Behavioral Health & ABA Clinicians salary guide

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Published BLS wages for this family. BLS OEWS May 2025.

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW, Therapist) SOC 21-1021, Child, Family, and School Social Workers. broader match.
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC, LMHC, LPCC, Mental Health Counselor) SOC 21-1018, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors. direct match.
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT) SOC 21-1013, Marriage and Family Therapists. direct match.
Associate / Pre-Licensed Therapist (LMSW, LPC-A, AMFT, Registered Intern) SOC 21-1018, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors. broader match.
Licensed Addiction Counselor (LADC, LCADC, CADC, Substance Use Counselor) SOC 21-1018, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors. direct match.
Peer Recovery Specialist (Peer Support Specialist) SOC 21-1094, Community Health Workers. broader match.
Mobile Crisis Clinician (Crisis Counselor) SOC 21-1018, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors. broader match.
Medical Social Worker (MSW, Hospital, Dialysis, Home Health or Hospice Social Worker) SOC 21-1022, Healthcare Social Workers. direct match.
Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) Ask us for a current range.
Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA) Ask us for a current range.
Registered Behavior Technician (RBT, ABA Therapist) SOC 31-9099, Healthcare Support Workers, All Other. proxy match.
School Psychologist SOC 19-3034, School Psychologists. direct match.
Behavioral Health Technician (Mental Health Tech, Psychiatric Technician) SOC 29-2053, Psychiatric Technicians. direct match.
Senior Behavior Analyst (BCBA) Ask us for a current range.
Bilingual Licensed Clinical Social Worker SOC 21-1021, Child, Family, and School Social Workers. broader match.

What does a behavioral health or ABA clinician do in a workday?

These roles handle intakes, sessions, behavior plans, crisis response, notes, and family contact. A morning may start with an assessment, move into direct client work, and end with charting, team updates, or a plan review. The setting and license shape the exact mix.

In ABA, BCBAs and BCaBAs review data, adjust targets, and coach staff or caregivers. RBTs carry out the plan during direct sessions. In behavioral health, therapists, counselors, and social workers may also manage referrals, discharge planning, and follow-up calls.

How does the setting change the job?

A clinic day looks different from school, hospital, home-based, or mobile crisis work. In outpatient care, the schedule often centers on booked sessions and intake paperwork. In schools, the clinician may join team meetings, consult with teachers, and document services around the school day.

Hospitals and home health add discharge planning, safety planning, and family support. Mobile crisis clinicians respond to urgent calls, assess risk, and decide whether someone can stay in place or needs a higher level of care. We ask where the work happens before we talk about pay.

Who decides the clinical work, and who manages the schedule?

Owners and managers usually set the service model, caseload mix, schedules, and supervision structure. The clinician decides the clinical approach within license and policy. In ABA, the behavior analyst sets the plan, and technicians carry it out as written.

We ask who signs off on assessments, treatment updates, discharge planning, and school or payer forms. We also ask how much chart review happens after hours, who handles family calls, and who covers missed visits. Those answers change the daily load more than the job title alone.

What should we ask before we hire?

We look at license status, experience with the setting, and comfort with the patient group. For a school psychologist, that may mean evaluations and meetings. For a behavioral health technician, it may mean observation skills, safety awareness, and steady follow-through during the shift.

We also ask about supervision needs for associate or pre-licensed clinicians. Some employers want independent session work. Others want close review of notes and treatment plans. The right match depends on who is available to sign work and how often case review happens.

Why can pay differ between similar titles?

Salary pages often group roles that look similar but work very differently. An LCSW in discharge planning does not match an LCSW in outpatient therapy or a medical social worker in hospice. A BCBA may lead planning, while a BCaBA supports implementation and data review.

We do not treat every title as the same job. We ask about the work product, the setting, and the amount of direct client contact. That gives a better read on pay than the degree alone.

When does one opening need one clinician, and when does it need a team?

Some teams need one clinician who can assess, treat, and document across the week. Others need a mix of therapist, behavior analyst, technician, and peer support. A smaller practice may need broad coverage. A larger site may need sharper role lines and more handoffs.

If your team is adding school services, ABA, crisis, or recovery support, we can map the job by task, not just title. That helps you compare candidates with the actual day they will work.

What else should you ask about this edition?

How should we compare an LCSW, LPC, and LMFT for the same opening?

Start with the work they will do, not the degree alone. An LCSW may fit care coordination and discharge planning, while an LPC or LMFT may fit therapy-heavy schedules. We ask who owns intake, notes, and family contact so the title matches the actual day.

What should we ask when hiring a BCBA or BCaBA?

Ask who writes the plan, who reviews data, and who trains staff or caregivers. Also ask how often the analyst is on site or remote, because that changes the workday. For assistants, clarify what tasks stay under direct supervision.

What makes a behavioral health technician different from a therapist role?

A technician usually supports the plan and documents observations. A therapist or counselor assesses, treats, and updates the care plan. We ask who makes clinical decisions so the role is set correctly from the start.

Do mobile crisis and outpatient therapy need the same hire profile?

No, mobile crisis work calls for quick assessment, safety planning, and calm coordination during urgent visits. Outpatient therapy usually needs steady session volume, note completion, and follow-up. The setting changes the schedule, the questions, and the pay range.