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The average salary for a behavioral technician is approximately $33,282 per year, translating to about $16 per hour. This figure may vary based on several factors, including experience level, geographic location, and the specific healthcare settings in which technicians work.
Entry-level positions typically start at lower salaries, while experienced professionals can earn significantly more, especially in regions where demand for behavioral health services is high. Technicians working in urban areas often have access to higher-paying opportunities compared to those in rural settings.
States like California, New York, and Florida generally offer higher salaries for behavioral technicians due to the cost of living and increased demand for mental health services. Additionally, specialized roles or positions within hospitals and rehabilitation centers may provide higher compensation.
Salary insights from various job boards and resources show a consistent trend, confirming that experience and education can lead to better pay. It's essential for prospective technicians to research local job markets and salary ranges to make informed career decisions.
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The average behavioral technician salary in Massachusetts, Hawaii, and California are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average behavioral technician salary states are Arkansas, Nebraska, and West Virginia.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $46,732 | $22.47 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $38,031 | $18.28 |
| 3 | Hawaii | $45,315 | $21.79 |
| 4 | Maine | $33,616 | $16.16 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $36,656 | $17.62 |
| 6 | Illinois | $33,627 | $16.17 |
| 7 | Florida | $32,927 | $15.83 |
| 8 | Ohio | $35,614 | $17.12 |
| 9 | Iowa | $31,856 | $15.32 |
| 10 | Vermont | $34,782 | $16.72 |
| 11 | California | $39,535 | $19.01 |
| 12 | Minnesota | $34,702 | $16.68 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $33,863 | $16.28 |
| 14 | New Mexico | $33,866 | $16.28 |
| 15 | Texas | $32,255 | $15.51 |
| 16 | Oregon | $34,751 | $16.71 |
| 17 | Indiana | $29,755 | $14.31 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $30,755 | $14.79 |
| 19 | Georgia | $31,481 | $15.14 |
| 20 | New York | $35,492 | $17.06 |
| 21 | Alaska | $31,692 | $15.24 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | $30,264 | $14.55 |
| 23 | Virginia | $34,046 | $16.37 |
| 24 | Washington | $34,490 | $16.58 |
| 25 | Mississippi | $31,756 | $15.27 |
| 26 | New Hampshire | $32,500 | $15.63 |
| 27 | District of Columbia | $36,169 | $17.39 |
| 28 | Kansas | $30,087 | $14.46 |
| 29 | Alabama | $29,409 | $14.14 |
| 30 | Maryland | $33,071 | $15.90 |
| 31 | Arizona | $29,846 | $14.35 |
| 32 | Michigan | $29,968 | $14.41 |
| 33 | Colorado | $30,161 | $14.50 |
| 34 | North Dakota | $29,979 | $14.41 |
| 35 | Nevada | $30,858 | $14.84 |
| 36 | Delaware | $29,973 | $14.41 |
| 37 | Montana | $29,088 | $13.98 |
| 38 | South Dakota | $28,296 | $13.60 |
| 39 | Wyoming | $30,038 | $14.44 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $29,383 | $14.13 |
| 41 | Missouri | $29,429 | $14.15 |
| 42 | North Carolina | $29,610 | $14.24 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $25,840 | $12.42 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $26,674 | $12.82 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $26,867 | $12.92 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $24,354 | $11.71 |
| 47 | West Virginia | $25,300 | $12.16 |
| 48 | Utah | $25,233 | $12.13 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $25,496 | $12.26 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $26,299 | $12.64 |
| 51 | Idaho | $21,155 | $10.17 |
The highest-paying cities for behavioral technicians are Somerville, MA, Glendale, CA, and Wallingford, CT.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Somerville, MA | $46,681 | $22.44 |
| 2 | Glendale, CA | $39,793 | $19.13 |
| 3 | Wallingford, CT | $38,068 | $18.30 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $35,538 | $17.09 |
| 5 | Saint Paul, MN | $34,740 | $16.70 |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | $34,534 | $16.60 |
| 7 | Richmond, VA | $34,010 | $16.35 |
| 8 | Tampa, FL | $33,066 | $15.90 |
| 9 | San Antonio, TX | $32,576 | $15.66 |
| 10 | Iowa City, IA | $31,876 | $15.32 |
| 11 | Roswell, GA | $31,583 | $15.18 |
| 12 | Green Bay, WI | $30,517 | $14.67 |
| 13 | Midland, MI | $30,107 | $14.47 |
| 14 | Fargo, ND | $30,049 | $14.45 |
| 15 | Surprise, AZ | $29,940 | $14.39 |
| 16 | Saint Louis, MO | $29,412 | $14.14 |
| 17 | Omaha, NE | $25,523 | $12.27 |
| 18 | Salt Lake City, UT | $25,149 | $12.09 |
A behavioral technician's salary ranges from $24,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $44,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $44,000 | $3,667 | $21 |
| 75th Percentile | $38,000 | $3,167 | $18 |
| Average | $33,282 | $2,774 | $16 |
| 25th Percentile | $28,000 | $2,333 | $13 |
| 10th Percentile | $24,000 | $2,000 | $12 |
The highest paying types of behavioral technicians are mental health nurse, counselor/art therapist, and outpatient physical therapist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In Home Therapist | $51,706 | $4,309 | $24.86 | 113,993 |
| Therapist | $55,943 | $4,662 | $26.90 | 159,770 |
| ABA Therapist | $35,938 | $2,995 | $17.28 | 90,516 |
| Mental Health Nurse | $106,812 | $8,901 | $51.35 | 86,884 |
| Counselor/Art Therapist | $79,417 | $6,618 | $38.18 | 80,647 |
| Clinical Therapist | $57,864 | $4,822 | $27.82 | 136,898 |
Top companies hiring behavioral technicians now:
Behavioral technician salaries at Missouri State University and West Contra Costa Unified School District are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average behavioral technician salary at companies like Broward County Public Schools and The Mosaic Company are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Missouri State University | $51,156 | $24.59 |
| 2 | West Contra Costa Unified School District | $46,625 | $22.42 |
| 3 | Broward County Public Schools | $43,376 | $20.85 |
| 4 | The Mosaic Company | $38,187 | $18.36 |
| 5 | City of Muskegon | $37,283 | $17.92 |
| 6 | Charles River Center | $37,130 | $17.85 |
| 7 | University of Nebraska System | $36,796 | $17.69 |
| 8 | Maxim Healthcare Group | $36,733 | $17.66 |
| 9 | Cambridge Health Alliance | $35,588 | $17.11 |
| 10 | Metropolitan Ministries | $35,491 | $17.06 |
| 11 | Hospital for Special Care | $34,174 | $16.43 |
| 12 | Children's Health Corporation | $33,631 | $16.17 |
| 13 | The Bridge | $33,631 | $16.17 |
| 14 | Community, Counseling, and Correctional Services | $33,603 | $16.16 |
| 15 | Behavioral Health Inc | $33,235 | $15.98 |
| 16 | PSI Solutions | $33,134 | $15.93 |
| 17 | NaphCare | $32,781 | $15.76 |
| 18 | Independent Living Resources | $32,656 | $15.70 |
| 19 | Charles River Labs | $32,656 | $15.70 |
| 20 | Pediatric Partners, now a member of the Sevita family | $32,609 | $15.68 |
The average behavioral technician salary has risen by $6,232 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average behavioral technician earned $27,050 annually, but today, they earn $33,282 a year. That works out to a 13% change in pay for behavioral technicians over the last decade.
Compare behavioral technician salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare behavioral technician salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $33,300 | $16.00 | +3.6% |
| 2024 | $32,100 | $15.43 | +2.7% |
| 2023 | $31,200 | $15.01 | +3.7% |
| 2022 | $30,100 | $14.47 | +2.2% |
| 2021 | $29,400 | $14.15 | -0.5% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centria | Registered Behavioral Technician | Fairview, TX | 06/29/2025 | $35,479 |
| Benchmark Human Services-In | Behavioral Support Technician | Columbus, IN | 06/28/2025 | $37,566 |
| Centria Autism | Spanish Speaking Behavioral Technician | Mesa, AZ | 06/28/2025 | $37,566 |
| Discovery Behavioral Health | Behavioral Tech Supervisor | Houston, TX | 06/28/2025 | $45,914 |
| Brookdale Premier Addiction Recovery | Behavioral Technician | Kane, PA | 06/28/2025 | $33,392 |
| Dashi Rivers | Behavioral Technician ABA | Northville, MI | 06/28/2025 | $39,653 |
| Brightli | Behavioral Heath Technician | Salem, MO | 06/27/2025 | $31,305 |
| Discovery Behavioral Health | Behavioral Technician-Residential | Tacoma, WA | 06/26/2025 | $41,740 |
| Apollo Behavior | Registered Behavior Technician (RBT)-Behavioral Technician-WE Provide Your Training! | Warner Robins, GA | 06/24/2025 | $39,520 |
| Aces for Autism | Registered Behavioral Technician | Greenville, NC | 06/24/2025 | $39,653 |
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