How much does a Behavior Therapist make?

The average salary for a Behavior Therapist is $57,000 per year in United States. Salaries estimates are based on 5286 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by a Behavior Therapist employees in United States.

The highest salary for a Behavior Therapist in United States is $73,547 per year.

The lowest salary for a Behavior Therapist in United States is $44,318 per year.

If you are thinking of becoming a Behavior Therapist or planning the next step in your career, find details about the role, the career path and salary trajectory of a Behavior Therapist.

Pay for behavior therapists varies widely, since it is an umbrella job title that includes psychologists, marriage counselors and licensed social workers. In general, roles that require a greater level of education, such as clinical psychologist, will pay more. Roles with lower barriers to entry, such as that of a licensed social worker, will pay less. Across job titles, behavior therapists with significant experience typically earn higher pay.

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Many behavior therapists can make $3,436.33 in additional pay outside of salary every year for things such as profit sharing and cash bonuses. Around 63% of behavior therapists report being satisfied with their salary in their current position.

Almost all behavior therapists have at least a bachelor's degree, but earning an advanced degree in mental health, social work, or a related subject can help you move into higher paying positions and command higher pay in your current role. States do requires licensing, and you can earn additional certificates such as those given upon completion of the Behavior Therapy Training Institute from the International OCD Foundation, one of the four certifications from the National Association of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapists, or a Behavior Health Certification from the Evergreen Certification Institute. These provide tangible evidence of heightened value to current and future employers.

If you're in the process of asking for a raise or searching for a new behavior therapist job with a higher salary, you should conduct relevant research before you reach the salary discussion. Ask for 10% to 20% above what your current salary is or the amount offered for the new job to give yourself some wiggle room. If you're asking for a raise, come prepared with recent highlights of your job performance and any additional responsibilities you've taken on, but you can keep it simple if you're negotiating starting salary. Open the conversation by asking if they have any room to negotiate on starting compensation.