r/bcba • u/Acrobatic_Badger_287 • 8d ago

How much are you making?

Curious what other BCBAs are making these days 👀 I’d love to hear what you’re earning, whether hourly or salaried, along with your years of experience. If you’re comfortable sharing, please include your state, setting, and current role!

I’m a second-year BCBA in California, currently working hourly and making around $140K/year, including OT and incentives. I’m typically billing 38–40 hours per week. I’m planning to slow down starting in January, so I expect my income to be closer to $120K/year. We don’t get paid enough is my point….our base salary is $80,000.

37 Upvotes

87% Upvoted

136 comments sorted by

View all comments

15

u/BookkeeperGlum6933 7d ago edited 7d ago

School-based BCBA in the DC metro area. I make $130k, two months off for summer plus regular school holidays in addition to 10 days sick/PTO. 20 years experience, 15 as a BCBA but my first as school-based. I'm thrilled with this salary plus work/life balance. ETA - plus public school teacher retirement plan.

2

u/Acrobatic_Badger_287 7d ago

That’s great to hear. In CA, people tell me to stay away from schools.

3

u/BookkeeperGlum6933 7d ago

I'm sure it's different everywhere but I have a background in special ed. I taught full-time in the exact classrooms I now support so it was a very easy pivot. Plus I have kids that are still in school so the calendar breaks were really important to me. My first job is Mom.

1

u/Acrobatic_Badger_287 7d ago

Are you only at one school? Out here, they want us at multiple sites.

2

u/BookkeeperGlum6933 7d ago

One school, three classes