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Job outlook for behavioral technicians in the United States
Behavioral technician job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected behavioral technician job growth rate is 9% from 2018-2028.
About 12,500 new jobs for behavioral technicians are projected over the next decade.
Behavioral technician salaries have increased 13% for behavioral technicians in the last 5 years.
There are over 16,017 behavioral technicians currently employed in the United States.
There are 45,287 active behavioral technician job openings in the US.
The average behavioral technician salary is $33,282.
Are behavioral technician jobs in demand?
Behavioral technician job and salary trends over time
Behavioral technician jobs over time
Behavioral technician job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 16,017 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 14,632 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 13,456 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 12,236 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 11,477 | 0.00% |
Average behavioral technician salary over time
Behavioral technician salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $33,282 | $16.00 | +3.7% |
| 2024 | $32,095 | $15.43 | +2.8% |
| 2023 | $31,230 | $15.01 | +3.8% |
| 2022 | $30,090 | $14.47 | +2.3% |
| 2021 | $29,425 | $14.15 | --0.5% |
Behavioral technician jobs by state
Most common states for behavioral technicians
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 228 | 17% |
| 2 | Alaska | 739,795 | 119 | 16% |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,025 | 15% |
| 4 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 459 | 15% |
| 5 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 1,805 | 14% |
| 6 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 955 | 14% |
| 7 | Delaware | 961,939 | 129 | 13% |
| 8 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 104 | 12% |
| 9 | Florida | 20,984,400 | 2,216 | 11% |
| 10 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 1,161 | 11% |
| 11 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 660 | 11% |
| 12 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 605 | 11% |
| 13 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 383 | 11% |
| 14 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 78 | 11% |
| 15 | Vermont | 623,657 | 69 | 11% |
| 16 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 702 | 10% |
| 17 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 306 | 10% |
| 18 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 109 | 10% |
| 19 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 105 | 10% |
| 20 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 480 | 9% |
Most common cities for behavioral technicians
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beverly | 5 | 12% | $46,579 |
| 2 | Bay City | 2 | 6% | $30,132 |
| 3 | Carbondale | 1 | 4% | $32,782 |
| 4 | Lakewood | 2 | 2% | $36,679 |
| 5 | Somerville | 2 | 2% | $46,681 |
| 6 | Vallejo | 2 | 2% | $39,103 |
| 7 | Broomfield | 1 | 2% | $30,150 |
| 8 | Omaha | 3 | 1% | $25,523 |
| 9 | Fullerton | 2 | 1% | $39,731 |
| 10 | Kansas City | 2 | 1% | $30,143 |
| 11 | Albany | 1 | 1% | $35,127 |
| 12 | Cary | 1 | 1% | $29,680 |
| 13 | Anaheim | 1 | 0% | $39,741 |
| 14 | Austin | 1 | 0% | $32,468 |
Behavioral Technician job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of behavioral technician experts
Missouri Western State University
Morningside College
University of the Incarnate Word
Kent State University
East Tennessee State University
What general advice would you give to a Behavioral Technician?
Dr. Kelly Henry Ph.D.: IN PSYCHOLOGY, THERE ARE GOING TO BE INCREASED NEEDS IN BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT SORTS OF POSITIONS (BEHAVIORAL TECHNICIAN AND SO FORTH). ADDITIONALLY, TRAUMA-INFORMED THERAPY IS GOING TO BE AN INCREASING NEED. SEEKING OUT OPPORTUNITIES TO COMPLETE EVEN PRE-BACCALAUREATE MICROCREDENTIALS IN EITHER OF THESE AREAS WILL ENHANCE YOUR RESUME AND EMPLOYABILITY. FINALLY, DIALECTICAL-BEHAVIOR THERAPY HAS SEEN EMERGING CLEAR EVIDENCE OF ITS EMPIRICAL VALUE WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF POPULATIONS. GAINING A FOUNDATION IN THIS AND SEEKING CONTINUING EDUCATION IN THIS AREA WILL ALSO BE USEFUL.
Stacie Hays
Associate Vice President of Career Services & Professional DevelopmentMorningside College
Career Services Department
What skills stand out on Behavioral Technician resumes?
Stacie Hays: Definitely being adaptable or flexible is going to continue to be one of the most desired skills that employers will be looking for. In our current professional environment, it is so important to be nimble and able to change focus quickly to capitalize on opportunities. I also believe the ability to prove to employers that one can self-initiate on tasks will be paramount. Employers in general are looking for more evidence that links employees to specific experiences that illustrate their skills and abilities.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Behavioral Technicians to find work opportunities?
Stacie Hays: I'm a huge proponent of utilizing labor market research in searching for jobs. One site I'm particularly fond of is Careeronestop. Here you can search for occupations, get a report, and learn more about job demand. You can also see each state's job demand for certain occupations, which makes it easy to see what state's would have more need for students with those specific majors. I'm also a fan of searching for your local state's workforce development system, as well as chamber of commerce sites or LinkedIn to determine what employers are part of that community's economy. Overall, I recommend using lots of job search websites and then going back to your favorites when you start job searching in earnest.
Dr. Maria Felix-Ortiz Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology and ChairUniversity of the Incarnate Word
Department of Psychology
What experience really stands out on Behavioral Technician resumes?
Dr. Maria Felix-Ortiz Ph.D.: A good cover letter! Unfortunately, many applicants forget the importance of submitting a cover letter for the resume and HR usually skims a cover letter to see if the applicant's skills match the skills described in the job advertisement. Use the language of the job description to describe skills you may bring to the work! Beyond this, applicants can impress those hiring with an internship or research assistantship where the student has worked for two or more semesters, with skills in a second language and culture OR being very "fluent" in technology, with a substantial study-abroad experience, and/or some sort of research product (e.g., a poster, a paper accepted to a journal).
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Behavioral Technician job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Andrew Wiley Ph.D.: Before the pandemic, the number of students who needed special education was already on the rise. There is no question that the pandemic will increase that number even further. This pandemic has had a negative impact on the learning and development of millions of kids. Reversing the damage will require an influx of dedicated and skilled specialists on a national scale.
Also, there was an acute shortage of licensed special education teachers before the pandemic. Now, the demand for qualified special educators will be greater than ever before. In addition to offering an incredible range of career opportunities, special education offers a unique opportunity to make a tremendous difference for children and their families. This is true now more than ever before.
Jamie Brown Ph.D.
ProfessorEast Tennessee State University
Department of Counseling and Human Services
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Behavioral Technicians?
Jamie Brown Ph.D.: We know that many of our graduates are drawn to the field of Human Services due to the issues they have faced in their own lives. We have seen an uptick in students sharing the fact they have struggled with Adverse Childhood Experiences during our remote teaching and advising. We need to be aware of Trauma-Informed teaching and outreach as a program and as a university.
What type of skills will young Behavioral Technicians need?
Jamie Brown Ph.D.: Students need training in Adverse Childhood Experiences, Trauma-Informed Care, Active and Compassionate Listening, and the abilities to support and advocate for people that do not share your life experience and perspective.
What experience really stands out on Behavioral Technician resumes?
Jamie Brown Ph.D.: Community involvement and activism can set a potential candidate apart from other applicants.