Provide applied behavior analysis therapy primarily for autism spectrum disorders. Median salary in Boston: $75K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.
Figures represent annual base salary in Boston, Massachusetts. Reviewed by SalaryOptics Editorial · How we calculate this →
Analysis derived from the salary, COL, tax, and labor-market figures above — specific to this role and city.
Behavioral Therapist (ABA)s in Boston earn approximately 29% higher than the US national median for this role — a $17,000 premium on annual base salary. This reflects Boston's position as a higher-cost labor market where employers must match local wage norms.
Adjusted for Boston's cost-of-living index (162), the median Behavioral Therapist (ABA) salary buys the equivalent of $46,296 in a US-average-cost city. That's $11,704 less purchasing power than the national median — the higher nominal salary doesn't fully offset local costs.
This role's national salaries are growing at 8.5% year-over-year, well above the BLS all-occupations average of ~3.5%. If that pace holds, the Boston median reaches $112,774 in five years.
Based on BLS 2022–2032 Employment Projections and WEF Future of Jobs Report 2026. At current growth rates, median salary reaches $75K by 2030.
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The median Behavioral Therapist (ABA) salary in Boston, MA is $75,000 per year as of Q1 2026. This figure represents the midpoint of all reported compensation for this role in the Boston–MA metropolitan area, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics, H-1B visa disclosures from the Department of Labor, and O*NET occupational data.
Entry-level Behavioral Therapist (ABA)s in Boston with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $55,000 and $75,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $75,000 to $101,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $101,000 to $133,000 or more.
Boston has a cost of living index of 162 compared to the US national average of 100. Boston's cost of living is above the US average, so the salary figures above reflect local market rates. Massachusetts has a 5% state income tax rate.
Bachelor's in Psychology; BCBA certification preferred. 40% of these roles offer some remote flexibility.