Behavior Counselor Salary in the United States

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

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Behavior Counselor in the United States is $66,561 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $32.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $77,171
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $61,345 to $72,115
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $56,597
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View as table View as graph 25% $61,345 10% $56,597 90% $77,171 75% $72,115 $66,561 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Behavior Counselor Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $72,115 $6,010 $1,387 $35
Average $66,561 $5,547 $1,280 $32
25th Percentile $61,345 $5,112 $1,180 $29
Check out Behavior Counselor Job Openings in the United States
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Key Factors That Influence Behavior Counselor Salaries

A Behavior Counselor'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 Behavior Counselor Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Behavior Counselor'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): $65,330
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $65,692
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $66,199
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $67,102
  • Expert (over 8 years): $68,892
Levels Salary
Entry Level Behavior Counselor$65,330
Intermediate Level Behavior Counselor$65,692
Senior Level Behavior Counselor$66,199
Specialist Level Behavior Counselor$67,102
Expert Level Behavior Counselor$68,892
$65,330 0 yr
$65,692 < 2 yrs
$66,199 2-4 yrs
$67,102 5-8 yrs
$68,892 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Behavior Counselors

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: $83,954
  • San Francisco: $83,034
  • Oakland: $81,284

What Skills Can Increase a Behavior Counselor's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Flexibility (Mentioned in 6.31% Job Postings): Adapting, responding to, and dealing with the changing environment and new situations.
  • EHR (Mentioned in 4.01% Job Postings): An electronic health record is the systematized collection of patient and population electronically stored health information in a digital format. These records can be shared across different health care settings
  • Group Therapy (Mentioned in 2.18% Job Postings): Group psychotherapy or group therapy is a form of psychotherapy in which one or more therapists treat a small group of clients together as a group. The term can legitimately refer to any form of psychotherapy when delivered in a group format, including cognitive behavioural therapy or interpersonal therapy, but it is usually applied to psychodynamic group therapy where the group context and group process is explicitly utilised as a mechanism of change by developing, exploring and examining interpersonal relationships within the group. The broader concept of group therapy can be taken to include any helping process that takes place in a group, including support groups, skills training groups (such as anger management, mindfulness, relaxation training or social skills training), and psychoeducation groups. The differences between psychodynamic groups, activity groups, support groups, problem-solving and psycoeducational groups have been discussed by psychiatrist Charles Montgomery. Other, more specialised forms of group therapy would include non-verbal expressive therapies such as art therapy, dance therapy, or music therapy.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Flexibility 6.31%
EHR 4.01%
Group Therapy 2.18%
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 Counselor's salary.
  • Diagnostic Testing: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Diagnostic Testing
$71,220
7%
Consulting
$71,220
7%
Leadership
$70,555
6%
Onboarding
$70,555
6%
Clinical Supervision
$69,889
5%
Initiative
$69,889
5%
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Behavior Counselor Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Behavior Counselor roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 20% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare, offers compensation 10% above the average. Conversely, Behavior Counselor positions in Edu., Government & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Behavior Counselor as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Behavior Counselor

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$73,217$35.010%

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

Understanding how a Behavior Counselor'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 Behavior Counselor

Salaries for a Behavior Counselor can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $92,438 in 2023 to around $92,092 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Behavior Counselor salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Behavior Counselor Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$92,438
2024
$93,365
2025
$92,092
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $92,438
2024 $93,365
2025 $92,092
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Behavior Counselor

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

Here are companies hiring for Behavior Counselor 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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