Post job

What is a behavior interventionist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted expert
Aubrey Daniels Ph.D.

A behavioral interventionist is in charge of assisting individuals in eliminating or replacing negative, disruptive, or harmful behaviors with positive actions. He/She observes and interacts with individuals, groups, and communities to assist with the healthy functioning of the people there. He/She identifies behavioral problems and provides services to reduce and correct this behavior. Also, he/she assesses clients using psychological tests, observation, and interviews. Additionally, he/she set goals for behavioral changes, monitors the client, assesses progress, and modifies behavioral plans if necessary.

The minimum educational requirement for a behavior interventionist is a high school diploma or equivalent. However, most employers require at least a bachelor's degree in social work or psychology. Requirements for licensing vary by state. You must be compassionate and patient. You must possess communication, listening, and problem-solving skills. Employment can be found in schools, public and private health agencies, companies, and counseling centers. Behavioral interventionists earn about $36,263 per year or $17.43 per hour.

What general advice would you give to a behavior interventionist?

Aubrey Daniels Ph.D.Aubrey Daniels Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Acting Assistant Professor, Rider University

Those who are beginning their career with a degree in mental and social health services and allied professions should aim to get as much experience as possible! Apply for positions where you are allowed to work with others, whether through one-on-one counseling, groups, or consulting. Also, take this time to learn about the business component of the profession, too.

Other ways to gain more experience is by partaking in a variety of training, online webinars, and conferences. There are many free online instructions you can partake in to gain more knowledge about topics of interest, whether it is a specific type of therapeutic approach or more information about a mental health disorder.

Also, be open! You never know which population you enjoy serving most, until you get the most experience possible. Lastly, a more diverse caseload will provide you with a better idea about how to help a wide range of individuals. It will also assist you in learning more about the different ways people view the world, which will widen your view of the world.
ScoreBehavior InterventionistUS Average
Salary
3.0

Avg. Salary $38,908

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
9.9

Growth rate 14%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
5.8
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.86%

Asian 4.56%

Black or African American 11.43%

Hispanic or Latino 15.39%

Unknown 4.56%

White 63.21%

Gender

female 72.46%

male 27.54%

Age - 37
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 37
Stress level
9.9

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
10.0

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
6.9

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Behavior interventionist career paths

Key steps to become a behavior interventionist

  1. Explore behavior interventionist education requirements

    Most common behavior interventionist degrees

    Bachelor's

    73.4 %

    Master's

    11.7 %

    Associate

    10.2 %
  2. Start to develop specific behavior interventionist skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Applied Behavior Analysis18.89%
    Autism17.73%
    Behavior Analysis9.40%
    Developmental Disabilities7.59%
    ABA7.29%
  3. Complete relevant behavior interventionist training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New behavior interventionists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a behavior interventionist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real behavior interventionist resumes.
  4. Research behavior interventionist duties and responsibilities

    • Manage and target behaviors using the ESDM, ABA, PRT and SCERTS model.
    • Complete all require documentations including collecting data, graphing, IEP, and quarterly notes.
    • Focus on improving behavior and communication in children with autism and developmental disabilities by providing in home behavioral services.
    • Implement behavior programs design as directed for children with autism spectrum disorders, and children with other developmental disabilities.
  5. Prepare your behavior interventionist resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your behavior interventionist resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a behavior interventionist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable behavior interventionist resume templates

    Build a professional behavior interventionist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your behavior interventionist resume.
    Behavior Interventionist Resume
    Behavior Interventionist Resume
    Behavior Interventionist Resume
    Behavior Interventionist Resume
    Behavior Interventionist Resume
    Behavior Interventionist Resume
    Behavior Interventionist Resume
    Behavior Interventionist Resume
    Behavior Interventionist Resume
  6. Apply for behavior interventionist jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a behavior interventionist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first behavior interventionist job

Zippi

Are you a behavior interventionist?

Share your story for a free salary report.

Average behavior interventionist salary

The average behavior interventionist salary in the United States is $38,908 per year or $19 per hour. Behavior interventionist salaries range between $29,000 and $51,000 per year.

Average behavior interventionist salary
$38,908 Yearly
$18.71 hourly

What am I worth?

salary-calculator

How do behavior interventionists rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Behavior interventionist reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2024
Cons

can be easy to get burnt out, pay is ok


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2019
Cons

Sometimes you can't help everyone, or the people you do help have tragic & heartbreaking stories. Being exposed to this every day can definitely be draining, so you definitely need an outlet to blow off steam.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2019
Pros

To help most people out of their respective concern.

Cons

I don't like people perishing, especially the teenagers.


Working as a behavior interventionist? Share your experience anonymously.
Overall rating*
Career growth
Work/Life balance
Pay/Salary

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Browse community and social services jobs