Legislation passed in 2015 has bolstered the salary prospects for Board Certified Behavior Analysis providing autism treatment in North Carolina. This event marked, “a historic day for North Carolina and the 65,000 plus families affected by autism in our state,” according to the Autism Society of North Carolina.
Effective July 1, 2016 this legislation requires the following types of insurance plans to reimburse treatment for autism:
- Large group plans
- Grandfathered plans for individuals and small groups
- Transitional plans for individuals and small groups that have been in effect prior to 2014
- The North Carolina State Employee Health Plan which covers over 600,000 people
- Commercial market coverage that includes 600,000 people
- Certain corporate coverage plans, including Bank of America’s
The types of autism treatment covered include those provided by BCBA®s. The law specifically refers to adaptive behavior treatment, which includes applied behavior analysis. Insurance companies are required to pay for up to $40,000 of approved ABA treatment per person each year up to an age limit of 18 years old.
Experienced board-certified behavior analysts (BCBA®s) in North Carolina can earn salaries as high as $113,630 a year, according to 2021 statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Salaries for Experienced BCBA®s in the Largest Metropolitan areas of North Carolina
The range of salaries for board-certified behavior analysts with ten years of experience in the field are shown below (median to top 10% – current as of May, 2021):
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia:
- 50th: $108,870
- 75th: $115,090
- 90th: $121,310
Durham-Chapel Hill:
- 50th: $61,070
- 75th: $98,680
- 90th: $114,900
Piedmont North Carolina nonmetropolitan area:
- 50th: $113,630
- 75th: $118,080
- 90th: $124,470
Starting Salaries for BCBA®s in the Largest Metropolitan areas of North Carolina
The most highly paid BCBA®s in North Carolina who lack job experience in the field of behavior analysis can command salaries that exceed the median salary among highly experienced BCBA®s in the state. Salary data shown below for entry-level ABAs is current as of May 2021 (10th percentile to median):
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia:
- 10th: $26,480
- 25th: $93,310
- 50th: $108,870
Durham-Chapel Hill:
- 10th: $37,470
- 25th: $47,830
- 50th: $61,070
Piedmont North Carolina nonmetropolitan area:
- 10th: $80,520
- 25th: $98,920
- 50th: $113,630
2021 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and employment figures for Psychologists, All Other reflect national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed January 2023.