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Behavioral Health Professional Salary in the United States

How much does a Behavioral Health Professional make in the United States?

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for a Behavioral Health Professional in the United States is $36,046 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $17.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $40,609
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $33,305 to $38,434
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $30,810
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Behavioral Health Professional Salaries

A Behavioral Health Professional'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 Behavioral Health Professional Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Behavioral Health Professional'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): $36,236
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $32,696
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $39,320
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $43,888
  • Expert (over 8 years): $43,940
Levels Salary
Behaviora... Level Behavioral Health Professional$36,236
Home Care... Level Behavioral Health Professional$32,696
Home Care... Level Behavioral Health Professional$39,320
Home Care... Level Behavioral Health Professional$43,888
Home Care... Level Behavioral Health Professional$43,940
View as Graph

How Do Behavioral Health Professional 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 Behavioral Health Professionals. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $39,910.
  • California: $39,758.
  • Massachusetts: $39,228.

Top Paying Cities for Behavioral Health Professionals

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: $45,464
  • San Francisco: $44,967
  • Oakland: $44,019

What Skills Can Increase a Behavioral Health Professional's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Commitment (Mentioned in 5.83% Job Postings): An agreement or pledge to do something in the future a commitment to improve conditions at the prison especially : an engagement to assume a financial obligation at a future date.
  • Medication Administration (Mentioned in 5.59% Job Postings): Medication administration is the direct application of a prescribed medication whether by injection, inhalation, ingestion, or other means to the body of the individual by an individual legally authorized to do so.
  • Service Quality (Mentioned in 3.86% Job Postings): Service quality is a measure of how an organization delivers its services compared to the expectations of its customers.
Skills Demand Percentage
Commitment 5.83%
Medication Administration 5.59%
Service Quality 3.86%
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 Behavioral Health Professional's salary.

  • Social Work: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
  • Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Analysis: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Social Work $40,371
12%
Leadership $39,290
9%
Analysis $39,290
9%
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Behavioral Health Professional Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Behavioral Health Professional 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, Healthcare, offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely, Behavioral Health Professional positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Behavioral Health Professional as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Behavioral Health Professional

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$43,255$21.020%

Behavioral Health Professional Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Behavioral Health Professional'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 October 01, 2026
$33,305
Average $36,046/year
$38,434
$2,775
Average $3,004/month
$3,203
$640
Average $693/week
$739
$16
Average $17/hour
$18
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $38,434 $3,203 $739 $18
Average $36,046 $3,004 $693 $17
25th Percentile $33,305 $2,775 $640 $16

Most common benefits for Behavioral Health Professional

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

Common company salaries for Behavioral Health Professional

Here are companies hiring for Behavioral Health Professional and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Behavioral Health Professional

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Behavioral Health Professional?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Behavioral Health Professional 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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