Lead Behavior Therapist Salary in the United States

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

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Lead Behavior Therapist in the United States is $40,233 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $19.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $44,945
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $35,759 to $42,699
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $31,686
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View as table View as graph 25% $35,759 10% $31,686 90% $44,945 75% $42,699 $40,233 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Lead Behavior Therapist Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $42,699 $3,558 $821 $21
Average $40,233 $3,353 $774 $19
25th Percentile $35,759 $2,980 $688 $17
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Key Factors That Influence Lead Behavior Therapist Salaries

A Lead 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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Lead Behavior Therapist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Lead 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): $40,108
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $41,854
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $42,605
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $42,793
  • Expert (over 8 years): $42,887
Levels Salary
Entry Level Lead Behavior Therapist$40,108
Intermediate Level Lead Behavior Therapist$41,854
Senior Level Lead Behavior Therapist$42,605
Specialist Level Lead Behavior Therapist$42,793
Expert Level Lead Behavior Therapist$42,887
$40,108 0 yr
$41,854 < 2 yrs
$42,605 2-4 yrs
$42,793 5-8 yrs
$42,887 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Lead 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 Lead Behavior Therapists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $44,546.
  • California: $44,377.
  • Massachusetts: $43,785.

Top Paying Cities for Lead 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: $50,745
  • San Francisco: $50,190
  • Oakland: $49,132

What Skills Can Increase a Lead Behavior Therapist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Scheduling (Mentioned in 9.33% Job Postings): Scheduling is the process of arranging, controlling and optimizing work and workloads in a production process or manufacturing process.
  • Record Keeping (Mentioned in 1.65% Job Postings): Maintaining financial records and transactions of an organization to track all of the financial statements and auditing systems.
  • Records Management System (Mentioned in 1.22% Job Postings): Records Management system is the management of records for an organization throughout the records-life cycle.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Scheduling 9.33%
Record Keeping 1.65%
Records Management System 1.22%
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 Lead Behavior Therapist's salary.
  • Construction Management: Can increase your salary by up to 52%.
  • Quality Assurance: Can increase your salary by up to 22%.
  • Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 20%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Construction Management
$61,154
52%
Quality Assurance
$49,084
22%
Project Management
$48,279
20%
Preventative Maintenance
$48,279
20%
Analysis
$45,463
13%
Leadership
$44,658
11%
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Lead Behavior Therapist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Lead 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, Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit, offers compensation 10% above the average. Conversely, Lead Behavior Therapist positions in Business Services typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Lead Behavior Therapist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Lead Behavior Therapist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit$44,256$21.010%
Healthcare$44,256$21.010%

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

Understanding how a Lead 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 July 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Lead Behavior Therapist

Salaries for a Lead Behavior Therapist can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $37,614 in 2023 to around $37,147 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Lead Behavior Therapist salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Lead Behavior Therapist Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$37,614
2024
$37,561
2025
$37,147
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $37,614
2024 $37,561
2025 $37,147
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Lead Behavior Therapist

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Lead Behavior Therapist

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

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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.)

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