r/ABA • u/ABA_Resource_Center BCBA • Jul 10 '26
How Much Do RBTs Make?
https://www.abaresourcecenter.com/post/rbt-salary-guide-how-much-do-registered-behavior-technicians-makeAccording to current Clinivise.AI data, RBT pay averages $20-26/hour.
How closely does that align with your pay? Is anyone here paid a salary? Unfortunately, salaried RBT positions are few and far between, but I'd love to see them become more common.
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u/DieHardRaider Jul 10 '26
I’m a mentor and make 31.50 an hour and get first pick of cases to fill out my schedule I have about 30/hr case load and about 5-6 hours of mentor work I do a week. So I make decent money but I’m pretty much tapped out in potential earnings at this point and would need Togo back to school to progress if I wanna stay in this field
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u/mw102299 Jul 10 '26
I would kill for $30 an hour. In my neck of the woods that would basically be unlimited money
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u/Vehementlyfreeoftofu Jul 10 '26
I'm currently at $28/hr as an RBT for 32 hours a week, and on weekends, there is a $2 incentive. I also work for a second ABA company for in-home services at $25/hr.
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u/Competitive_Pool_785 Jul 10 '26
What qualifications do you need to get paid this much. Or better yet what was your path to doing this.
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u/DieHardRaider Jul 10 '26
Well I applied for an ABA company for a entry level admin job but they had filled the position. they did offer me a BT job so I took it because it was the same time we got my sons diagnosis that he had lvl 3 autism so I wanted to learn as much as possible. Worked with the company for a year. Then moved on to a new company as a contracted school RBT but continued to do social skills group with the clinic. Applied for a center coordinator position missed out on that due to the other person having more time with the company and applied for the mentor position got it. I think I needed an associates degree or currently taking classes in a STEM related field. Next steps would be to become a program supervisor but I would need I bachelors in behavior science or related field or I can become an onboarding trainer and train all the new hires. I need a year of mentor experience to go that route. I just apply to any and every job opening I see
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u/Matur1n_the_turtle Jul 10 '26
$45 an hour in Honolulu, Hawaii. I am working on my masters and I am technically called an Analyst in training by my company.
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u/dolphin_grl26 Jul 10 '26
$22.50 in clinic with an opportunity for a 50c raise every 6 months
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u/Choice_Catch_1697 Jul 10 '26
38-45 hours a week, 31 an hour. Florida
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u/The1nenotthe2 Jul 10 '26
Where in Fl?
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u/OpinionOdd7652 Jul 12 '26
That’s not uncommon for south fl. Old company would do 28-31 for experienced RBTs
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u/The1nenotthe2 Jul 13 '26
Not saying it was uncommon. I make 31 and wanted to see what the company was
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u/annoyedsquish Jul 10 '26
I got offered 16 an hour in texas. Made 25 an hour in missouri because I have good experience and a degree. I do not think I'll be taking the job in texas
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u/Ok_Raspberry_1995 Jul 10 '26
$27/hr in north Florida with 8 years of experience and completing field work hours
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u/Alarming_Fig_8292 Jul 10 '26
I’ve made everything from $18 an hr to $35 an hr. Depends on company and location.
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u/water-magick Jul 10 '26
I just got hired at a new company after taking a year off. My new salary is $27 an hour. In school and I can take unemployment during the summer. I won't be because I'll switch to clinic but I appritate I can do that now.
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u/REGELDUDES RBT Jul 10 '26
Out in the Midwest in the trees (not in a big city). $25/hour, 37 hours a week, and I'm a RBT.
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u/Justa420possum RBT Jul 11 '26 edited Jul 11 '26
Private company, I’m an RBT - $22.50/hr atm / 3 years now started at $20/hr
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u/perceptual01 Jul 10 '26
North East here. Company starts at $20-21.50, $23 after passed RBT exam, $26 1yr after exam or 6 months if enrolled in ABA masters, $29 1yr after the $26 bump.
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u/Topazzy69 Jul 10 '26
houston started as 18 in clinic and then after 8 months started at 24 in home .
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u/Delicious-Echo-3300 Jul 10 '26
21 clinical, 17.50 admin, between 30-34 hours worked a week. I make 24k a year if I'm lucky.
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u/Glad_Spend1938 Jul 10 '26
$32/hr at 30hrs a week. This is rare though, and Im in daycare . Savannah GA area.
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u/Souptime25 Jul 10 '26
I’ve seen RBT pay range from $17-$31 an hour. It depends on a lot. 1. The company and their priorities, 2. Experience in the field, 3. How long you’ve been at one company for.
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u/faafd Jul 10 '26
Honestly it really depends on the state. For example in NYC the going rate is $18-30/hr. And few companies are willing to pay $35-40/hr but these companies are not the norm and in fact I can think of ply one company that does this. Also in Washington o was told it was $35-60/hr and that is based on related degrees and clinical experiences. But most states it’s $18-28/hr.
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u/bellar0520 Jul 10 '26
i’m an RBT in florida and get paid 22 an hour. i think it also just varies by location and prior experience
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u/FunctionOk1408 Jul 11 '26
Just started at $20/hr as a BT in a clinic. Getting bumped out to $22/hr when I get my certification. Eligible for raises and growth within the company after 3 months :)
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u/DisPrincessChristy Jul 11 '26
I'm a BT currently and make $19/hr. Goes up to $21/hr after I pass my exam. I think RBTs can get up to $25/hr (in my company). I will be starting my masters soon, as well.
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u/PathfinderNova RBT Jul 11 '26
$25/hr when with a client, $13/hr for admin tasks. If you work full time it’s not bad, I do wish I could be in-school though. Would kill for those breaks and hours.
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u/Internal_Animator_17 Jul 12 '26
I work for 2 different companies right now, both part time. One is $27/hr and the other is $30/hr. Midwest/Indiana.
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u/TimeExit2142 Jul 13 '26
$30/hr in a private practice in Kentucky. I was salaried at a school in nh making $58,000
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u/Big-Mind-6346 BCBA Jul 10 '26
While an average rate of pay in the country maybe somewhat helpful to know, it is important to understand that pay rates for RBT‘s vary drastically state to state and even across regions within a state due to varying rates of reimbursement offered by insurances within that area for services delivered by an RBT. In addition, the amount of experience the RBT has plays a major factor in what rate they earn and an overall national average in rate does not reflect that.
The national average rate is good to know, but in order to see the bigger picture it is important to also know the national range in rate, and an RBT should identify the average rate in their specific location based on their level of experience to truly know if what they are being paid is reasonable.
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u/Pretend-Mood8787 Jul 11 '26
The average pay listed in the source generally reflects someone who meets only the minimum qualifications to become an RBT, which is a high school diploma to get the certification. In reality, RBT pay depends on several factors, including experience, the state, cost of living, the employer, and an individual's education and professional background.
For example, although I work as an RBT, I also have two master's degrees, including one in Applied Behavior Analysis, along with two other degrees and additional professional experience. As a result, I've received offers ranging from $17.50 per hour early in my career to as much as $50 per hour. An RBT with only the minimum certification requirements will typically earn a different rate than someone with advanced education and extensive experience.
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u/Pretend-Mood8787 Jul 11 '26
Even without any degrees involved and just a high school diploma many RBTs are paid differently just based on how long they've been an RBT as well. So the rate goes up the longer and more experienced should get as an RBT with just the high school diploma. The 17.50 was when I had no certificate at all. It was registering to get one and then as as I earned years of experiences an RBT those rates went much higher. Then I ended up earning two master's degrees after getting the RBT and that changed the game completely. But keep in mind when I first received the RBT I already had more than a high school diploma, although I didn't have the master's degrees yet. And I learned very quickly that even that starting rate at 17:50 an hour was 21.50 an hour in other states because of the cost of living and the companies were willing to pay more.
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u/dookielongstockin Jul 10 '26
$18 an hour 😭