Disciplines / RBT
Registered Behavior Technician (RBT)
RBTs deliver the direct therapy hours that make ABA work: running programs, collecting data and building rapport with clients session after session.
- Advertised pay
- $20/hr – $30/hr
- Credential
- RBT credential with BACB
- Live roles
- None open today
What is a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT), and what does the role pay?
What the role does
- Deliver one-to-one ABA sessions to plan
- Collect trial-by-trial and duration data accurately
- Implement behavior intervention plans with fidelity
- Communicate with families and the supervising analyst
- Maintain a safe, structured session environment
Credential and route in
RBT credential with BACB · Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB)
- 1High school diploma and 18+
- 240-hour RBT training
- 3Initial competency assessment with a qualified assessor
- 4Background check and the RBT examination
- 5Ongoing supervision (minimum 5% of hours) and annual renewal
Advertised pay
| Career stage | Advertised pay | What typically sits behind it |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | $20/hr | Newly credentialed, supervised caseload |
| Mid-career | $24/hr | Full caseload, independent, some supervision of others |
| Senior | $30/hr | Lead or multi-site scope, clinical quality ownership |
Ranges reflect what we typically see advertised on roles we recruit for in the US. They are a market guide, not a survey, and vary by setting, caseload and experience. Last reviewed August 2026.
Full RBT salary guideWhere RBTs work
Center-based ABA clinics · In-home ABA · Schools · Community settings
Specialties
- ABA and autism servicesCenter-based, in-home and hybrid applied behavior analysis for autistic children and adults, from single-site clinics to national multi-site providers.
- Early interventionBirth-to-three programs delivering developmental, speech, occupational and behavioral support in homes and community settings.
- School-based servicesDistrict-employed and contract services across special education: evaluations, IEP-aligned therapy, behavior support and school mental health.
- IDD and adult servicesServices for adults and adolescents with intellectual and developmental disabilities: residential, day programs, supported employment and behavioral support.
Demand right now
High volume, high turnover. The providers who win here pay for drive time, guarantee hours and promote from within; the ones who do not are permanently hiring.
Hiring RBTs?
RBT retention is a scheduling problem before it is a pay problem. Guaranteed hours, cancellation policy and travel radius decide whether a hire lasts a year.
Submit a roleLive RBT roles
No live RBT roles today. Join the talent network and we will contact you when one opens in your state.
Join the talent networkQuestions we get asked
- Do I need experience to become an RBT?
- No. The credential needs a high school diploma, 40 hours of training, a competency assessment and the exam. Many providers train and certify you on hire.
- Are RBT roles full time?
- Both exist. Ask whether hours are guaranteed, how cancellations are handled and whether drive time between clients is paid; those three answers determine your real take-home.
Related roles
- Behavior Technician (BT)Behavior technicians deliver ABA sessions while working toward RBT certification, usually with employer-funded training.$18/hr – $25/hr
- Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA)BCaBAs deliver and support ABA programming under BCBA supervision, often bridging the gap between technician delivery and full program ownership.$52k – $72k
- Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)BCBAs design, supervise and adjust applied behavior analysis programs. They own clinical quality across a caseload of clients and the behavior technicians delivering the hours.$75k – $115k