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Behaviorist Salary in the United States

How much does a Behaviorist make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Behaviorist in the United States is $69,767 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $34.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $87,586
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $59,961 to $79,094
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $51,033
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Behaviorist Salaries

A Behaviorist'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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Behaviorist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Behaviorist'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): $63,863
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $71,810
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $92,345
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $106,975
  • Expert (over 8 years): $141,990
Levels Salary
Intake Co... Level Behaviorist$63,863
Behaviori... Level Behaviorist$71,810
Behaviora... Level Behaviorist$92,345
Behaviora... Level Behaviorist$106,975
Behaviora... Level Behaviorist$141,990
View as Graph

How Do Behaviorist 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 Behaviorists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $77,246.
  • California: $76,953.
  • Massachusetts: $75,927.

Top Paying Cities for Behaviorists

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: $87,997
  • San Francisco: $87,033
  • Oakland: $85,199

What Skills Can Increase a Behaviorist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 18.99% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Programming (Mentioned in 2.57% Job Postings): Executing logic to facilitate computing operations and functionality in one or more languages.
  • Pediatric (Mentioned in 1.89% Job Postings): Pediatrics is the branch of medicine that involves the medical care of infants, children, adolescents, and young adults.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 18.99%
Programming 2.57%
Pediatric 1.89%
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 Behaviorist's salary.

  • Integrity: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Analysis and Assessment: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Listening: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Integrity $72,557
4%
Analysis and Assessment $72,557
4%
Listening $72,557
4%
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Behaviorist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Behaviorist roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Insurance, offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely, Behaviorist positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Behaviorist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Behaviorist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Insurance$83,720$40.020%

Behaviorist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Behaviorist'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
$59,961
Average $69,767/year
$79,094
$4,997
Average $5,814/month
$6,591
$1,153
Average $1,342/week
$1,521
$29
Average $34/hour
$38
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $79,094 $6,591 $1,521 $38
Average $69,767 $5,814 $1,342 $34
25th Percentile $59,961 $4,997 $1,153 $29

Most common benefits for Behaviorist

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

Common company salaries for Behaviorist

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

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FAQ about Behaviorist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Behaviorist?

The Insurance industry offers the highest average compensation for Behaviorist roles, with salaries approximately 20% 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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