Organizations like the non-profit ABA in PA Initiative, among other groups, have been working tirelessly to influence policy and improve access to applied behavior analysis therapy. Their efforts have been focused on seeing to it that all major insurance providers recognize ABA as an effective co-treatment modality for patients with developmental and behavioral issues that can be used alongside other therapies like speech-language pathology and occupational therapy. The goal has been to make ABA therapy more accessible to clients as well as to allow ABAs to legally share information and strategies with a team of therapists.
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Thanks to their efforts, applied behavior analysis is now a treatment modality that is eligible for Medicaid coverage. Medicaid’s coverage of ABA not only allows applied behavior analysts to treat a population that would not otherwise be able to afford therapy, but increases opportunities and earning potential for ABAs working with public health departments, as well as independent practitioners and those employed in private practices.
The number of autistic children in Pennsylvania has risen significantly over the past decade—in 1999, Pennsylvania was home to 4,039 students diagnosed with autism, but by 2013 that number had increased to 27,449 (US Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs, 2015). This demand for applied behavior analysis therapy has created new opportunities for ABAs in salaried positions with the state’s school districts.
Salary Figures For Board Certified Applied Behavior Analysts With Ten Years of Experience in Pennsylvania
Shown here is the average salary for ABAs with ten years of experience in the field in Pennsylvania’s six largest cities, broken down by employment sector:
Philadelphia:
- Company— $64,389
- Non-Profit Organization—$60,959
- School District— $63,182
- Government, State & Local— $64,459
- Private Practice—$64,407
Pittsburgh:
- Company—$59,554
- Non-Profit Organization—$55,763
- School District— $56,624
- Government, State & Local— $58,847
- Private Practice—$59,078
Allentown:
- Company—$62,772
- Non-Profit Organization—$59,120
- School District— $60,972
- Government, State & Local— $62,554
- Private Practice—$62,527
Erie:
- Company—$55,719
- Non-Profit Organization—$51,878
- School District— $52,017
- Government, State & Local— $54,652
- Private Practice—$55,025
Scranton:
- Company—$58,181
- Non-Profit Organization—$54,152
- School District— $54,572
- Government, State & Local— $57,150
- Private Practice—$57,414
Lancaster:
- Company—$58,486
- Non-Profit Organization—$54,997
- School District— $55,925
- Government, State & Local— $57,921
- Private Practice—$58,077
Salary Figures For Board Certified Applied Behavior Analysts Starting Their Careers in Pennsylvania
Shown here is the average salary for first-year ABAs just entering the field in Pennsylvania’s six largest cities, broken down by employment sector:
Philadelphia:
- Company—$52,749
- Non-Profit Organization: $49,932
- School District— $51,699
- Government, State & Local— $52,769
- Private Practice—$53,013
Pittsburgh:
- Company—$49,452
- Non-Profit Organization—$46,291
- School District— $46,942
- Government, State & Local— $48,820
- Private Practice—$49,072
Allentown:
- Company—$51,611
- Non-Profit Organization—$48,600
- School District—$50,064
- Government, State & Local— $51,393
- Private Practice—$51,423
Erie:
- Company—$47,601
- Non-Profit Organization—$44,304
- School District— $44,356
- Government, State & Local— $46,638
- Private Practice—$47,024
Scranton:
- Company—$48,018
- Non-Profit Organization—$44,681
- School District— $44,973
- Government, State & Local— $47,129
- Private Practice—$47,398
Lancaster:
- Company—$50,138
- Non-Profit Organization—$47,145
- School District— $47,883
- Government, State & Local— $49,607
- Private Practice—$49,803
Salary data for entry-level and experienced applied behavior analysts was sourced from PayScale.com in December 2016. Using its daily-updated database of salary profiles, PayScale’s proprietary algorithms provide access to real-time salary information.
