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Applied Behavior Analysis

Types of Degrees Applied Behavior Analysis Majors Are Earning

People majoring in Applied Behavior Analysis have the option of earning degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Certificate	9
Bachelor’s Degree	497
Master’s Degree	6,181
Doctor’s Degree	178

What Applied Behavior Analysis Majors Need to Know

Coursework for Applied Behavior Analysis emphasize a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Applied Behavior Analysis graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

Coursework in Applied Behavior Analysis emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• English Language — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Psychology — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Education and Training — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Customer and Personal Service — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Mathematics — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

The skill set developed in a Applied Behavior Analysis program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Active Listening — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Reading Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
• Speaking — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Writing — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.

Abilities

The cognitive and physical abilities most relevant to Applied Behavior Analysis careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Oral Expression — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Written Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
• Written Expression — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Deductive Reasoning — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Applied Behavior Analysis graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Getting Information	4.5 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.3 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.2 / 7
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships	4.2 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.1 / 7
Documenting/Recording Information	4.0 / 7
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others	4.0 / 7
Working with Computers	4.0 / 7
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	3.9 / 7
Training and Teaching Others	3.9 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Applied Behavior Analysis professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	✓
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	✓
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Web browser software	Internet browser software	—
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	✓
Email software	Electronic mail software	—
Word processing software	Word processing software	—
Blackboard software	Data base user interface and query software	—
Microsoft Project	Project management software	—
IBM SPSS Statistics	Analytical or scientific software	—
Microsoft Access	Data base user interface and query software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Applied Behavior Analysis graduates include:

• Basic Skills Improvement Program Instructional Aide (BSIP Instructional Aide)
• SPED Paraeducator (Special Education Paraeducator)
• Education Support Professional
• SPED Instructional Assistant (Special Education Instructional Assistant)
• TA (Teacher’s Assistant)
• SPED Para (Special Education Paraprofessional)
• Educational Assistant
• SPED Teacher Aide (Special Education Teacher Aide)
• Assistant Instructor
• SPED Classroom Aide (Special Education Classroom Aide)
• SPED TA (Special Education Teaching Assistant)
• TA (Teaching Assistant)
• Specialized Programs TA (Specialized Programs Teacher Assistant)
• Co-Teacher
• Early Childhood SPED PARA (Early Childhood Special Education Paraprofessional)

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Applied Behavior Analysis graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Bachelor’s degree	33.5%
Post-doctoral training	20.1%
Doctoral degree	14.2%
High school diploma or equivalent	8.6%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	7.3%
Master’s degree	7.3%
Some college courses	5.7%
Postsecondary certificate	1.9%
Post-baccalaureate certificate	1.2%
Post-master’s certificate	0.2%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Applied Behavior Analysis?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly female, with women earning 87.2% of Applied Behavior Analysis degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	6,031	87.2%
Men	883	12.8%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Applied Behavior Analysis graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	3,417	49.4%
Asian	297	4.3%
Hispanic or Latino	1,524	22.0%
Black or African American	846	12.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native	21	0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander	14	0.2%
Two or More Races	215	3.1%
Race Unknown	414	6.0%
International Students	166	2.4%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Applied Behavior Analysis Graduates Earn?

Federal data tracks median earnings of Applied Behavior Analysis graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$54,756
4 years	$59,892
5 years	$67,036

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $67,036 — roughly 22% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Online Applied Behavior Analysis Programs

Distance learning is tracked by IPEDS for Applied Behavior Analysis. The table below shows how many graduates earned at least some of their coursework online (Distance-Ed Available) versus completing the entire program online (Distance-Ed Only).

Award Level	Distance-Ed Available	Distance-Ed Only
Bachelor’s	4	2
Master’s	30	16
Doctoral (Research)	4	3

^{Distance-Ed Only = degrees completed entirely online; Distance-Ed Available = degrees including at least some online coursework. Source: IPEDS Completions by Distance Education status.}

Is a Degree in Applied Behavior Analysis Worth It?

Strictly by the federal earnings tracker, Applied Behavior Analysis graduates earn a median of $59,892 four years after completion — roughly 58% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	CIP Code
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology	42.28
Applied Psychology	42.2813
Clinical Child Psychology	42.2807
Clinical Psychology	42.2801
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology, Other	42.2899
Community Psychology	42.2802
Counseling Psychology	42.2803
Educational Psychology	42.2806
Environmental Psychology	42.2808
Family Psychology	42.2811
Forensic Psychology	42.2812
Geropsychology	42.2809

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.