What is the average Behavioral Therapist (ABA) salary in the US?

The national median Behavioral Therapist (ABA) salary is $58,000 per year. Entry-level positions start around $42,000, while senior professionals earn $102,000 or more.

Which city pays Behavioral Therapist (ABA)s the most?

New York City offers the highest median Behavioral Therapist (ABA) salary at $108K per year among the cities we track. However, high-cost cities like San Francisco and New York often have lower purchasing power once cost of living is factored in.

How fast are Behavioral Therapist (ABA) salaries growing?

Behavioral Therapist (ABA) salaries are growing at 8.5% annually, above the national average wage growth rate.

Mental Health40% remote-eligible+8.5% YoY growth

Behavioral Therapist (ABA) Salary
by City (2026)

Provide applied behavior analysis therapy primarily for autism spectrum disorders. National median: $58K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$58K

Top 10% earn

$102K

Entry level

$42K

Salary growth

+8.5%/yr

Behavioral Therapist (ABA) salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
New York City, NY	$79K	$108K	$146K	187	6.85%
Cambridge, MA	$78K	$107K	$144K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$78K	$107K	$144K	185	11%
Bellevue, WA	$74K	$102K	$137K	175	None ✓
Irvine, CA	$72K	$100K	$134K	172	9.3%
Yonkers, NY	$69K	$96K	$129K	165	6.85%
Bethesda, MD	$69K	$96K	$129K	165	5.75%
Kirkland, WA	$68K	$94K	$126K	162	None ✓
Stamford, CT	$66K	$92K	$123K	158	6.99%
Hilo, HI	$65K	$90K	$121K	155	11%
Santa Ana, CA	$63K	$87K	$117K	150	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$62K	$86K	$115K	148	9.3%
Rockville, MD	$62K	$86K	$115K	148	5.75%
Alexandria, VA	$61K	$84K	$113K	145	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$61K	$84K	$113K	145	10.75%
San Francisco, CA	$59K	$81K	$109K	224	9.3%
Paterson, NJ	$59K	$81K	$109K	140	10.75%
Chula Vista, CA	$58K	$80K	$108K	138	9.3%
Edison, NJ	$58K	$80K	$108K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$58K	$80K	$108K	138	None ✓
San Jose, CA	$57K	$78K	$105K	210	9.3%
Oakland, CA	$55K	$75K	$101K	185	9.3%
Boston, MA	$55K	$75K	$101K	162	5%
Washington, DC	$55K	$75K	$101K	152	8.5%
Los Angeles, CA	$53K	$73K	$98K	163	9.3%
Jersey City, NJ	$53K	$73K	$98K	162	10.75%
San Diego, CA	$51K	$71K	$95K	148	9.3%
Seattle, WA	$51K	$71K	$95K	150	None ✓
Newark, NJ	$51K	$71K	$95K	155	10.75%
New Haven, CT	$51K	$71K	$95K	122	6.99%
Arlington, VA	$50K	$70K	$94K	148	5.75%
Nashua, NH	$50K	$70K	$94K	120	None ✓
Honolulu, HI	$50K	$70K	$94K	192	11%
Frisco, TX	$50K	$68K	$92K	118	None ✓
Long Beach, CA	$50K	$68K	$92K	155	9.3%
Riverside, CA	$50K	$68K	$92K	118	9.3%
Naperville, IL	$50K	$68K	$92K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$50K	$68K	$92K	118	None ✓
Worcester, MA	$50K	$68K	$92K	120	5%
Lowell, MA	$50K	$68K	$92K	118	5%
Gresham, OR	$50K	$68K	$92K	118	9.9%
Baltimore, MD	$50K	$68K	$92K	115	5.75%
Bridgeport, CT	$50K	$68K	$92K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$50K	$68K	$92K	118	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$50K	$68K	$92K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$50K	$68K	$92K	118	5.99%
Anchorage, AK	$50K	$68K	$92K	128	None ✓
Sacramento, CA	$48K	$67K	$90K	128	9.3%
Hialeah, FL	$48K	$67K	$90K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$48K	$67K	$90K	115	None ✓
Lakewood, CO	$48K	$67K	$90K	115	4.55%
Ann Arbor, MI	$48K	$67K	$90K	115	4.25%
Philadelphia, PA	$48K	$67K	$90K	110	3.07%
Portland, OR	$48K	$67K	$90K	130	9.9%
Frederick, MD	$48K	$67K	$90K	115	5.75%
Portland, ME	$48K	$67K	$90K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$48K	$67K	$90K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$48K	$67K	$90K	115	5.99%
Pembroke Pines, FL	$47K	$65K	$87K	112	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$47K	$65K	$87K	107	4.95%
Denver, CO	$47K	$65K	$87K	118	4.55%
Fort Collins, CO	$47K	$65K	$87K	112	4.55%
Cary, NC	$47K	$65K	$87K	112	4.75%
Hartford, CT	$47K	$65K	$87K	118	6.99%
Dallas, TX	$46K	$64K	$86K	96	None ✓
Miami, FL	$46K	$64K	$86K	123	None ✓
Tacoma, WA	$46K	$64K	$86K	128	None ✓
Minneapolis, MN	$46K	$64K	$86K	106	6.8%
Eugene, OR	$46K	$64K	$86K	110	9.9%
Houston, TX	$45K	$63K	$84K	91	None ✓
Plano, TX	$45K	$63K	$84K	105	None ✓
Round Rock, TX	$45K	$63K	$84K	108	None ✓
Gilbert, AZ	$45K	$63K	$84K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$45K	$63K	$84K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$45K	$63K	$84K	108	4.55%
Atlanta, GA	$45K	$63K	$84K	99	5.75%
Durham, NC	$45K	$63K	$84K	100	4.75%
Nashville, TN	$45K	$63K	$84K	102	None ✓
St. Paul, MN	$45K	$63K	$84K	104	6.8%
Boise, ID	$45K	$63K	$84K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$45K	$63K	$84K	108	6.6%
Austin, TX	$44K	$61K	$82K	110	None ✓
Fort Worth, TX	$44K	$61K	$82K	93	None ✓
Irving, TX	$44K	$61K	$82K	97	None ✓
McKinney, TX	$44K	$61K	$82K	108	None ✓
Stockton, CA	$44K	$61K	$82K	105	9.3%
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$44K	$61K	$82K	118	None ✓
Scottsdale, AZ	$44K	$61K	$82K	118	2.5%
Aurora, CO	$45K	$61K	$83K	112	4.55%
Springfield, MA	$44K	$61K	$82K	105	5%
Raleigh, NC	$44K	$61K	$82K	102	4.75%
Pittsburgh, PA	$44K	$61K	$82K	90	3.07%
Salem, OR	$44K	$61K	$82K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$44K	$61K	$82K	105	None ✓
Salt Lake City, UT	$44K	$61K	$82K	105	4.85%
Meridian, ID	$44K	$61K	$82K	105	5.8%
San Antonio, TX	$43K	$59K	$80K	87	None ✓
Arlington, TX	$43K	$59K	$80K	94	None ✓
Garland, TX	$43K	$59K	$80K	91	None ✓
Carrollton, TX	$43K	$59K	$80K	102	None ✓
Tampa, FL	$43K	$59K	$80K	102	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$43K	$59K	$80K	100	2.5%
Charlotte, NC	$43K	$59K	$80K	100	4.75%
Missoula, MT	$43K	$59K	$80K	102	6.75%
Denton, TX	$42K	$58K	$78K	100	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$42K	$58K	$78K	100	9.3%
Orlando, FL	$42K	$58K	$78K	100	None ✓
Cape Coral, FL	$42K	$58K	$78K	100	None ✓
Chandler, AZ	$42K	$58K	$78K	105	2.5%
Peoria, AZ	$42K	$58K	$78K	100	2.5%
Richmond, VA	$42K	$58K	$78K	98	5.75%
Madison, WI	$42K	$58K	$78K	102	5.3%
Rochester, MN	$42K	$58K	$78K	100	6.8%
Las Vegas, NV	$42K	$58K	$78K	102	None ✓
Reno, NV	$42K	$58K	$78K	108	None ✓
Provo, UT	$42K	$58K	$78K	100	4.85%
West Jordan, UT	$42K	$58K	$78K	100	4.85%
Overland Park, KS	$42K	$58K	$78K	100	5.7%
Dover, DE	$42K	$58K	$78K	100	6.6%
Fresno, CA	$41K	$57K	$76K	102	9.3%
Rochester, NY	$41K	$57K	$76K	90	6.85%
Albany, NY	$41K	$57K	$76K	98	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$41K	$57K	$76K	93	None ✓
St. Petersburg, FL	$41K	$57K	$76K	105	None ✓
Port St. Lucie, FL	$41K	$57K	$76K	98	None ✓
Mesa, AZ	$41K	$57K	$76K	98	2.5%
Virginia Beach, VA	$41K	$57K	$76K	98	5.75%
Chesapeake, VA	$41K	$57K	$76K	98	5.75%
Columbus, OH	$41K	$57K	$76K	90	3.99%
Milwaukee, WI	$41K	$57K	$76K	90	5.3%
North Las Vegas, NV	$41K	$57K	$76K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$41K	$57K	$76K	98	4.85%
Orem, UT	$41K	$57K	$76K	98	4.85%
Charleston, SC	$41K	$57K	$76K	105	6.5%
Nampa, ID	$41K	$57K	$76K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$41K	$57K	$76K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$41K	$57K	$76K	98	7.15%
Spokane, WA	$40K	$56K	$75K	95	None ✓
Colorado Springs, CO	$40K	$56K	$75K	102	4.55%
Cincinnati, OH	$40K	$56K	$75K	88	3.99%
Detroit, MI	$40K	$56K	$75K	82	4.25%
Kansas City, MO	$40K	$56K	$75K	90	5.3%
St. Louis, MO	$40K	$56K	$75K	86	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$40K	$56K	$75K	88	3.23%
Louisville, KY	$40K	$56K	$75K	85	5%
Corpus Christi, TX	$40K	$55K	$74K	84	None ✓
Bakersfield, CA	$40K	$55K	$74K	95	9.3%
Buffalo, NY	$40K	$55K	$74K	88	6.85%
Aurora, IL	$40K	$55K	$74K	95	4.95%
Glendale, AZ	$40K	$55K	$74K	95	2.5%
Norfolk, VA	$40K	$55K	$74K	95	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$40K	$55K	$74K	95	5.75%
Cleveland, OH	$40K	$55K	$74K	82	3.99%
Allentown, PA	$40K	$55K	$74K	95	3.07%
Huntsville, AL	$40K	$55K	$74K	88	5%
North Charleston, SC	$40K	$55K	$74K	95	6.5%
New Orleans, LA	$40K	$55K	$74K	92	6%
Des Moines, IA	$40K	$55K	$74K	88	4.82%
Omaha, NE	$40K	$55K	$74K	88	5.84%
El Paso, TX	$39K	$53K	$72K	82	None ✓
Midland, TX	$39K	$53K	$72K	92	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$39K	$53K	$72K	90	2.5%
Savannah, GA	$39K	$53K	$72K	92	5.75%
Athens, GA	$39K	$53K	$72K	92	5.75%
Memphis, TN	$39K	$53K	$72K	82	None ✓
Grand Rapids, MI	$39K	$53K	$72K	90	4.25%
Duluth, MN	$39K	$53K	$72K	92	6.8%
Birmingham, AL	$39K	$53K	$72K	82	5%
Columbia, SC	$39K	$53K	$72K	88	6.5%
Greenville, SC	$39K	$53K	$72K	92	6.5%
Oklahoma City, OK	$39K	$53K	$72K	82	4.75%
Baton Rouge, LA	$39K	$53K	$72K	88	6%
Albuquerque, NM	$39K	$53K	$72K	88	5.9%
Cheyenne, WY	$39K	$53K	$72K	92	None ✓
Lubbock, TX	$38K	$52K	$70K	78	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$38K	$52K	$70K	90	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$38K	$52K	$70K	90	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$38K	$52K	$70K	90	4.95%
Knoxville, TN	$38K	$52K	$70K	85	None ✓
Sterling Heights, MI	$38K	$52K	$70K	90	4.25%
Kenosha, WI	$38K	$52K	$70K	90	5.3%
Tulsa, OK	$38K	$52K	$70K	80	4.75%
Wichita, KS	$38K	$52K	$70K	82	5.7%
Fargo, ND	$38K	$52K	$70K	90	2.5%
Laredo, TX	$37K	$51K	$69K	76	None ✓
Pasadena, TX	$37K	$51K	$69K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$37K	$51K	$69K	88	None ✓
Syracuse, NY	$37K	$51K	$69K	88	6.85%
Gainesville, FL	$37K	$51K	$69K	88	None ✓
Greensboro, NC	$37K	$51K	$69K	88	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$37K	$51K	$69K	88	None ✓
Green Bay, WI	$37K	$51K	$69K	88	5.3%
Lexington, KY	$37K	$51K	$69K	88	5%
Great Falls, MT	$37K	$51K	$69K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$37K	$51K	$69K	88	None ✓
Bismarck, ND	$37K	$51K	$69K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$37K	$51K	$69K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$37K	$51K	$69K	88	None ✓
Little Rock, AR	$37K	$51K	$69K	82	4.9%
Beaumont, TX	$36K	$49K	$66K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$36K	$49K	$66K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$36K	$49K	$66K	85	None ✓
Winston-Salem, NC	$36K	$49K	$66K	85	4.75%
Warren, MI	$36K	$49K	$66K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$36K	$49K	$66K	85	4.25%
Independence, MO	$36K	$49K	$66K	85	5.3%
Lafayette, LA	$36K	$49K	$66K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$36K	$49K	$66K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$36K	$49K	$66K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$36K	$49K	$66K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$36K	$49K	$66K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$36K	$49K	$66K	85	4.9%
Amarillo, TX	$34K	$48K	$64K	82	None ✓
Waco, TX	$34K	$48K	$64K	82	None ✓
Pueblo, CO	$34K	$48K	$64K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$34K	$48K	$64K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$34K	$48K	$64K	82	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$34K	$48K	$64K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$34K	$48K	$64K	82	None ✓
South Bend, IN	$34K	$48K	$64K	82	3.23%
Mobile, AL	$34K	$48K	$64K	82	5%
Broken Arrow, OK	$34K	$48K	$64K	82	4.75%
Davenport, IA	$34K	$48K	$64K	82	4.82%
Killeen, TX	$34K	$46K	$62K	80	None ✓
Rockford, IL	$34K	$46K	$62K	80	4.95%
Macon, GA	$34K	$46K	$62K	80	5.75%
Akron, OH	$34K	$46K	$62K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$34K	$46K	$62K	80	3.99%
Erie, PA	$34K	$46K	$62K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$34K	$46K	$62K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$34K	$46K	$62K	80	3.23%
Bowling Green, KY	$34K	$46K	$62K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$34K	$46K	$62K	80	5%
Norman, OK	$34K	$46K	$62K	80	4.75%
Las Cruces, NM	$34K	$46K	$62K	80	5.9%
Gulfport, MS	$34K	$46K	$62K	80	5%
Abilene, TX	$33K	$45K	$61K	78	None ✓
Toledo, OH	$33K	$45K	$61K	78	3.99%
Evansville, IN	$33K	$45K	$61K	78	3.23%
Shreveport, LA	$33K	$45K	$61K	78	6%
Jackson, MS	$33K	$45K	$61K	78	5%
Charleston, WV	$33K	$45K	$61K	78	6.5%
Brownsville, TX	$32K	$44K	$59K	75	None ✓
Fort Smith, AR	$32K	$44K	$59K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$32K	$44K	$59K	75	6.5%

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $58K Behavioral Therapist (ABA) salary in Houston (COL 91, no tax) has significantly more purchasing power than the same salary in San Francisco (COL 224, 9.3% state tax). Use our calculator to see the real numbers.

Try COL Calculator →

Behavioral Therapist (ABA) Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Behavioral Therapist (ABA) is $58,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $42,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $78,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Behavioral Therapist (ABA)s nationally earn $102,000+.

Education and requirements

Bachelor's in Psychology; BCBA certification preferred. This role is 40% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

Behavioral Therapist (ABA) compensation is growing at 8.5% annually, well above the national average wage growth rate. Demand for qualified Behavioral Therapist (ABA)s significantly outpaces supply in most major metros.

Behavioral Therapist (ABA) Salaryby City (2026)