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Behavioral Specialist Salary in the United States

How much does a Behavioral Specialist make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Behavioral Specialist in the United States is $69,408 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $33.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $86,752
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $59,839 to $78,486
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $51,127
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Behavioral Specialist Salaries

A Behavioral Specialist'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 Specialist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Behavioral Specialist'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): $62,318
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $70,072
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $90,110
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $104,387
  • Expert (over 8 years): $138,555
Levels Salary
Intake Co... Level Behavioral Specialist$62,318
Behaviora... Level Behavioral Specialist$70,072
Behaviora... Level Behavioral Specialist$90,110
Behaviora... Level Behavioral Specialist$104,387
Behaviora... Level Behavioral Specialist$138,555
View as Graph

How Do Behavioral Specialist 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 Specialists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $76,848.
  • California: $76,556.
  • Massachusetts: $75,536.

Top Paying Cities for Behavioral Specialists

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: $87,544
  • San Francisco: $86,585
  • Oakland: $84,760

What Skills Can Increase a Behavioral Specialist'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 Behavioral Specialist'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 $72,184
4%
Analysis and Assessment $72,184
4%
Listening $72,184
4%
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Behavioral Specialist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Behavioral Specialist 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, Behavioral Specialist positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Behavioral Specialist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Behavioral Specialist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Insurance$83,289$40.020%

Behavioral Specialist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Behavioral Specialist'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
$59,839
Average $69,408/year
$78,486
$4,987
Average $5,784/month
$6,541
$1,151
Average $1,335/week
$1,509
$29
Average $33/hour
$38
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $78,486 $6,541 $1,509 $38
Average $69,408 $5,784 $1,335 $33
25th Percentile $59,839 $4,987 $1,151 $29

Most common benefits for Behavioral Specialist

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

Common company salaries for Behavioral Specialist

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

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FAQ about Behavioral Specialist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Behavioral Specialist?

The Insurance industry offers the highest average compensation for Behavioral Specialist 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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