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Behavioral specialist salary
Average behavioral specialist salary
$42,029
Average Behavioral Specialist Salary
The average salary for a Behavioral Specialist stands at $42,029 annually, translating to approximately $20 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and the specific industry of employment.
Factors Influencing Salary
For instance, Behavioral Specialists working in educational settings or healthcare often earn different wages. States like California and New York typically offer higher salaries due to the cost of living and demand for skilled professionals.
Career Advancement
As you gain experience, your earning potential can increase. Specialized certifications and advanced degrees can also lead to higher-paying positions within the field.
Job Opportunities
Behavioral Specialists are in demand across various sectors, including mental health facilities, schools, and private practices. Understanding the nuances of salary expectations can help you negotiate better compensation and choose the right job opportunities. Explore salary estimates from various sources to make informed decisions about your career path.
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Where can a Behavioral Specialist earn more?
Behavioral specialist salary estimates from across the web
Average behavioral specialist salary by state
The average behavioral specialist salary in Alaska, Washington, and Maryland are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average behavioral specialist salary states are Florida, Arizona, and Iowa.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for behavioral specialists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $93,877 | $45.13 |
| 2 | Washington | $57,339 | $27.57 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $48,568 | $23.35 |
| 4 | Maryland | $51,012 | $24.52 |
| 5 | Oregon | $49,910 | $24.00 |
| 6 | Wyoming | $46,026 | $22.13 |
| 7 | New York | $47,366 | $22.77 |
| 8 | Michigan | $44,418 | $21.35 |
| 9 | Delaware | $47,961 | $23.06 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $44,458 | $21.37 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $45,985 | $22.11 |
| 12 | California | $47,579 | $22.87 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $45,785 | $22.01 |
| 14 | Nevada | $44,477 | $21.38 |
| 15 | Idaho | $43,476 | $20.90 |
| 16 | North Dakota | $43,335 | $20.83 |
| 17 | Nebraska | $42,163 | $20.27 |
| 18 | New Jersey | $45,460 | $21.86 |
| 19 | Massachusetts | $42,191 | $20.28 |
| 20 | West Virginia | $44,972 | $21.62 |
| 21 | Virginia | $47,424 | $22.80 |
| 22 | Illinois | $44,119 | $21.21 |
| 23 | Kentucky | $44,589 | $21.44 |
| 24 | Vermont | $42,831 | $20.59 |
| 25 | Mississippi | $44,310 | $21.30 |
| 26 | Hawaii | $45,369 | $21.81 |
| 27 | Texas | $43,457 | $20.89 |
| 28 | North Carolina | $43,124 | $20.73 |
| 29 | District of Columbia | $47,956 | $23.06 |
| 30 | New Mexico | $40,451 | $19.45 |
| 31 | Maine | $38,305 | $18.42 |
| 32 | Montana | $38,599 | $18.56 |
| 33 | Arkansas | $39,455 | $18.97 |
| 34 | Ohio | $40,606 | $19.52 |
| 35 | Alabama | $40,416 | $19.43 |
| 36 | Utah | $38,795 | $18.65 |
| 37 | Minnesota | $39,174 | $18.83 |
| 38 | Colorado | $39,128 | $18.81 |
| 39 | Kansas | $39,092 | $18.79 |
| 40 | Wisconsin | $39,234 | $18.86 |
| 41 | South Dakota | $37,342 | $17.95 |
| 42 | Iowa | $35,141 | $16.89 |
| 43 | Arizona | $35,356 | $17.00 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $36,571 | $17.58 |
| 45 | Florida | $35,572 | $17.10 |
| 46 | Georgia | $38,012 | $18.27 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $36,812 | $17.70 |
| 48 | Missouri | $35,744 | $17.18 |
| 49 | Indiana | $34,924 | $16.79 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $33,375 | $16.05 |
| 51 | Tennessee | $33,673 | $16.19 |
Highest paying cities for behavioral specialists
The highest-paying cities for behavioral specialists are Anchorage, AK, Issaquah, WA, and Baltimore, MD.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anchorage, AK | $94,241 | $45.31 |
| 2 | Issaquah, WA | $58,642 | $28.19 |
| 3 | Baltimore, MD | $51,104 | $24.57 |
| 4 | Santa Rosa, CA | $50,624 | $24.34 |
| 5 | Salem, OR | $49,941 | $24.01 |
| 6 | Lancaster, PA | $48,881 | $23.50 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $47,642 | $22.90 |
| 8 | Camden, NJ | $46,147 | $22.19 |
| 9 | Concord, NH | $45,598 | $21.92 |
| 10 | Blacksburg, VA | $45,103 | $21.68 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $44,330 | $21.31 |
| 12 | Omaha, NE | $42,355 | $20.36 |
| 13 | Marlborough, MA | $42,330 | $20.35 |
| 14 | Grand Junction, CO | $39,390 | $18.94 |
| 15 | La Crosse, WI | $39,358 | $18.92 |
| 16 | Billings, MT | $37,616 | $18.08 |
| 17 | Gainesville, FL | $36,184 | $17.40 |
| 18 | Kansas City, MO | $35,659 | $17.14 |
| 19 | Maricopa, AZ | $35,482 | $17.06 |
| 20 | Council Bluffs, IA | $34,215 | $16.45 |
Behavioral specialist salary details
A behavioral specialist's salary ranges from $28,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $61,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a behavioral specialist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $61,000 | $5,083 | $29 |
| 75th Percentile | $51,000 | $4,250 | $25 |
| Average | $42,029 | $3,502 | $20 |
| 25th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
| 10th Percentile | $28,000 | $2,333 | $13 |
Highest paying behavioral specialist jobs
The highest paying types of behavioral specialists are clinical social worker, specialist, and treatment specialist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Youth Advocate | $33,924 | $2,827 | $16.31 | 78,437 |
| Program Counselor | $43,820 | $3,652 | $21.07 | 133,491 |
| Youth Counselor | $36,754 | $3,063 | $17.67 | 78,461 |
| Youth Worker | $32,242 | $2,687 | $15.50 | 87,360 |
| Clinical Social Worker | $63,056 | $5,255 | $30.32 | 124,816 |
| Behavioral Technician | $33,282 | $2,774 | $16.00 | 45,287 |
Top companies hiring behavioral specialists now:
Which companies pay behavioral specialists the most?
Behavioral specialist salaries at Barbarian and Boston Public Schools are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average behavioral specialist salary at companies like Children's National Medical Center and East Alabama Health are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barbarian | $70,059 | $33.68 |
| 2 | Boston Public Schools | $66,801 | $32.12 |
| 3 | Children's National Medical Center | $61,869 | $29.74 |
| 4 | East Alabama Health | $60,528 | $29.10 |
| 5 | Western Pennsylvania Hospital | $60,015 | $28.85 |
| 6 | May Institute | $58,681 | $28.21 |
| 7 | H Mart | $57,878 | $27.83 |
| 8 | Chileda | $56,913 | $27.36 |
| 9 | Lifetime Assistance | $55,292 | $26.58 |
| 10 | National Mentor Holdings Inc. | $55,005 | $26.44 |
| 11 | Merakey | $54,643 | $26.27 |
| 12 | Help Inc | $52,730 | $25.35 |
| 13 | Rady Children's Hospital And Health Center | $51,838 | $24.92 |
| 14 | CFG Health Systems | $51,731 | $24.87 |
| 15 | Hope Community Resources Inc | $51,146 | $24.59 |
| 16 | UP Education Network | $50,615 | $24.33 |
| 17 | Sunny Days | $50,338 | $24.20 |
| 18 | Frontline | $49,997 | $24.04 |
| 19 | Washington State University | $49,946 | $24.01 |
| 20 | Montage Health | $48,833 | $23.48 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Behavioral Specialist salary by industry
The average behavioral specialist salary varies across industries:
- The average behavioral specialist salary in the professional industry is $45,864, the highest of any industry.
- The average behavioral specialist salary in the finance industry is $39,231.
- Behavioral specialists in the non profits industry earn an average salary of $36,007, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for behavioral specialists
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Professional | $45,864 | $22.05 |
| 2 | Education | $39,231 | $18.86 |
| 3 | Health Care | $38,755 | $18.63 |
| 4 | Government | $36,396 | $17.50 |
| 5 | Non Profits | $36,007 | $17.31 |
High paying behavioral specialist jobs
Behavioral specialist salary trends
The average behavioral specialist salary has risen by $6,290 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average behavioral specialist earned $35,739 annually, but today, they earn $42,029 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for behavioral specialists over the last decade.
Compare behavioral specialist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average behavioral specialist salary over time
Compare behavioral specialist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Behavioral specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $42,000 | $20.21 | +3.0% |
| 2024 | $40,800 | $19.59 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $39,800 | $19.13 | +2.4% |
| 2022 | $38,800 | $18.66 | +1.9% |
| 2021 | $38,100 | $18.30 | +2.7% |
Recently added behavioral specialist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virtua | Behavioral Specialist, Early Intervention Program-(PER Visit) | Marlton, NJ | 06/30/2025 | $67,828 |
| Direct Support Professional In New York, New York | Behavioral INT. Specialist | New York, NY | 06/29/2025 | $75,132 |
| Health Advocates Network | Learning Behavior Specialist 1 | Bourbonnais, IL | 06/28/2025 | $112,698 |
| Elwyn | Applied Behavior Analysis Specialist | Vineland, NJ | 06/28/2025 | $48,001 |
| Oregon Public Schools | Behavior Specialist-Special Education Behavior Specialist (CC #801) | Baker City, OR | 06/28/2025 | $61,206 |
| State of Florida | OPS Behavioral Specialist | Tampa, FL | 06/27/2025 | $41,740 |
| Center for Social Dynamics | Behavior Specialist | Oakland, CA | 06/27/2025 | $41,740 |
| Nye County School District | Behavior Specialist #2046 | Pahrump, NV | 06/27/2025 | $77,151 |
| Familylinks | Licensed Behavioral Specialist | Pittsburgh, PA | 06/26/2025 | $60,000 |
| Eihab Human Services | Behavioral Specialist | Springfield, NY | 06/26/2025 | $65,000 |
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