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Behavior Therapist Salary in the United States

How much does a Behavior Therapist make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Behavior Therapist in the United States is $66,493 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $32.

However, a Behavior Therapist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $78,102
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $57,957 to $72,569
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $50,186
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Behavior Therapist Salaries

A Behavior Therapist's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Behavior Therapist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Behavior Therapist's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $65,070
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $65,663
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $68,446
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $70,902
  • Expert (over 8 years): $71,341
Levels Salary
Entry Level Behavior Therapist$65,070
Intermediate Level Behavior Therapist$65,663
Senior Level Behavior Therapist$68,446
Specialist Level Behavior Therapist$70,902
Expert Level Behavior Therapist$71,341
View as Graph

How Do Behavior Therapist Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Behavior Therapists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $73,620.
  • California: $73,341.
  • Massachusetts: $72,364.

Top Paying Cities for Behavior Therapists

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $83,867
  • San Francisco: $82,949
  • Oakland: $81,201

What Skills Can Increase a Behavior Therapist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Planning (Mentioned in 10.3% Job Postings): An act or process of making or carrying out plans. Establishment of goals, policies, and procedures for a social or economic unit city planning business planning.
  • First Aid (Mentioned in 2.94% Job Postings): First aid refers to medical attention that is usually administered immediately after the injury occurs and at the location where it occurred.
  • Discharge Planning (Mentioned in 1.57% Job Postings): Developing a personalized plan to ensure the smooth transition of a patient from a health organization to the patient's home or residential care.
Skills Demand Percentage
Planning 10.3%
First Aid 2.94%
Discharge Planning 1.57%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Behavior Therapist's salary.

  • Dialysis: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Flexibility: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Group Therapy: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Dialysis $70,482
6%
Flexibility $69,817
5%
Group Therapy $69,152
4%
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Behavior Therapist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Behavior Therapist roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 30% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare, offers compensation 15% above the average. Conversely, Behavior Therapist positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Behavior Therapist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Behavior Therapist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$76,466$37.015%

How Education impacts a Behavior Therapist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Behavior Therapists enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Behavior Therapist with a Bachelor's Degree is between $61,034 and $64,817).

Behavior Therapist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Behavior Therapist
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 6.0%
High School 6.0%
Associates 3.7%
Bachelors 69.8%
Masters 19.5%
Doctorate 0.9%
View as Graph

Behavior Therapist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Behavior Therapist's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$57,957
Average $66,493/year
$72,569
$4,830
Average $5,541/month
$6,047
$1,115
Average $1,279/week
$1,396
$28
Average $32/hour
$35
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $72,569 $6,047 $1,396 $35
Average $66,493 $5,541 $1,279 $32
25th Percentile $57,957 $4,830 $1,115 $28

Most common benefits for Behavior Therapist

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Behavior Therapist

Here are companies hiring for Behavior Therapist and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Behavior Therapist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Behavior Therapist?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Behavior Therapist roles, with salaries approximately 15% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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