Experienced board-certified behavior analysts (BCBA®s) in Colorado can earn salaries as high as $84,000. Demand for BCBA®s is highest for those with experience in treating autism. In fact, experience with autism was the top skill listed in job postings for BCBA®s in 2014.
In 2009, Colorado became the 12th state in the country to license behavior analysts, and the state currently mandates that insurance carriers provide coverage for ABA as a treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Salaries for Experienced BCBA®s in Colorado’s Largest Cities
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 November 26, 2016):
Denver:
- Schools: $66,000 – $86,000
- Hospitals: $66,000 – $84,000
- Private Practice: $67,000 – $84,000
Colorado Springs:
- Schools: $64,000 – $82,000
- Hospitals: $63,000 – $81,000
- Private Practice: $64,000 – $82,000
Aurora:
- Schools: $64,000 – $84,000
- Hospitals: $62,000 – $79,000
- Private Practice: $64,000 – $81,000
Fort Collins:
- Schools: $63,000 – $83,000
- Hospitals: $64,000 – $83,000
- Private Practice: $64,000 – $81,000
Lakewood:
- Schools: $64,000 – $84,000
- Hospitals: $62,000 – $79,000
- Private Practice: $66,000 – $84,000
Thornton:
- Schools: $64,000 – $86,000
- Hospitals: $63,000 – $85,000
- Private Practice: $64,000 – $83,000
Pueblo:
- Schools: $60,000 – $79,000
- Hospitals: $60,000 – $78,000
- Private Practice: $60,000 – $77,000
Starting Salaries for BCBA®s in Colorado’s Largest Cities
Salary data for entry-level ABA positions shown below is current as of November 26, 2016 (median – top 10%):
Denver:
- Schools: $51,000 – $67,000
- Hospitals: $53,000 – $68,000
- Private Practice: $54,000 – $69,000
Colorado Springs:
- Schools: $52,000 – $68,000
- Hospitals: $50,000 – $65,000
- Private Practice: $51,000 – $65,000
Aurora:
- Schools: $51,000 – $66,000
- Hospitals: $51,000 – $65,000
- Private Practice: $54,000 – $68,000
Fort Collins:
- Schools: $51,000 – $68,000
- Hospitals: $51,000 – $67,000
- Private Practice: $51,000 – $65,000
Lakewood:
- Schools: $51,000 – $67,000
- Hospitals: $51,000 – $66,000
- Private Practice: $52,000 – $66,000
Thornton:
- Schools: $51,000 – $69,000
- Hospitals: $51,000 – $70,000
- Private Practice: $52,000 – $69,000
Pueblo:
- Schools: $48,000 – $64,000
- Hospitals: $47,000 – $62,000
- Private Practice: $48,000 – $62,000
Autism Rates and Treatment Programs in Colorado
The mandate that insurance companies provide coverage for autism treatment increased the opportunities for BCBA®s in the state who practice ABA. In fact, the Colorado Department of Human Services specifies that providers of Behavioral Plan Assessment Services be nationally certified as BCBA®s or actively licensed by the Colorado State Board of Examiners.
Colorado tracks the prevalence of ASD among 8 year olds in conjunction with the CDC. An analysis of more than 40,500 children identified about 1 in 92 of these children as having ASD. While this rate is below the national average of 1 in 68, the group contains 1.1% of Colorado’s 8-year old children.
Autism Speaks®, the country’s largest science and advocacy organization for autism, identified 67 providers that offered ABA treatment to Colorado’s autistic residents as of November 2016. Denver and Colorado Springs contained fully half of these providers. Nearly one-third of the total were located in Colorado Springs.
PayScale.com provides detailed information on what applied behavior analysts in various employment settings and with various levels of experience can expect to earn in Colorado.