In 2014, Utah enacted an autism insurance law that requires individual insurance plans and fully insured large group plans to cover applied behavior analysis for autistic children between the ages of 2-10.
The insurance reform, which allows for up to 600 hours per year or 11.5 hours per week of ABA therapy for qualified children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder ushered in a new era in which families with autistic children could access affordable therapy and independent applied behavior analysts and private practices could grow their practices and do more of what they do best.
Nowhere is access to applied behavior analysis more vital than in Utah, as the state has one of the highest rates of autism in the country, and, in fact, was recognized as the state with the highest occurrence of autism nationwide during the period between 2008 and 2012. As of 2016, the state still has a higher occurrence of autism than the national average (Deseret News Utah, 2016).
Experienced board-certified behavior analysts (BCBA®s) in Utah can earn salaries as high as $101,340 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 Utah
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):
Salt Lake City:
- 50th: $101,340
- 75th: $119,770
- 90th: $135,690
Starting Salaries for BCBA®s in the Largest Metropolitan areas of Utah
The most highly paid BCBA®s in Utah 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):
Salt Lake City:
- 10th: $46,220
- 25th: $47,630
- 50th: $101,340
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.