
Employment Level |
Average Annual Pay |
|
1,500 |
$110,270 | |
| 830 | $96,800 | |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools |
800 |
$75,320 |
| 550 |
$110,940 |
Source: BLS
Note: All data is as of December 2025.
Salary and Employment Information for Mental Health and Behavioral Disorder Counselors
Psychology, ABA, counseling, and other such related professions are all meaningful job roles that come under the umbrella of human services. Therefore, BLS has created different categories that include psychology and other professions in different groups. One important and relevant category for all ABA professionals is the mental health and behavioral disorder counselor category.
So, here is a look at all the important salary-related information you may be interested in:
Top 5 highest paying states for behavioral disorder counselors
States with the highest pay scale for behavioral disorder counselors:
|
State |
Average Annual Pay |
| Alaska | $88,870 |
| New Jersey | $75,900 |
| Hawaii | $75,610 |
| Oregon | $72,860 |
| California | $72,530 |
Note: All data is as of December 2025.
Salary information by industry
It is without a doubt that the particular industry you are working in also plays a huge role in determining your annual behavioral therapist salary or pay scale. More interestingly, there is more than just one industry that offers employment opportunities for ABA practitioners and related professions.
In the following table, we have a list of top industries with the best average pay scales, as reported by the BLS for its mental and behavioral disorder counseling category.
|
Industry or employer type |
Annual pay |
| Insurance Carriers | $84,320 |
| Junior Colleges (including private and state owned) | $80,550 |
| Child Care Services | $72,930 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools | $70,900 |
| Colleges and Universities | $68,900 |
| Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities | $68,590 |
| Specialty Hospitals | $68,080 |
Note: All data is as of December 2025.
Average Salary: Educational Attainment and Salary Differences
In a news release by the BLS for the third quarter of 2025, the differences in average salaries were defined based on factors such as age, gender, and ethnicity. One very notable factor to consider was the educational level or academic attainment. Therefore, if you are still wondering whether or not getting a bachelor’s degree in an ABA-aligned program is worth it, here is what you need to know:
|
Educational level |
Median weekly earnings |
| Full-time workers age 25 and above without a high school diploma | $777 |
| High school graduates | $980 |
| Bachelor’s degree and higher | $1,747 |
| Advanced degrees (master’s, professional, and doctoral degrees) | Up to $4,809 |
Note: All data is as of December 2025.
Another data from ZipRecruiter tells us that the average salary for bachelor’s degree holders in the USA is around $52,088 a year. This is a good start for entry-level or mid-career jobs. Moreover, this also tells us that most reputable and prestigious jobs do require a bachelor’s degree as the bare minimum.
Summary
In summary, the state-by salary varies by significant numbers that makes one state more appealing than the other. Therefore, if you are wondering what to do after graduation, then the average salary by state is an important factor to consider. However, salary information alone is not a good guarantee of deciding where you will pursue your professional career. You must explore other factors too, such as opportunities for future studies, cost of living, quality of life, and so on.
Moreover, using sources like BLS allows us to find the salary information of various job categories. While BLS does not have ABA/BCBA/BCaBA job category in specific, it does include various categories for behavior therapists and psychologists from related domains.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do states have different average salaries for ABA therapists?
There are several socio-economic, as well as geographic reasons, why different states in the US have different average salaries – even for the same occupation.
Firstly, the demand for ABA therapists can vary from state to state, with states having higher autism care centers, autism diagnosis population, or research centers having higher demand.
Consequently, higher demand leads to an increase in average salaries, especially if there is a shortage of qualified professionals. Other differences, such as the varied cost of livin,g can also contribute towards the difference in average salaries.
In addition to this, factors like state funding, business growth, andthe overall economic health of the state can also determine average salaries.
Should you move states to make more money as an ABA therapist?
Moving to another state with a higher average salary for ABA therapists can be a good financial decision if you are looking for a raise in your pay scale. Higher-paying states like Washington, New York, Massachusetts, and Alaska often offer significantly better salaries. However, the decision to move depends largely on numerous other factors such as:
- Higher pay comes with a strong demand for ABA therapists in the state
- There is less competition or fewer number of ABA professionals in the market
- You plan to pursue a higher education or certification for career growth
- The cost of living aligns with your earnings
Do ABA therapists make more money with a master’s degree?
Yes, ABA therapists with a master’s degree or higher tend to get paid more. This is true for all other occupations as well. Since a bachelor’s degree is a requirement for most entry-level jobs, a masters degree tends to give you much deeper insights and skills that prepare you for independent roles such as a BCBA. For BCaBA roles, a bachelor’s degree is enough. So, BCBA’s or master’s level professionals earn more because:
- They work independently
- Supervise RBTs and BCaBAs
- Oversee and even develop treatment plans
- Lead teams and manage cases singlehandedly
- Are licensed for establishing private practices
Is an ABA bachelor’s degree enough to start earning?
Yes, typically, a bachelor’s level degree in an ABA-aligned program is good enough to get entry-level jobs in the field. A bachelor’s degree makes you a mid-level BCaBA professional, working under the supervision of BCBAs while supervising RBTs. However, a bachelor’s degree may not be enough for getting supervisory or independent roles, or even starting a private practice or clinic. Therefore, a higher education such as masters, is important for career progression.