Alaska started requiring that all practicing behavior analysts obtain a license effective September 16, 2016. Before this, the state did not require a license for behavior analysts who had at least five years of experience. The implementation of licensing laws for all ABA practitioners has helped improve the standing of the profession, raised awareness of the many benefits of ABA services, and better positioned professionals to take advantage of recently implemented laws that require insurance providers to cover ABA services.
All practicing behavior analysts must obtain a license effective September 16, 2016. Before this, the state did not require a license for behavior analysts who had at least five years of experience. The implementation of licensing laws for all ABA practitioners has helped improve the standing of the profession, raised awareness of the many benefits of ABA services, and better positioned professionals to take advantage of recently implemented laws that require insurance providers to cover ABA services.
Experienced board-certified behavior analysts (BCBA®s) in Alaska can earn salaries as high as $113,340 a year, according to 2021 statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Salaries for Experienced BCBA®s in Alaska
The range of salaries for board-certified behavior analysts with ten years of experience in the field are shown below (median to top 10% – current as of May, 2021):
- 50th: $113,340
- 75th: $123,660
- 90th: $137,780
Starting Salaries for Behavior Analysts in Alaska
The most highly paid BCBA®s in Alaska who lack job experience in the field of behavior analysis can command salaries that exceed the median salary among highly experienced BCBA®s in the state. Salary data shown below for entry-level ABAs is current as of May 2021 (10th percentile to median):
- 10th: $74,360
- 25th: $103,040
- 50th: $113,340
Autism Treatment by ABAs in Alaska
Applied behavior analysts (ABAs) work in a variety of fields that range from studying violence prevention at the CDC to consulting with large companies to improve employee productivity and motivation. However, a large number of ABAs specialize in improving the skills of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) or adults with Asperger’s syndrome.
The CDC estimates that about 1 in 68 children in the US have ASD, creating an enormous need for treatment options. ABAs have been treating autistic children since the early 1960s and research continues to show applied behavior analysis to be the most effective way to treat autism.
Children who get treated early are more likely to enter public schools and become adults who can live independently. ABAs help children to develop such basic skills as looking, learning, and listening to more highly developed behavior patterns such as talking, reading, and understanding another person’s perspective.
Some of the private clinics in Alaska that specialize in treating children with ASD are shown below:
Anchorage area:
- Alaska Speech & Language Depot, Inc.
- FUNctional Therapy
- OT for Children
- Pediatric Specialty Clinic
- Rebeka Edge (Eagle River)
Fairbanks area:
- 4-Star Educational Center
- Katherine Gardner (Soldotna)
- Linda Robertson
- PARENTS
- Step-In Autism Services of Alaska, LLC
2021 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and employment figures for Psychologists, All Other reflect national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed January 2023.