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Behavioral therapist salary
Average behavioral therapist salary
$37,881
Understanding Behavioral Therapist Salaries
A behavioral therapist plays a crucial role in mental health by providing therapeutic support to individuals with various behavioral challenges. As of October 2025, the average salary for a behavioral therapist is $37,881 per year. However, this figure can differ based on experience, education, and geographic location.
Salary Influencers
Factors such as years of experience, specialization, and the type of employer significantly impact earnings. For instance, therapists working in private practice or hospitals often earn more than those in educational settings. Additionally, certain states offer higher salaries for behavioral therapists, such as California and Massachusetts, which are known for their robust healthcare systems.
Maximizing Earnings
To increase your earning potential, consider pursuing advanced certifications or specializations in areas like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). Networking within professional organizations can also lead to new opportunities and insights into high-paying job openings.
Job Opportunities
With a growing emphasis on mental health treatment, the demand for skilled behavioral therapists continues to rise. Explore job listings on our platform to find opportunities that align with your qualifications and career goals.
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Where can a Behavioral Therapist earn more?
Behavioral therapist salary estimates from across the web
Average behavioral therapist salary by state
The highest-paying states for behavioral therapists are New York, Pennsylvania, and New Hampshire. The lowest average behavioral therapist salary states are Tennessee, Arizona, and Iowa.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for behavioral therapists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pennsylvania | $44,246 | $21.27 |
| 2 | New York | $44,382 | $21.34 |
| 3 | Indiana | $39,696 | $19.08 |
| 4 | Kentucky | $41,780 | $20.09 |
| 5 | Maryland | $41,482 | $19.94 |
| 6 | Michigan | $39,323 | $18.91 |
| 7 | Delaware | $41,701 | $20.05 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $39,843 | $19.16 |
| 9 | Mississippi | $41,964 | $20.18 |
| 10 | Virginia | $41,729 | $20.06 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $41,966 | $20.18 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $38,047 | $18.29 |
| 13 | Nevada | $38,789 | $18.65 |
| 14 | North Carolina | $39,176 | $18.83 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $40,137 | $19.30 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $40,110 | $19.28 |
| 17 | Arkansas | $36,712 | $17.65 |
| 18 | Alabama | $38,375 | $18.45 |
| 19 | Texas | $36,353 | $17.48 |
| 20 | North Dakota | $34,796 | $16.73 |
| 21 | Maine | $35,394 | $17.02 |
| 22 | Georgia | $36,253 | $17.43 |
| 23 | Ohio | $35,604 | $17.12 |
| 24 | California | $38,765 | $18.64 |
| 25 | Kansas | $36,001 | $17.31 |
| 26 | District of Columbia | $41,811 | $20.10 |
| 27 | Vermont | $39,284 | $18.89 |
| 28 | Wyoming | $38,638 | $18.58 |
| 29 | New Mexico | $36,722 | $17.65 |
| 30 | Illinois | $35,163 | $16.91 |
| 31 | Alaska | $35,540 | $17.09 |
| 32 | Wisconsin | $34,290 | $16.49 |
| 33 | Washington | $34,253 | $16.47 |
| 34 | Florida | $35,261 | $16.95 |
| 35 | Missouri | $33,258 | $15.99 |
| 36 | Connecticut | $36,118 | $17.36 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $34,680 | $16.67 |
| 38 | Idaho | $33,898 | $16.30 |
| 39 | Minnesota | $34,439 | $16.56 |
| 40 | Colorado | $32,995 | $15.86 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $31,027 | $14.92 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $34,131 | $16.41 |
| 43 | Tennessee | $31,845 | $15.31 |
| 44 | Iowa | $31,281 | $15.04 |
| 45 | Montana | $29,608 | $14.23 |
| 46 | South Dakota | $32,813 | $15.78 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $30,653 | $14.74 |
| 48 | Hawaii | $34,820 | $16.74 |
| 49 | Oregon | $31,907 | $15.34 |
| 50 | Utah | $32,461 | $15.61 |
| 51 | Arizona | $31,360 | $15.08 |
Highest paying cities for behavioral therapists
The highest-paying cities for behavioral therapists are New York, NY, Philadelphia, PA, and Fort Wayne, IN.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $44,529 | $21.41 |
| 2 | Philadelphia, PA | $44,330 | $21.31 |
| 3 | Fort Wayne, IN | $40,098 | $19.28 |
| 4 | Morgan Hill, CA | $39,361 | $18.92 |
| 5 | New Bedford, MA | $38,423 | $18.47 |
| 6 | San Juan, TX | $37,008 | $17.79 |
| 7 | Little Rock, AR | $36,789 | $17.69 |
| 8 | Newtown, CT | $36,192 | $17.40 |
| 9 | Akron, OH | $35,915 | $17.27 |
| 10 | Chicago, IL | $35,231 | $16.94 |
| 11 | Manitowoc, WI | $34,447 | $16.56 |
| 12 | Aurora, CO | $33,038 | $15.88 |
| 13 | Kansas City, MO | $33,010 | $15.87 |
| 14 | Des Moines, IA | $31,163 | $14.98 |
Behavioral therapist salary details
A behavioral therapist's salary ranges from $27,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $51,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a behavioral therapist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $51,000 | $4,250 | $25 |
| 75th Percentile | $44,000 | $3,667 | $21 |
| Average | $37,881 | $3,157 | $18 |
| 25th Percentile | $32,000 | $2,667 | $15 |
| 10th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
Highest paying behavioral therapist jobs
The highest paying types of behavioral therapists are psychiatric social worker, therapist, and treatment specialist.
| 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 |
| Social Work Internship | $37,178 | $3,098 | $17.87 | 142,426 |
| Residential Counselor | $34,117 | $2,843 | $16.40 | 81,287 |
| Mental Health Worker | $41,081 | $3,423 | $19.75 | 144,879 |
Top companies hiring behavioral therapists now:
Which companies pay behavioral therapists the most?
Behavioral therapist salaries at George C. Grape Community Hospital and San Luis Valley Behavioral Health Group are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average behavioral therapist salary at companies like Cleveland Clinic and Broadlawns Medical Center are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | George C. Grape Community Hospital | $70,771 | $34.02 |
| 2 | San Luis Valley Behavioral Health Group | $64,757 | $31.13 |
| 3 | Cleveland Clinic | $61,823 | $29.72 |
| 4 | Broadlawns Medical Center | $59,550 | $28.63 |
| 5 | UPMC | $59,430 | $28.57 |
| 6 | ProMedica Toledo Hospital | $58,381 | $28.07 |
| 7 | St. Vincent Charity Medical Center | $53,503 | $25.72 |
| 8 | Summa Health | $52,253 | $25.12 |
| 9 | SwedishAmerican | $48,931 | $23.52 |
| 10 | Newtown School District | $47,473 | $22.82 |
| 11 | Maxim Healthcare Group | $47,423 | $22.80 |
| 12 | Child & Adolescent Behavioral Health | $47,393 | $22.79 |
| 13 | Willis-Knighton | $45,397 | $21.83 |
| 14 | Parkview Community Hospital Medical Center, Inc. | $45,086 | $21.68 |
| 15 | HCR ManorCare | $44,511 | $21.40 |
| 16 | BayCare Health System | $44,499 | $21.39 |
| 17 | Arlington County, VA | $44,334 | $21.31 |
| 18 | Southern Indian Health Council | $42,862 | $20.61 |
| 19 | Lake County | $42,702 | $20.53 |
| 20 | Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital Inc | $41,288 | $19.85 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Behavioral Therapist salary by industry
The average behavioral therapist salary varies across industries:
- The average behavioral therapist salary in the energy industry is $41,338, the highest of any industry.
- The average behavioral therapist salary in the finance industry is $39,107.
- Behavioral therapists in the professional industry earn an average salary of $34,543, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for behavioral therapists
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Energy | $41,338 | $19.87 |
| 2 | Education | $39,107 | $18.80 |
| 3 | Government | $38,729 | $18.62 |
| 4 | Non Profits | $36,778 | $17.68 |
| 5 | Health Care | $36,181 | $17.39 |
| 6 | Professional | $34,543 | $16.61 |
High paying behavioral therapist jobs
Behavioral therapist salary trends
The average behavioral therapist salary has risen by $5,669 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average behavioral therapist earned $32,212 annually, but today, they earn $37,881 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for behavioral therapists over the last decade.
Compare behavioral therapist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average behavioral therapist salary over time
Compare behavioral therapist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Behavioral therapist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $37,900 | $18.21 | +3.0% |
| 2025 | $36,700 | $17.66 | +2.4% |
| 2024 | $35,900 | $17.24 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $35,000 | $16.82 | +1.9% |
| 2022 | $34,300 | $16.49 | +2.7% |
Recently added behavioral therapist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tbd_10_13_2022_The Autism Therapy Group | Bilingual Behavioral Therapist | Chicago, IL | 06/29/2025 | $35,479 |
| Amergis | Behavioral Therapist-School Setting | El Monte, CA | 06/24/2025 | $43,827 |
| Maxim Healthcare | Behavioral Therapist-Training Provided | Burbank, CA | 06/22/2025 | $43,827 |
| Flywheel Centers | Behavioral Therapist | Teaneck, NJ | 06/21/2025 | $50,088 |
| Cortica | ABA Behavioral Therapist | Westmont, CA | 06/21/2025 | $42,178 |
| Cortica | ABA Behavioral Therapist | Romeoville, IL | 06/21/2025 | $42,178 |
| Avera Health | Outpatient Therapist | Behavioral Health | Sioux Falls, SD | 06/19/2025 | $60,840 |
| Tbd_10_13_2022_The Autism Therapy Group | Behavioral Therapist | Milwaukee, WI | 06/10/2025 | $35,479 |
| Tbd_10_13_2022_The Autism Therapy Group | Behavioral Therapist | Del Rio, TX | 06/10/2025 | $35,479 |
| Cortica | Behavioral Therapist | Dedham, MA | 05/29/2025 | $49,295 |
Behavioral therapist salary FAQs
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