Salaries for Applied Behavior Analysts in Montana

The median salary among Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA®s) in Montana with ten years of experience was $54,254 as of December 2016, with top earners enjoying salaries as high $84,000. In New Mexico, ABAs enjoy an average annual salary increase of more than $1,000 a year.

Shown below is a summary of the highlights of the salaries among ABAs in the six largest cities in Montana (December 2016): 

  • The top earning ABAs in Montana are found in Billings
  • EABAs in Montana that work in the public sector earn the highest salaries
  • ABAs in Helena received the largest yearly increase, averaging more than $1,300 each year

Salaries for Experienced Board Certified Behavior Analysts in Montana’s Largest Cities

Shown below are the salary figures for applied behavior analysts with ten years of experience in the six largest cities in Montana by sector. Each list provides the overall salary range (from median to 90th percentile) for each city, followed by the median salary for a number of employment sectors (December 2016):

Billings – $56,085 – $77,000

  • Non-Profits – $61,132
  • Companies – $60,256
  • Government – $60,087
  • School Districts – $59,134
  • Private Practice – $55,277

Missoula – $51,892 – $69,000

  • Companies – $56,268
  • Government – $55,514
  • Private Practice – $53,483
  • Non-Profits – $52,888
  • School Districts – $50,442

Great Falls – $51,587 – $72,000

  • Companies – $60,068
  • Government – $57,092
  • Private Practice – $56,203
  • Non-Profits – $55,515
  • School Districts – $54,827

Bozeman – $54,367 – $73,000

  • Companies – $59,600
  • Government – $58,434
  • Private Practice – $57,134
  • Non-Profits – $54,333
  • School Districts – $50,805

Butte – $55,015 – $75,000

  • Companies – $58,755
  • Private Practice – $58,414
  • Government – $57,832
  • School Districts – $56,813
  • Non-Profits – $56,129

Helena – $56,575 – $75,000

  • Companies – $59,129
  • Private Practice – $57,037
  • School Districts – $56,178
  • Government – $56,012
  • Non-Profits – $55,383
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Entry-Level Salaries for Board Certified Behavior Analysts in Montana’s Largest Cities

Shown below are the entry-level salary figures for behavior analysts in the six largest cities in Montana by sector. Each list provides the overall salary range (from median to 90th percentile) for each city, followed by the median salary for a number of employment sectors (December 2016):

Billings – $45,719 – $63,000

  • Private Practice – $47,683
  • Companies – $47,595
  • Non-Profits – $47,394
  • Government – $46,971
  • School Districts – $46,954

Missoula – $43,055 – $58,000

  • Government – $45,049
  • Companies – $44,796
  • Private Practice – $44,224
  • Non-Profits – $42,992
  • School Districts – $42,343

Great Falls – $43,606 – $60,000

  • Companies – $45,877
  • Government – $45,571
  • Private Practice – $45,270
  • School Districts – $44,804
  • Non-Profits – $44,423

Bozeman – $43,019 – $58,000

  • Companies – $46,712
  • Government – $44,891
  • Non-Profits – $44,523
  • School Districts – $44,402
  • Private Practice – $44,151

Butte – $43,926 – $60,000

  • Private Practice – $48,102
  • Companies – $46,511
  • Government – $45,508
  • Non-Profits – $45,379
  • School Districts – $44,661

Helena – $43,370 – $58,000

  • Companies – $47,260
  • Private Practice – $46,060
  • School Districts – $45,443
  • Government – $45,514
  • Non-Profits – $44,189

Collaborations in Montana Improve the Conditions for ASD Patients

Autism experts in Montana have been publicizing the state’s efforts to diagnose and treat ASD. Active collaborations include these organizations:

  • Montana Autism Center
  • Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities
  • University of Montana College of Education & Human Sciences

Their joint efforts have been highly successful, and highlights include:

  • Preschool-age referrals for ASD treatment increased by 100% during 8 years
  • School age referrals increased by 150% during this time (mostly in Western Montana)
  • The largest provider for youths and adults in central Montana has 100 Direct Service Provider positions open as of December 2016
  • Stakeholders developed the first collaborative State ASD plan in 2015

Such collaborations greatly improve the options to diagnose and treat children with ASD in Montana while simultaneously providing more jobs for applied behavior analysts.

Montana Mandated Insurance Coverage for ASD in 2009

ABAs frequently specialize in treating autism spectrum disorders (ASD). In fact, industry workforce research firm Burning Glass Technologies reported that the primary job skill listed for BCBA®s is knowledge in treating autism. Influential organizations such as the American Psychological Association and the US Surgeon General strongly advocate the use of ABA to treat ASD.

Early intervention is considered critical to effectively treat ASD in young children. However, properly treating such affected children can require up to 30 hours a week of ABA therapy. Such intensive treatment can be highly expensive and unaffordable for many families.

Montana started requiring that insurance policies cover the treatment of ASD for children 18 years old or younger in 2009. The state’s regulation mandates that coverage include habilitative care, including ABA. Insurance companies are allowed to limit coverage to $50,000 a year for children up to eight years old and $20,000 for those up to 19 years of age.

Having ABA treatment covered by insurance greatly broadens the range of families who can use the services of such behavior analysts and subsequently increases opportunities for ABAs in the private sector.

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PayScale.com provides detailed information on what applied behavior analysts in various employment settings and with various levels of experience can expect to earn in Montana.

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