Behavior Counselor Salary in Malibu, CA

How much does a Behavior Counselor make in Malibu, CA?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Behavior Counselor in Malibu, CA is $71,824 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $35.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $83,274
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $66,188 to $77,818
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $61,057
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
Smart Recruiting
Recruit with AI
View as table View as graph 25% $66,188 10% $61,057 90% $83,274 75% $77,818 $71,824 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Behavior Counselor Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $77,818 $6,485 $1,496 $37
Average $71,824 $5,985 $1,381 $35
25th Percentile $66,188 $5,516 $1,273 $32
Check out Behavior Counselor Job Openings in Malibu, CA
Accounts Payable Specialist

Robert Half - Malibu, CA

Cryptologic Technician

exotic kure kennel - Malibu, CA

Banquet Captain Calamigos Ranch in Malibu

Calamigos Ranch - Malibu, CA

Licensed Therapist

SBT - Malibu, CA

Search More Behavior Counselor Jobs in Malibu, CA

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, skills 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): $70,494
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $70,885
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $71,433
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $72,409
  • Expert (over 8 years): $74,341
Levels Salary
Entry Level Behavior Counselor$70,494
Intermediate Level Behavior Counselor$70,885
Senior Level Behavior Counselor$71,433
Specialist Level Behavior Counselor$72,409
Expert Level Behavior Counselor$74,341
$70,494 0 yr
$70,885 < 2 yrs
$71,433 2-4 yrs
$72,409 5-8 yrs
$74,341 > 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph

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: $83,955
  • San Francisco: $83,036
  • Oakland: $81,286

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
$76,852
7%
Consulting
$76,852
7%
Leadership
$76,134
6%
Onboarding
$76,134
6%
Clinical Supervision
$75,416
5%
Initiative
$75,416
5%
Get Latest Data

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$79,007$38.010%

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 September 01, 2026

Find Your Next Behavior Counselor Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Behavior Counselor job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
  • THE EMILY SHANE FOUNDATION

    Malibu, CA

    THE EMILY SHANE FOUNDATION | Malibu, CA

    Administrative Assistant Job DescriptionRemote Position OnlyThe Emily Shane Foundation, a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit charity organization, is dedicated t... more

    5 Days Ago

  • INSPIRED

    Malibu, CA

    INSPIRED | Malibu, CA

    A travel agency is looking for a Travel Customer Representative to support clients throughout their travel journey.The role involves handling inquiries, as... more

    5 Days Ago

  • Edgeworth Security

    Malibu, CA

    Edgeworth Security | Malibu, CA

    Executive Protection AgentEdgeworth Security is a full-service security firm, specializing in Interactive Video Surveillance, Security System Integration, ... more

    5 Days Ago

  • SunLife Organics

    Malibu, CA

    SunLife Organics | Malibu, CA

    Become a SunLife Samurai. This is for our Point Dume location As a Samurai, you'll be the heartbeat of the SunLife team. You'll lead by example, motivate y... more

    5 Days Ago

  • ATC West Healthcare

    Malibu, CA

    ATC West Healthcare | Malibu, CA

    ATC WEST HEALTHCARE IS CURRENTLY HIRING FOR A RN PSYCH/MED SURG TRAVEL ASSIGNMENT FOR A PROMINENT HEALTHCARE FACILITY IN MALIBU - CA, USA.ASSIGNMENT DETAIL... more

    5 Days Ago

  • Whole Foods

    Malibu, CA

    Whole Foods | Malibu, CA

    Job ResponsibilitiesOrders, replenishes, and merchandises produce and participates in regional programs for purchasing and promotions. Monitors inventory c... more

    5 Days Ago

For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Price My Industry Jobs

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Cost of Living In Malibu, CA

Cost of Living in Malibu, CA is
38.4% Higher
than the National Average

Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.

Explore Cost of Living Calculator
Empower Your Team

Salary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.

Find Salary.com Comp Consulting
See Salary Trends in 2025

Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.

Price Your Company Jobs and Make Pay Fair

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst