Experienced Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA®s) in Washington, DC earned up to $159,800, while the overall median figure was $110,590, according to 2021 statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). DC.gov amended its regulations for the treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in 2013. Now the District requires that the essential health benefits plan include services such as applied behavior analysis (ABA) for ASD.
Burning Glass Technologies reported that knowledge of autism was the main job skill specified for BCBA®s. Typically, ABAs treat ASD by training individuals to monitor their behavior, so they can interact with other people more effectively and recognize the feelings of others. DC’s mandate to cover these services increased the number of jobs for ABAs in private practice, and those who practice independently.
Salaries for Experienced BCBA®s in Washington, DC
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):
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- 50th: $110, 590
- 75th: $129,080
- 90th: $159,800
Starting Salaries for BCBA®s in Washington, DC
Shown below are the entry-level salary figures for behavior analysts in the District of Columbia. Salary data shown below for entry-level ABAs is current as of May 2021 (10th percentile to median):
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- 10th: $52,170
- 25th: $87,190
- 50th: $110, 590
Autism Intervention Resources in DC
DC’s mandate that insurance cover autism treatment expanded opportunities for ABAs in the private sector. The national autism science and advocacy group Autism Speaks® identified seven resources for ASD treatment in the District as of November 2016:
- A Piece of Mind, Inc.
- A.S.I.C.S. ABA Therapy
- Behavior Change Institute (BCI)
- Capital ABA
- Early Autism Solutions
- J & C Behavioral Therapy, LLC
- National Speech/Language Therapy Center
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.