Pay Equity Among Behavior-Analytic Practitioners Who Serve Children

Area of Science:

• Behavior Analysis
• Applied Psychology
• Healthcare Economics

Background:

• Pay disparities negatively impact organizations, employees, and clients, affecting service delivery, including culturally responsive care.
• Existing evidence indicates pay inequity, particularly between genders, is prevalent in behavior analysis.
• Understanding these disparities is crucial for equitable service provision.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the annual income of Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) and BCBA-Ds working with children.
• To investigate the specific impact of salary practices on the delivery of behavior-analytic services to children and adolescents.
• To identify potential gender-based and regional differences in income within the field.

Main Methods:

• A survey was distributed to collect data on annual income, demographics, and service delivery aspects.
• The study included 236 BCBAs and 8 BCBA-Ds, with an average of 11.3 years in the field.
• Data analysis focused on comparing annual incomes based on gender and service region.

Main Results:

• Overall, female BCBAs reported an average annual income of $74,888, compared to $79,140 for males.
• For those serving children and adolescents, female respondents earned an average of $75,840, while males earned $74,673.
• Statistically significant differences in income were observed across urban, rural, and combined service regions for female BCBAs, but the gender income difference was not statistically significant overall, despite females earning less in most comparisons.

Conclusions:

• While the overall gender income gap was not statistically significant in this sample, females consistently earned less than their male counterparts across most comparisons.
• Significant regional income variations exist for female BCBAs, suggesting geographic factors influence compensation.
• The findings underscore the need for changes in salary practices to enhance behavior-analytic service delivery and promote equity within the field.