In 2012, Vermont enacted an autism insurance law that required all insurance plans—state employee health plans, individual plans, and full insured group plans for both large and small groups—to cover ABA therapy for autistic patients under the age of 21 (Autism Speaks, 2012).
By requiring each insurance plan in the state to cover ABA services for children and young adults through age 21, Vermont has distinguished itself as providing some of the best access in the nation to these much-needed services, making it one of the most lucrative states for independent ABAs and those in private practice. The state also sets no annual or lifetime benefits on cost, which allows ABAs to see patients more frequently.
The number of students in Vermont (ages 3-21) who are diagnosed with autism has increased immensely over the past 15 years. In 1999, there were 218 students diagnosed with autism, while there were 1,0004 autistic students in 2014 (US Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs, 2015). With the increase in autistic students, applied behavior analysts are in higher demand than ever before.
Salary Figures For Board Certified Applied Behavior Analysts With Ten Years of Experience in Vermont
Shown here are 2016 average salaries for ABAs with ten years of experience in Vermont’s six largest cities, broken down by employment sector:
Burlington:
- Company—$64,345
- Non-Profit Organization—$60,451
- School District— $61,904
- Government, State & Local— $63,824
- Private Practice—$63,782
Essex:
- Company—$63,951
- Non-Profit Organization—$60,143
- School District— $61,460
- Government, State & Local— $63,448
- Private Practice—$65,535
South Burlington:
- Company—$62,950
- Non-Profit Organization—$58,962
- School District—$59,869
- Government, State & Local— $62,179
- Private Practice—$62,355
Rutland:
- Company—$59,868
- Non-Profit Organization—$56,126
- School District— $57,064
- Government, State & Local— $59,224
- Private Practice—$59,423
Colchester:
- Company—$62,014
- Non-Profit Organization—$57,778
- School District— $58,517
- Government, State & Local— $61,020
- Private Practice—$61,179
Bennington:
- Company—$59,433
- Non-Profit Organization—$55,660
- School District— $56,602
- Government, State & Local— $58,762
- Private Practice—$58,918
Salary Figures For Board Certified Applied Behavior Analysts Starting Their Careers in Vermont
Shown here are 2016 average salaries for first-year ABAs just entering the field in Vermont’s six largest cities, broken down by employment sector:
Burlington:
- Company—$49,227
- Non-Profit Organization—$46,244
- School District— $47,332
- Government, State & Local— $48,823
- Private Practice—$48,805
Essex:
- Company—$49,096
- Non-Profit Organization—$46,164
- School District— $47,139
- Government, State & Local— $48,698
- Private Practice—$48,787
South Burlington:
- Company—$48,136
- Non-Profit Organization—$45,074
- School District—$45,733
- Government, State & Local— $47,534
- Private Practice—$47,690
Rutland:
- Company—$48,770
- Non-Profit Organization—$45,709
- School District— $46,414
- Government, State & Local— $48,209
- Private Practice—$48,422
Colchester:
- Company—$47,628
- Non-Profit Organization—$44,361
- School District— $44,898
- Government, State & Local— $46,851
- Private Practice—$46,997
Bennington:
- Company—$48,293
- Non-Profit Organization—$45,218
- School District— $45,931
- Government, State & Local— $47,712
- Private Practice—$47,887
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.
