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Behavior therapist salary
Average behavior therapist salary
$36,864
Average Behavior Therapist Salary
The average salary for a behavior therapist in the United States is $36,864 annually, translating to approximately $18 per hour. Salaries can vary based on several factors including geographic location, years of experience, and the specific industry of employment.
Where Can a Behavior Therapist Earn More?
Behavior therapists often earn higher salaries in specific states and industries. For instance, states like California and New York typically offer more competitive compensation due to higher living costs and demand for specialized services. Additionally, therapists working in educational or healthcare settings may have access to better pay and benefits.
Salary Estimates from Across the Web
Various sources provide insights into the salary landscape for behavior therapists, showcasing a range from $30,000 to $50,000 depending on the factors mentioned. Consulting resources like Zippia can help you understand the nuances of these figures and how they apply to your career decisions.
Let Zippia find your next behavior therapist job
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Where can a Behavior Therapist earn more?
Behavior therapist salary estimates from across the web
Average behavior therapist salary by state
The highest-paying states for behavior therapists are Alabama, Illinois, and Minnesota. The lowest average behavior therapist salary states are Washington, Alaska, and Hawaii.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for behavior therapists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois | $40,474 | $19.46 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $39,878 | $19.17 |
| 3 | Alabama | $42,218 | $20.30 |
| 4 | Texas | $37,814 | $18.18 |
| 5 | Iowa | $37,844 | $18.19 |
| 6 | Minnesota | $40,324 | $19.39 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $36,079 | $17.35 |
| 8 | Kentucky | $38,776 | $18.64 |
| 9 | Georgia | $37,636 | $18.09 |
| 10 | West Virginia | $40,082 | $19.27 |
| 11 | North Dakota | $34,894 | $16.78 |
| 12 | Virginia | $38,935 | $18.72 |
| 13 | Kansas | $36,394 | $17.50 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $38,531 | $18.52 |
| 15 | Oklahoma | $36,007 | $17.31 |
| 16 | New Jersey | $36,707 | $17.65 |
| 17 | Michigan | $35,108 | $16.88 |
| 18 | Indiana | $35,182 | $16.91 |
| 19 | Wyoming | $36,935 | $17.76 |
| 20 | Colorado | $35,781 | $17.20 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $34,871 | $16.76 |
| 22 | Nebraska | $34,208 | $16.45 |
| 23 | New York | $35,283 | $16.96 |
| 24 | District of Columbia | $39,459 | $18.97 |
| 25 | California | $36,416 | $17.51 |
| 26 | Missouri | $34,245 | $16.46 |
| 27 | Maryland | $34,756 | $16.71 |
| 28 | Florida | $35,530 | $17.08 |
| 29 | Maine | $32,572 | $15.66 |
| 30 | Delaware | $34,353 | $16.52 |
| 31 | Tennessee | $32,985 | $15.86 |
| 32 | North Carolina | $34,068 | $16.38 |
| 33 | Mississippi | $34,269 | $16.48 |
| 34 | Connecticut | $34,692 | $16.68 |
| 35 | Arizona | $34,188 | $16.44 |
| 36 | Ohio | $32,599 | $15.67 |
| 37 | Arkansas | $31,565 | $15.18 |
| 38 | Idaho | $32,843 | $15.79 |
| 39 | New Hampshire | $33,897 | $16.30 |
| 40 | Utah | $32,892 | $15.81 |
| 41 | Nevada | $32,289 | $15.52 |
| 42 | Oregon | $32,573 | $15.66 |
| 43 | Washington | $31,048 | $14.93 |
| 44 | Vermont | $33,297 | $16.01 |
| 45 | New Mexico | $32,050 | $15.41 |
| 46 | Montana | $27,064 | $13.01 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $31,650 | $15.22 |
| 48 | Alaska | $29,372 | $14.12 |
| 49 | Hawaii | $28,987 | $13.94 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $27,855 | $13.39 |
| 51 | South Carolina | $28,140 | $13.53 |
Highest paying cities for behavior therapists
The highest-paying cities for behavior therapists are Chicago, IL, Burnsville, MN, and Springfield, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago, IL | $40,513 | $19.48 |
| 2 | Burnsville, MN | $40,291 | $19.37 |
| 3 | Springfield, MA | $40,165 | $19.31 |
| 4 | Springfield, VA | $39,253 | $18.87 |
| 5 | Warwick, RI | $38,548 | $18.53 |
| 6 | San Antonio, TX | $38,245 | $18.39 |
| 7 | Atlanta, GA | $37,590 | $18.07 |
| 8 | San Jose, CA | $37,100 | $17.84 |
| 9 | Denver, CO | $35,767 | $17.20 |
| 10 | Marion, IN | $35,436 | $17.04 |
| 11 | Lansing, MI | $35,015 | $16.83 |
| 12 | Buffalo, NY | $35,000 | $16.83 |
| 13 | New Haven, CT | $34,761 | $16.71 |
| 14 | Bethesda, MD | $34,734 | $16.70 |
| 15 | Madison, WI | $34,722 | $16.69 |
| 16 | Raleigh, NC | $34,425 | $16.55 |
| 17 | Tucson, AZ | $34,254 | $16.47 |
| 18 | Cleveland, OH | $32,920 | $15.83 |
| 19 | Portland, OR | $32,470 | $15.61 |
| 20 | Albuquerque, NM | $31,947 | $15.36 |
Behavior Therapists are the most in-demand in these five cities:
Behavior therapist salary details
A behavior therapist's salary ranges from $27,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $49,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a behavior therapist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $49,000 | $4,083 | $24 |
| 75th Percentile | $43,000 | $3,583 | $21 |
| Average | $36,864 | $3,072 | $18 |
| 25th Percentile | $31,000 | $2,583 | $15 |
| 10th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
Highest paying behavior therapist jobs
The highest paying types of behavior therapists are behavior analyst, marriage and family therapist, and therapist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Youth Advocate | $33,924 | $2,827 | $16.31 | 78,437 |
| Family Counselor | $41,510 | $3,459 | $19.96 | 93,253 |
| Intensive In-Home Counselor | $51,428 | $4,286 | $24.73 | 122,300 |
| Residential Counselor | $34,117 | $2,843 | $16.40 | 81,287 |
| Mental Health Worker | $41,081 | $3,423 | $19.75 | 144,879 |
| Social Work Internship | $37,178 | $3,098 | $17.87 | 142,426 |
Top companies hiring behavior therapists now:
Which companies pay behavior therapists the most?
Behavior therapist salaries at Regis College and Maxim Healthcare Group are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average behavior therapist salary at companies like Therapy Source and Holland are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Regis College | $57,554 | $27.67 |
| 2 | Maxim Healthcare Group | $45,245 | $21.75 |
| 3 | Therapy Source | $41,194 | $19.80 |
| 4 | Holland | $41,087 | $19.75 |
| 5 | State Of South Dakota | $40,328 | $19.39 |
| 6 | Horace Mann | $39,921 | $19.19 |
| 7 | Trudeau Memorial Center | $39,682 | $19.08 |
| 8 | The Mosaic Company | $38,885 | $18.69 |
| 9 | HMEA | $38,881 | $18.69 |
| 10 | Ican | $38,639 | $18.58 |
| 11 | Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center | $38,080 | $18.31 |
| 12 | Intercept Health | $37,946 | $18.24 |
| 13 | Blair Family Solutions | $37,732 | $18.14 |
| 14 | ACES | $37,711 | $18.13 |
| 15 | Kennedy-Donovan Center | $37,691 | $18.12 |
| 16 | HealthPRO | $37,564 | $18.06 |
| 17 | Community Health & Wellness Center | $37,549 | $18.05 |
| 18 | Access International, Inc. | $37,549 | $18.05 |
| 19 | Ascendigo | $37,514 | $18.04 |
| 20 | Behavioral Health Inc | $37,162 | $17.87 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Behavior Therapist salary by industry
The average behavior therapist salary varies across industries:
- The average behavior therapist salary in the education industry is $38,181, the highest of any industry.
- The average behavior therapist salary in the finance industry is $35,987.
- Behavior therapists in the professional industry earn an average salary of $32,920, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for behavior therapists
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Education | $38,181 | $18.36 |
| 2 | Health Care | $35,987 | $17.30 |
| 3 | Non Profits | $35,729 | $17.18 |
| 4 | Professional | $32,920 | $15.83 |
High paying behavior therapist jobs
Behavior therapist salary trends
The average behavior therapist salary has risen by $3,662 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average behavior therapist earned $33,202 annually, but today, they earn $36,864 a year. That works out to a 4% change in pay for behavior therapists over the last decade.
Compare behavior therapist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average behavior therapist salary over time
Compare behavior therapist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Behavior therapist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $36,900 | $17.72 | +3.4% |
| 2025 | $35,600 | $17.13 | -1.0% |
| 2024 | $36,000 | $17.29 | +2.6% |
| 2023 | $35,000 | $16.84 | -0.8% |
| 2022 | $35,300 | $16.97 | +1.2% |
Recently added behavior therapist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunny Days | Behavior Therapist | El Centro, CA | 06/28/2025 | $52,175 |
| Sevita | Behavior Management Therapist | Duluth, MN | 06/26/2025 | $53,000 |
| New Beginnings ABA Company | Behavior Therapist Day Shifts Available Southbridge | Northbridge, MA | 06/26/2025 | $39,653 |
| Flywheel Centers | Behavior Therapist | Paterson, NJ | 06/24/2025 | $50,088 |
| Easterseals Central Illinois | Behavior Therapist/Registered Behavior Technician | Bloomington, IL | 06/24/2025 | $33,392 |
| Konnections Staffing | Behavior Therapist | Arcadia, CA | 06/23/2025 | $37,566 |
| Healthpro Heritage | Behavior Therapist RBT | Norfolk, VA | 06/22/2025 | $39,653 |
| Healthpro Heritage | Behavior Therapist RBT | Fort Hood, TX | 06/22/2025 | $39,653 |
| Cortica | Play-Based Behavior Therapist | Westchester, FL | 06/22/2025 | $42,178 |
| Cortica | Play-Based Behavior Therapist | Naperville, IL | 06/22/2025 | $42,178 |
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