Maine law enshrines the right of applied behavior analysis to diagnose and treat autism spectrum disorders. Specifically, it requires the following types of health insurance plans to provide reimbursement for such activities performed by board certified behavior analysts (BCBA®s) as a service to individuals up to 10 years of age:
- Group health insurance policies
- Large employer plans
- Small employer plans
- Individual plans
- All individual and group HMOs (health maintenance organizations)
Insurance reimbursement allows for up to $36,000 per year for each child with autism. In addition to those plans many other optional health insurance plans provide coverage for the treatment and diagnosis of autism.
The number of Maine’s children with autism has “exploded in the past two decades,” due largely to increasing overall rates and diagnosis techniques notes an article in the Portland Press Herald. By extension the salaries for applied behavior analysts has also skyrocketed. Providing special education services is the second-largest investment school budgets make in Maine.
BCBA®s are also receiving expanded compensation for acting in a supervisory role for assistants who work with autistic students. Legislation passed in 2009 updated the laws about reimbursement for BCBA®s in Maine who are supervising assistant behavior analysts as part of state and federal programs.
Experienced board-certified behavior analysts (BCBA®s) in Maine can earn salaries as high as $72,240 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 Maine
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):
Lewiston-Auburn:
- 50th: $64,430
- 75th: $79,310
- 90th: $116,270
Portland-South Portland:
- 50th: $78,870
- 75th: $83,320
- 90th: $105,690
Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area:
- 50th: $72,240
- 75th: $91,670
- 90th: $101,340
Starting Salaries for BCBA®s in the Largest Metropolitan areas of Maine
The most highly paid BCBA®s in Maine 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):
Lewiston-Auburn:
- 10th: $55,900
- 25th: $62,930
- 50th: $64,430
Portland-South Portland:
- 10th: $63,160
- 25th: $67,730
- 50th: $78,870
Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area:
- 10th: $48,770
- 25th: $62,070
- 50th: $72,240
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.