In 2014, Utah enacted an autism insurance law that requires individual insurance plans and fully insured large group plans to cover applied behavior analysis for autistic children between the ages of 2-10.
The insurance reform, which allows for up to 600 hours per year or 11.5 hours per week of ABA therapy for qualified children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder ushered in a new era in which families with autistic children could access affordable therapy and independent applied behavior analysts and private practices could grow their practices and do more of what they do best.
Nowhere is access to applied behavior analysis more vital than in Utah, as the state has one of the highest rates of autism in the country, and, in fact, was recognized as the state with the highest occurrence of autism nationwide during the period between 2008 and 2012. As of 2016, the state still has a higher occurrence of autism than the national average (Deseret News Utah, 2016).
Salary Figures For Board Certified Applied Behavior Analysts With Ten Years of Experience in Utah
Shown here are 2016 average salaries for ABAs with ten years of experience in Utah’s largest cities, broken down by employment sector:
Salt Lake City:
- Company—$60,469
- Non-Profit Organization—$57,077
- School District— $58,430
- Government, State & Local— $60,245
- Private Practice—$60,150
West Valley City:
- Company—$58,523
- Non-Profit Organization—$54,780
- School District— $55,785
- Government, State & Local— $57,885
- Private Practice—$58,012
Provo:
- Company—$61,725
- Non-Profit Organization—$57,873
- School District—$58,502
- Government, State & Local— $60,903
- Private Practice—$61,239
West Jordan:
- Company—$58,024
- Non-Profit Organization—$54,400
- School District— $55,054
- Government, State & Local— $57,291
- Private Practice—$57,550
Orem:
- Company—$58,350
- Non-Profit Organization—$54,510
- School District— $54,535
- Government, State & Local— $57,217
- Private Practice—$57,723
Ogden:
- Company—$62,450
- Non-Profit Organization—$58,708
- School District— $59,581
- Government, State & Local— $61,783
- Private Practice—$62,133
Salary Figures For Board Certified Applied Behavior Analysts Starting Their Careers in Utah
Shown here are 2016 average salaries for first-year ABAs just entering the field in Utah’s largest cities, broken down by employment sector:
Salt Lake City:
- Company—$51,346
- Non-Profit Organization—$48,462
- School District— $49,550
- Government, State & Local— $51,033
- Private Practice—$51,172
West Valley City:
- Company—$47,655
- Non-Profit Organization—$44,596
- School District— $45,366
- Government, State & Local— $47,106
- Private Practice—$47,251
Provo:
- Company—$50,186
- Non-Profit Organization—$47,042
- School District—$47,494
- Government, State & Local— $49,478
- Private Practice—$49,805
West Jordan:
- Company—$49,585
- Non-Profit Organization—$46,477
- School District— $46,969
- Government, State & Local— $48,910
- Private Practice—$49,197
Orem:
- Company—$47,491
- Non-Profit Organization—$44,351
- School District— $44,315
- Government, State & Local— $46,531
- Private Practice—$46,994
Ogden:
- Company—$50,225
- Non-Profit Organization—$47,200
- School District— $47,842
- Government, State & Local— $49,655
- Private Practice—$49,985
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.
