As recently as a few months ago Oklahomans had to move to other states to be eligible for insurance plans that covered basic evidence-based treatment for autism. On November 1, 2016 the state became the 44th in the nation to require insurance companies to provide coverage for autism services like applied behavior analysis (ABA). This happened when new legislation signed into law on May 4 took effect.
Since then all insurance policies issued in the state must cover the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of autism spectrum disorders. This applies to all children younger than nine years of age, or provides for a maximum of six years of treatment for children diagnosed after their fourth birthday. The annual maximum reimbursement per year per child is $25,000.
Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA®s) are an example of one type of professional who are qualified to provide insurance-covered ABA treatments.
Experienced board-certified behavior analysts (BCBA®s) in Oklahoma can earn salaries as high as $98,280 a year, according to 2021 statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Salaries for Experienced BCBA®s in the Largest Metropolitan areas of Oklahoma
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):
Lewiston-Auburn:
- 50th: $98,280
- 75th: $107,640
- 90th: $119,770
Starting Salaries for BCBA®s in the Largest Metropolitan areas of Oklahoma
The most highly paid BCBA®s in Oklahoma 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):
Lewiston-Auburn:
- 10th: $46,220
- 25th: $82,640
- 50th: $98,280
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.