Behavior Analyst Job Descriptions, Average Salary, Interview Questions

What Does a Behavior Analyst Do?

A behavior analyst designs and implements therapy programs to help treat patients with mental, social, and learning disorders. They work to understand their patient’s needs and create treatment plans accordingly. Applied behavioral analysis (ABA) techniques such as positive reinforcement, shaping and prompting fading, and task analysis are common treatments used among behavior analysts. 

Along with the patients and their families, behavior analysts will also work with health professionals to ensure that proper medical attention is being received. A behavior analyst should have excellent verbal and report-writing skills, as well as the ability to remain composed during stressful situations. Successful behavior analysts are calm, empathic, and patient individuals.

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National Average Salary

Behavior analyst salaries vary by experience, industry, organization size, and geography. To explore salary ranges by local market, please visit our sister site zengig.com.

The average U.S. salary for a Behavior Analyst is:

$74,680

Behavior Analyst Job Descriptions

Crafting the perfect job description may be the key to finding an exceptional behavior analyst. To help you with your recruiting search, our team has put together some examples from past openings.

Example 1

Are you an experienced Behavior Analyst who is passionate about supporting some of the most vulnerable members of our community and making a positive impact to the lives individuals and their families? Are you interested in advancing your career by joining a leading behavioral healthcare organization and working alongside colleagues who are passionate about changing lives – unlocking human potential? As a Behavior Analyst at ABC Company, you will actively support the individuals and caregivers with your assigned caseload in participating in individualized treatment plans and behavioral programs.

ABC Company is seeking a Behavior Analyst for a newly created position providing behavioral services in a community-based program designed to provide intensive behavioral support services for individuals and their families when support is needed the most. Based out of Central Florida, this position is responsible for providing both direct and indirect behavior analysis and behavioral programming services to individuals in need of specialized support. Responsibilities include the development of an individualized behavioral program and treatment plan for all individuals assigned per caseload. The Behavior Analyst will work within a multidisciplinary team to review each individual’s treatment goals and progress, as well as anticipate future needs and facilitate connection to additional support services, as needed.

Duties

  • Work directly with individuals and family members to provide intensive behavioral services, designed to support families through crisis situations and develop a plan for ongoing support.
  • Design and implement individualized behavioral plans, assess progress and future needs.
  • Providing training and support for behavioral staff to implement best practices and create positive change.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in the field of behavior analysis, mental health, social work, psychology, rehabilitation, special education, or a human services field required
  • Master’s degree preferred
  • Board Certified Behavior Analyst or BCBA required; BCBA preferred

Experience

  • 2+ years working in the field of ABA or IDD, implementing behavioral treatment plans
  • 1+ years experience developing and performing behavioral assessments and evaluating individual or unit wide programs
  • Experience working with children and adolescent populations preferred

Other requirements

  • Valid (States) driver’s license
  • Must be able to commit to a two-week, paid new hire orientation class; hours are approximately 9:00am to 5:00pm, Monday – Friday each day
  • Successfully pass pre-employment medical screenings which include: Drug Screen, Physical, Physical Abilities Test, TB Test and Influenza Vaccine
  • ABC Company requires all individuals interviewing for a position involving contact with children to complete The Diana Screen, a screening that assesses a candidate’s understanding of appropriate boundaries between adults and children.

Example 2

Position summary:

The Behavior Analyst position is a master’s or doctoral level board certified professional employed for the Interdisciplinary Center for Evaluation and Intervention (ICEI). The person in this position will provide direct and indirect services aligned with the ICEI schedule of deliverables to school districts that will enhance the academic success of students with complex behavioral needs. The person in this position will be involved in the development, implementation, and evaluation of interventions with school-based professionals, school-aged students, and families. This position conducts application of behavioral science in school-based interventions. This position will be part of an interdisciplinary team developing and implementing specialized behavioral services. This person will also provide supervision to graduate practicum students working toward certification requirements.

Responsibilities:

  • Provide behavioral intervention and assessment to clients with complex behavioral, neurodevelopmental, and mental health needs.
  • Conduct functional behavior assessments.
  • Partner with school district teams to participate/facilitate functional behavior assessments and build collaborative function-based intervention plans.
  • Provide coaching facilitation to school-based teams to implement behavior intervention plans.
  • Coordinate coaching of interventions for educators and families.
  • Develop data/progress monitoring methods for collecting fidelity and student outcome data.
  • Develop training/professional development sessions based on data/needs/requests.
  • Write functional behavior assessment/function- based intervention plan reports.
  • Provide scaffolded supervision to graduate students (model, share responsibilities with feedback to the student, student perform independently with feedback).
  • Write integrated psycho-educational reports and treatment/intervention plans.
  • Participate in interdisciplinary meetings and cross-site grant meetings; coordinate supports for assigned cases; present awareness trainings about clinic services and about research model.
  • Track data related to deliverables of projects within timelines provided; contact clients/school-based teams and respond within an appropriate timeline/protocol; conduct fidelity observations and systematic direct observation of student behaviors.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.

Required qualifications:

  • This position requires a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis or a related field, with at least two years of applicable experience; or Master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis, with one year of professional experience. The Bachelor’s degree is a minimum requirement for this position and cannot be waived.
  • All staff assigned to this classification must obtain national certification as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) or a Board Certified Associate Behavior Analyst (BCABA) within 15 months of employment, and such certification must be maintained throughout employment in this classification at ABC Company.

Preferred qualifications:

  • Master’s or Doctoral degree in Applied Behavior Analysis or related area. Board Certified Behavior Analyst or Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctorate Experience working with school-aged children/youth, families, and educators.

Example 3

Duties

  • Work collaboratively with campus staff and parents to develop effective proactive and responsive strategies to support students who are struggling with behavior.
  • Review or develop campus-level and individual student crisis intervention plans, functional behavior assessments-and/or behavior intervention plans for specific students.
  • Work collaboratively with district staff to provide services and support to students with and without disabilities focusing on applied behavior analysis strategies and Positive Behavioral interventions and Support (PBIS) for behavior management.
  • Provide consultation and training to campus and district staff and parents.
  • Provide intervention, guidance, and support for students in crisis and/or needing behavior support.
  • Use significant independent judgment and familiarity of the field to perform work.
  • May be responsible for administration of various moderate and high complexity departmental programs and may lead a group of employees.
  • May develop policies and procedures and oversee the implementation and execution of them.

Education and certifications

  • Master’s degree from an accredited university with a concentration in behavior or applied
  • behavior analysis special education or related field of study.
  • Valid Certification as a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)

Knowledge, skills & abilities

  • Knowledge of, or willingness to acquire knowledge of Multi-Tiered Interventions of Support (MTSS)
  • Use effective communications skills, written and oral, to present information accurately and clearly to students, parents, and staff.
  • Knowledge of the strategies of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and the ability to implement those strategies with students.
  • Knowledge of curriculum standards, best practices and appropriate curriculum accommodations/modifications for special education, grades PK through 12.
  • Ability to work cooperatively with staff, students, and parents.
  • Ability to adjust to and be flexible in a multitude of situations in the school environment

Experience

  • Minimum one (1) to two (2) years’ experience in conducting ABA therapy or applying techniques in applied behavior analysis in a related field.

Sample Interview Questions

  • Are you familiar with the principles of applied behavior analysis?
  • How often do you make adjustments to your plans for each client?
  • Can you discuss the most remarkable progress you have witnessed in therapy?
  • How would you handle a situation where a client was not making any progress toward their goals?
  • At what point would you turn a patient away?
  • How would you toe the line between updating families and maintaining patient confidentiality?
  • How would you store the patients’ data?
  • Which key principles guide your personal life?

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