Behavior Management Specialist Salary in the United States
How much does a Behavior Management Specialist make in the United States?
As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Behavior Management Specialist in the United States is $61,827 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $30.
However, a Behavior Management Specialist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $79,302
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $55,262 to $70,974
Key Factors That Influence Behavior Management Specialist Salaries
A Behavior Management 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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
How Experience Level Affects Behavior Management Specialist Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Behavior Management 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): $61,154
Early Career (1-2 years): $68,774
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $88,434
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $102,435
Expert (over 8 years): $135,955
Levels
Salary
Behavior ... Level Behavior Management Specialist
$61,154
Behavior ... Level Behavior Management Specialist
$68,774
Behaviora... Level Behavior Management Specialist
$88,434
Behaviora... Level Behavior Management Specialist
$102,435
Behaviora... Level Behavior Management Specialist
$135,955
$61,1540 yr
$68,774< 2 yrs
$88,4342-4 yrs
$102,4355-8 yrs
$135,955> 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph
What Am I Worth?
How Do Behavior Management 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 Behavior Management Specialists.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
District of Columbia: $68,455.
California: $68,195.
Massachusetts: $67,286.
District of Columbia$68,455
California$68,195
Massachusetts$67,286
Washington$67,039
New Jersey$67,014
Alaska$66,928
Connecticut$66,074
New York$65,728
Hawaii$64,621
Rhode Island$64,102
Maryland$63,750
Minnesota$63,267
Colorado$63,082
Illinois$63,020
Oregon$62,785
Delaware$62,612
New Hampshire$62,503
Virginia$62,260
Pennsylvania$61,549
Nevada$61,190
North Dakota$61,073
Michigan$60,887
Wisconsin$60,819
Vermont$60,683
Texas$60,306
Maine$60,281
Arizona$60,244
Ohio$60,201
Georgia$59,632
Indiana$59,348
Wyoming$59,292
Utah$59,205
Iowa$59,168
Kansas$58,871
Louisiana$58,785
North Carolina$58,754
Missouri$58,742
Florida$58,501
Montana$58,371
Nebraska$58,247
Kentucky$58,179
South Carolina$57,932
Tennessee$57,777
Idaho$57,715
New Mexico$57,264
Oklahoma$57,165
Alabama$56,800
South Dakota$56,188
Arkansas$55,854
West Virginia$55,675
Mississippi$55,137
Top Paying Cities for Behavior Management 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: $77,982
San Francisco: $77,128
Oakland: $75,503
San Jose, CA$77,982
San Francisco, CA$77,128
Oakland, CA$75,503
New York, NY$71,187
Paramus, NJ$70,321
Queens Village, NY$70,318
Passaic, NJ$70,259
Bergenfield, NJ$70,254
Stamford, CT$70,118
Huntington, NY$70,092
Newark, NJ$69,636
Bridgeport, CT$69,505
Vallejo, CA$69,382
New Brunswick, NJ$69,357
Petaluma, CA$69,320
Middlesex, NJ$69,203
Somerset, NJ$69,159
Santa Cruz, CA$69,079
Boston, MA$68,702
Monterey, CA$68,485
Seattle, WA$68,343
Santa Rosa, CA$68,331
Los Angeles, CA$68,312
Juneau, AK$68,152
Washington, DC$68,084
Orange, CA$67,864
Santa Ana, CA$67,700
Long Beach, CA$67,639
Anaheim, CA$67,626
Anchorage, AK$67,595
Santa Maria, CA$67,410
Everett, WA$67,397
Danbury, CT$67,180
Bremerton, WA$67,094
Tacoma, WA$66,872
New Suffolk, NY$66,871
Sacramento, CA$66,853
Santa Barbara, CA$66,785
Trenton, NJ$66,717
San Diego, CA$66,717
Brockton, MA$66,649
Fairbanks, AK$66,498
Lompoc, CA$66,340
Lowell, MA$66,290
Ventura, CA$66,278
Nashua, NH$66,266
Stockton, CA$66,260
Modesto, CA$65,808
Poughkeepsie, NY$65,672
Olympia, WA$65,555
Kennewick, WA$65,555
New Haven, CT$65,530
Lawrence, MA$65,308
Hartford, CT$65,246
Riverside, CA$65,233
New Bedford, MA$65,172
Richland, WA$65,172
Bakersfield, CA$65,085
San Bernardino, CA$65,060
New Britain, CT$65,054
Atlantic City, NJ$65,054
New London, CT$65,029
Norwich, CT$65,011
Portsmouth, NH$64,999
Boulder, CO$64,867
Portland, OR$64,782
Worcester, MA$64,776
Minneapolis, MN$64,584
Philadelphia, PA$64,498
Honolulu, HI$64,294
Saint Paul, MN$64,264
Vineland, NJ$64,250
Providence, RI$64,071
Chicago, IL$63,892
Bellingham, WA$63,818
Springfield, MA$63,768
Baltimore, MD$63,750
Chico, CA$63,595
Pittsfield, MA$63,428
Manchester, NH$63,311
Spokane, WA$63,039
Denver, CO$63,032
Albany, NY$62,742
Troy, NY$62,717
Nassau, NY$62,651
Schenectady, NY$62,587
Wilmington, DE$62,538
Burlington, VT$62,451
Salem, OR$62,427
Portland, ME$62,235
Yakima, WA$62,173
Rochester, MN$61,981
Reno, NV$61,950
Fresno, CA$61,950
Milwaukee, WI$61,895
Detroit, MI$61,833
Ann Arbor, MI$61,822
Allentown, PA$61,814
Colorado Springs, CO$61,709
Syracuse, NY$61,678
Carson City, NV$61,678
Houston, TX$61,592
Eugene, OR$61,561
Gary, IN$61,487
Springfield, OR$61,437
Bismarck, ND$61,425
Galveston, TX$61,382
Medford, OR$61,289
Fort Collins, CO$61,264
Concord, NH$61,233
Austin, TX$61,215
Mesa, AZ$61,085
Reading, PA$61,079
Phoenix, AZ$61,073
Dallas, TX$61,054
Saint Cloud, MN$60,995
Madison, WI$60,912
Utica, NY$60,745
Rochester, NY$60,646
Des Moines, IA$60,640
Raleigh, NC$60,634
Atlanta, GA$60,541
Battle Creek, MI$60,522
Salt Lake City, UT$60,504
Lancaster, PA$60,411
Harrisburg, PA$60,324
Kansas City, MO$60,263
Champaign, IL$60,250
Kansas City, KS$60,250
Fort Worth, TX$60,244
Columbus, OH$60,234
Boca Raton, FL$60,219
Pittsburgh, PA$60,195
Richmond, VA$60,170
Indianapolis, IN$60,157
Cleveland, OH$60,151
Las Vegas, NV$60,077
Cincinnati, OH$60,077
Petersburg, VA$59,984
Huntsville, AL$59,892
Lansing, MI$59,850
Lebanon, PA$59,842
Pueblo, CO$59,836
Appleton, WI$59,817
Buffalo, NY$59,793
Dayton, OH$59,774
Racine, WI$59,762
Charlotte, NC$59,756
Saint Louis, MO$59,737
York, PA$59,700
Elkhart, IN$59,700
Gastonia, NC$59,688
Billings, MT$59,673
Beaumont, TX$59,657
Lorain, OH$59,644
Benton Harbor, MI$59,632
Toledo, OH$59,620
Binghamton, NY$59,589
Rock Hill, SC$59,582
Rockford, IL$59,552
Springfield, IL$59,527
Elyria, OH$59,521
Fargo, ND$59,521
Flagstaff, AZ$59,477
Fort Lauderdale, FL$59,440
Duluth, MN$59,403
Miami, FL$59,403
Cheyenne, WY$59,360
Grand Forks, ND$59,360
Bangor, ME$59,224
Cedar Rapids, IA$59,156
Durham, NC$59,130
Louisville, KY$59,125
Grand Rapids, MI$59,113
Hialeah, FL$59,106
Casper, WY$59,020
Scranton, PA$58,946
New Orleans, LA$58,927
Virginia Beach, VA$58,921
Akron, OH$58,890
Peoria, IL$58,810
Sarasota, FL$58,797
Nashville, TN$58,754
Omaha, NE$58,754
Green Bay, WI$58,754
Baton Rouge, LA$58,723
Charleston, SC$58,711
Jamestown, NY$58,680
Davenport, IA$58,680
Tucson, AZ$58,649
Saint Petersburg, FL$58,612
Tampa, FL$58,599
Evansville, IN$58,562
Port Arthur, TX$58,562
Bradenton, FL$58,538
Santa Fe, NM$58,426
Orlando, FL$58,315
Clearwater, FL$58,296
Canton, OH$58,167
La Crosse, WI$58,167
Albuquerque, NM$58,130
Newport News, VA$58,123
High Point, NC$58,105
Ogden, UT$58,080
Corpus Christi, TX$58,031
Norfolk, VA$57,994
Laramie, WY$57,994
Rock Island, IL$57,956
Saginaw, MI$57,944
Jacksonville, FL$57,938
Salisbury, NC$57,926
Boise, ID$57,913
Moline, IL$57,882
Fort Myers, FL$57,864
Memphis, TN$57,851
Tulsa, OK$57,820
Waterloo, IA$57,783
Spartanburg, SC$57,722
Lincoln, NE$57,691
Fort Wayne, IN$57,678
Provo, UT$57,672
Cedar Falls, IA$57,598
San Antonio, TX$57,573
Greensboro, NC$57,548
South Bend, IN$57,542
Savannah, GA$57,474
Muskegon, MI$57,449
Birmingham, AL$57,443
Winston Salem, NC$57,413
Lake Charles, LA$57,264
Anderson, IN$57,252
Lexington, KY$57,233
Augusta, GA$57,215
Greenville, SC$57,215
Lima, OH$57,165
Wichita, KS$57,159
Tuscaloosa, AL$57,159
Columbia, SC$57,103
Springfield, OH$57,091
Asheville, NC$56,992
Bloomington, IN$56,949
Knoxville, TN$56,726
Shreveport, LA$56,720
Wilmington, NC$56,640
Roanoke, VA$56,640
Topeka, KS$56,528
Frankfort, KY$56,521
Oklahoma City, OK$56,479
Chillicothe, OH$56,454
Longview, TX$56,448
Melbourne, FL$56,442
Sioux Falls, SD$56,343
Mobile, AL$56,337
Terre Haute, IN$56,312
Altoona, PA$56,275
Amarillo, TX$56,231
Killeen, TX$56,213
Fayetteville, AR$56,163
Chattanooga, TN$56,145
Sioux City, IA$56,089
Idaho Falls, ID$56,077
Lynchburg, VA$56,027
Gainesville, FL$55,947
Portsmouth, OH$55,916
Little Rock, AR$55,904
Lafayette, LA$55,879
Youngstown, OH$55,879
Daytona Beach, FL$55,842
Clarksville, TN$55,836
Pensacola, FL$55,830
Temple, TX$55,825
Hopkinsville, KY$55,644
Erie, PA$55,632
Florence, SC$55,607
Charleston, WV$55,508
Great Falls, MT$55,477
Macon, GA$55,391
Tallahassee, FL$55,384
Fayetteville, NC$55,372
Waco, TX$55,360
Helena, MT$55,316
Pine Bluff, AR$55,293
Vincennes, IN$55,218
Lubbock, TX$55,193
Alamogordo, NM$55,156
Twin Falls, ID$55,100
Rapid City, SD$55,081
Jackson, MS$54,970
Huntington, WV$54,966
Greenville, MS$54,964
Parkersburg, WV$54,901
Montgomery, AL$54,890
Wichita Falls, TX$54,828
Springfield, MO$54,828
Biloxi, MS$54,797
Monroe, LA$54,735
Johnstown, PA$54,692
Sumter, SC$54,667
Columbus, GA$54,661
Pascagoula, MS$54,544
Abilene, TX$54,544
Kingsport, TN$54,383
Albany, GA$54,383
Gulfport, MS$54,364
Alexandria, LA$54,160
Fort Smith, AR$54,006
El Paso, TX$53,839
Las Cruces, NM$53,561
Harlingen, TX$53,404
Pocatello, ID$53,394
Florence, AL$53,313
Brownsville, TX$53,301
Mcallen, TX$53,171
Dothan, AL$53,084
Columbus, MS$52,717
Altus, OK$52,429
Lawton, OK$52,312
Pierre, SD$52,089
What Skills Can Increase a Behavior Management Specialist's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Customer Service (Mentioned in 10.71% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
Data Entry (Mentioned in 3.35% Job Postings): Transcribing information into an electronic medium such as a computer or other electronic device.
Patient Care (Mentioned in 2.26% Job Postings): Patient care refers to the prevention, treatment, and management of illness and the preservation of physical and mental well-being through services offered by health professionals.
See More Skills
Skills
Demand Percentage
Customer Service
10.71%
Data Entry
3.35%
Patient Care
2.26%
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 Management Specialist's salary.
Business Development: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Analysis: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Presentation: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill
Salary
Salary % Increase
Business Development
$64,918
5%
Analysis
$64,300
4%
Presentation
$64,300
4%
Leadership
$63,682
3%
Managed Care
$63,682
3%
Networking
$63,063
2%
Get Latest Data
Behavior Management Specialist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Behavior Management Specialist 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, Healthcare,
offers compensation 10% above the average. Conversely,
Behavior Management Specialist positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay,
as this sector often view Behavior Management Specialist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industries for a Behavior Management Specialist
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare
$68,009
$33.0
10%
Insurance
$68,009
$33.0
10%
How Education impacts a Behavior Management Specialist's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many Behavior Management Specialists enter the field with a Master's Degree or MBA degree,
higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.
According to our 100% employer-reported salary data,
the median salary for a Behavior Management Specialist with a Master's Degree or MBA is between
$60,510
and $65,462).
Behavior Management Specialist Salaries by Degree Level
Typical Education for Behavior Management Specialist
Understanding how a Behavior Management 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.
Hourly
Monthly
Weekly
Yearly
Table View
Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$55,262
Average$61,827/year
$70,974
$4,605
Average$5,152/month
$5,914
$1,063
Average$1,189/week
$1,365
$27
Average$30/hour
$34
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$70,974
$5,914
$1,365
$34
Average
$61,827
$5,152
$1,189
$30
25th Percentile
$55,262
$4,605
$1,063
$27
Salaries of jobs related to Behavior Management Specialist
Salaries for a Behavior Management Specialist can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $53,407 in 2023
to around $52,775 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Behavior Management Specialist salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Behavior Management Specialist Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$53,407
2024
$53,380
2025
$52,775
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$53,407
2024
$53,380
2025
$52,775
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Behavior Management Specialist
Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Behavior Management Specialist
Here are companies hiring for Behavior Management Specialist and their salaries, click below for more details.
N
$97,099/per year
New York Police Department
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$95,962/per year
State of New York - Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$94,615/per year
US Department of Transportation
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$93,141/per year
US General Services Administration
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
L
$92,342/per year
Los Angeles County
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
D
$92,011/per year
Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Prisons
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$91,967/per year
US Department of Commerce
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$91,755/per year
US Department of Energy
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
F
$91,673/per year
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
N
$90,276/per year
Naval Sea Systems Command
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
T
$88,975/per year
The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$88,721/per year
San Diego County
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
T
$88,664/per year
The TTB
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
L
$87,569/per year
Lutheran Services
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
M
$85,066/per year
Maryland Inc
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$83,780/per year
State University of New York
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
N
$82,969/per year
New York State
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
P
$82,703/per year
Puerto Rico Department of Education
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$80,526/per year
US Central Command
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
H
$80,286/per year
Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
A
$79,270/per year
Air Force Reserve
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
A
$78,505/per year
American Automobile Association (AAA)
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$76,678/per year
State of Florida - Department of Health
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
N
$75,183/per year
New York State Department
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$75,106/per year
State University System of Florida
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
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FAQ about Behavior Management Specialist
1. What industry pays the highest salary for Behavior Management Specialist?
The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Behavior Management Specialist roles,
with salaries approximately 10% 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.
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