Applied behavior analysis is widely recognized as the most effective treatment for autism. This treatment is most effective when started at a young age. However, it can be prohibitively expensive to pay for if it is not covered by insurance. Severely afflicted children can require as much as 30 hours of treatment a week.
As of January 1, 2016, insurance policies issued or renewed in Hawaii must provide coverage for autism diagnosis and treatment for individuals under 14 years of age. SB791 also specifies that insurance coverage for ABA treatment will only apply to providers who are board-certified. This statute greatly increases the value of possessing a BCBA® in Hawaii.
Autism Speaks®, a national autism treatment and science nonprofit, provides a list of 18 ABA resources in Hawaii. As of December 2016, those in Honolulu are shown below:
- Autism Services by Bayada Habilitation
- Behavior Analysis No Ka Oi, Inc.
- Easter Seals Hawaii
- Hawaii Association for Behavior Analysis
- Monica Gotreau, BCBA®, LLC
- Pacific Autism Center
Experienced board-certified behavior analysts (BCBA®s) in Hawaii can earn salaries as high as $106,650 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 Hawaii
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):
Urban Honolulu:
- 50th: $106,650
- 75th: $123,510
- 90th: $142,380
Starting Salaries for BCBA®s in the Largest Metropolitan areas of Hawaii
The most highly paid BCBA®s in Hawaii 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):
Urban Honolulu:
- 10th: $23,680
- 25th: $29,000
- 50th: $106,650
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.