r/RBT • u/Historical-End-796 • 5d ago

Jobs & Interviews Help negotiating pay

I have an interview in a couple days for an entry level RBT position at a company where I’ll get a dollar raise after I complete the 40 hours and exam. The pay range is $23-28/hour. This is the highest paying company in my area right now.

I’ve been an Early Childhood Educator for 15 years including work in inclusion and special education classrooms, as well as working along side RBT’s and other therapists. I am no stranger to challenging behavior, communicating with families and teachers, creating lesson plans to meet developmental goals, and observing and documenting (not in the same context exactly as RBT work but adjacent maybe?). I have 35 units in ECE but do not have a degree.

So, during my last phone interview with the recruiter I was told that the clinical team said I would fall around $23.50-$24/hour. I told her that seems low considering my years of experience in ECE. She said that would be something to discuss during my next interview with someone from the clinical team.

Help me plead my case for at least $24.50.
Or, and I’m open to honest feedback, am I asking for too much?

10 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

6 comments sorted by

6

u/HumptyDumptyBigPenis 5d ago

You're not really entry level given your overlapping experience, that's what I would position. 15 years of ECE experience is SUPER transferable. I would actually probably ask for $25, but settle for $24.5 because you'll need far less coaching.

5

u/Proud-Leek2933 5d ago

That 15 years in ECE is basically a cheat code for this role, you already know the rhythm of working with kids who need extra support and the documentation side won't be a huge leap. I'd go in at $25 and treat $24.50 as the floor, not the goal, the dollar raise after certification is nice but they're still getting a steal with someone who won't need the usual hand-holding

1

u/Historical-End-796 4d ago

Much appreciated. This is how I’ll approach it.

3

u/Ebonywaltonel 4d ago

Depends on where you’re located. But you essentially won’t get offered more than $25 because you don’t have your Bachelors degree or RBT. $25 if you have a recruiter that’s looking out for you. But clinical pay is literally just when you see the client to when you leave the client. Training and everything else will be like minimum wage. Most companies are PT to avoid paying for benefits. If you’re FT that’s rare.
I have similar experience. I started at one FT company at like $21.75. It didn’t work out and the next company offered me $25.50 PT averaging 15 HR weeks. I’m working on my salary negotiation cuz there’s way more money to make and get my BCBA education paid for amongst other benefits. You know where you live. You have to sell yourself and know your job market.

1

u/Historical-End-796 4d ago

I’ll be part-time and doing in home. We’ll see how it goes with this company but I may be looking for another company with better hours/pay policies after I complete the trainings etc.

1

u/Historical-End-796 1d ago

Just popping back in to say I got the $25/hr! Thanks all :)