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.
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.
Experienced board-certified behavior analysts (BCBA®s) in Pennsylvania can earn salaries as high as $113,510 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 Pennsylvania
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):
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington:
- 50th: $113,510
- 75th: $123,530
- 90th: $130,210
Pittsburgh:
- 50th: $101,190
- 75th: $110,700
- 90th: $123,340
Starting Salaries for BCBA®s in the Largest Metropolitan areas of Pennsylvania
The most highly paid BCBA®s in Pennsylvania 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):
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington:
- 10th: $53,080
- 25th: $79,440
- 50th: $113,510
Pittsburgh:
- 10th: $47,490
- 25th: $65,480
- 50th: $101,190
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.