What is a behavior analyst and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

Quoted Expert

Juleen Buser Ph.D.

A behavior analyst uses scientific principles to study, understand, and modify human behavior. They work in various settings, including schools, clinics, and businesses. They develop interventions to address problems such as aggression, anxiety, and addiction. Behavior analysts utilize techniques such as positive reinforcement and behavior shaping to improve social interactions. They also collaborate with other professionals, such as teachers and therapists, to create comprehensive treatment plans for clients and improve the quality of life for individuals.

What general advice would you give to a Behavior Analyst?

Juleen Buser Ph.D.

Professor and Director, School Counseling and Coaching Programs, Rider University

Counseling Services (school counseling concentration) and an MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (we have a CMHC concentration and a Dance Movement Therapy concentration in this program). The general advice I would give to graduates starting positions in the counseling field would be to understand the critical importance of the work of helping professionals. Counselors optimally provide a safe space for clients to discuss their fears, worries, anxieties, joys, traumas, insecurities, accomplishments, etc. This ability to be an empathic, listening, accepting presence will be even more crucial for clients in our current situation.

ScoreBehavior AnalystUS Average

Salary

5.8

Avg. Salary $73,616

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

9.9

Growth Rate 14%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.8

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.86%

Asian 4.56%

Black or African American 11.43%

Hispanic or Latino 15.39%

Unknown 4.56%

White 63.21%

Gender

female 71.14%

male 28.86%

Age - 37

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 37

Stress Level

9.9

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

10.0

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

6.9

Work Life balance is good

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Behavior Analyst?

Pros

High demand for behavior analysts in various settings
Ability to work with diverse populations and age groups
Opportunities for professional growth and advancement
Competitive salaries and benefits in some industries
Opportunity to conduct meaningful research

Cons

Limited insurance coverage for services in some states or settings
Need for ongoing education and training to maintain certification
Potential for ethical dilemmas and conflicts of interest
Difficulties in collaborating with other professionals or family members
Limited autonomy in some job settings, such as schools or agencies

Key steps to become a behavior analyst

Explore behavior analyst education requirements

Most common behavior analyst degrees

Bachelor's

54.2 %

Master's

33.3 %

Associate

6.4 %

Start to develop specific behavior analyst skills

Skills	Percentages
Autism	19.36%
Applied Behavior Analysis	16.08%
BCBA	11.83%
ABA	10.89%
Behavior Analysis	10.18%

Complete relevant behavior analyst training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New behavior analysts learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a behavior analyst based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real behavior analyst resumes.

Research behavior analyst duties and responsibilities

Manage and target behaviors using the ESDM, ABA, PRT and SCERTS model.
Conduct apply behavior analysis with children diagnose with autism spectrum disorders; collect and analyze data relate to behavioral trials.
Obtain RBT, CPR, CPI certification.
Go to different cases with kids that have autism and work to alter behavior.

Prepare your behavior analyst resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your behavior analyst resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a behavior analyst resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Behavior Analyst Resume templates

Build a professional Behavior Analyst resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Behavior Analyst resume.

Apply for behavior analyst jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a behavior analyst job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do behavior analysts rate their job?

-/5

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1 Star

Behavior Analyst reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2019

Pros

Helping people be successful in life.