Action Behavior Centers logo
Action Behavior Centers
Grayslake, Illinois

Child Autism Therapist (Entry-Level)

Counselor / TherapistNo weekendsNo nightsFull-Time

Listed compensation

$17.05-$28/hr

The week · per this posting · Monday – FridayWeekdays only

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations and time off.

Posted 59m ago · Verified live

Job Description

  • Make a Difference Every Day: Action Behavior Centers hires caring people to help children with autism build communication, social, and independent skills.
  • Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm (predictable daytime hours - no nights). Optional Saturdays available based on patient needs
  • Position Type: Full-Time
  • Location: ABC Clinic - 1025 Red Oak Lane, Suite 180, Lindenhurst, IL 60046
  • Start Date: Immediate openings available
  • Hiring Quickly: We typically respond to applications within 24 hours, so please keep an eye on your phone and email for interview scheduling.
  • Training: No experience necessary. We provide paid training and fully cover your Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) certification.
  • Experience That’s a PLUS (not required): Childcare experience such as nanny, babysitter, preschool teacher, or tutor. Mental health roles such as QMHP or behavioral health technician. Camp counselors, paraprofessionals, caregivers, and life skills assistants. Psychology, Child Development, Education, or any Health Sciences degree.

Pay (determined by education & previous ABA experience)

  • High School / Associate’s Degree: $17.05–$23.50 per hour
  • Bachelor’s Degree: $17.50–$27 per hour
  • Master’s Degree: $19–$28 per hour
  • Fun Fact: You’ll receive your first raise after earning your RBT certification!

What You’ll Be Doing: You’ll work one-on-one with children ages 18 months to 8 years using play-based ABA therapy. In this role, you will:

  • Follow personalized treatment plans and collect simple session data
  • Help children learn through play, movement, reading, games, and hands-on activities
  • Stay active and engaged throughout therapy sessions
  • Maintain a clean, organized, and safe therapy environment
  • Collaborate with a supportive team focused on helping kids grow and succeed
  • Curious? Watch a Behavior Technician at work! youtu. be

Job Requirements

  • At least 18 years old
  • High school diploma
  • Ability to lift up to 30 lbs
  • Comfortable sitting, standing, crouching, and getting on/off the floor frequently
  • Able to maintain an active pace while working with young children
  • Reliable attendance and punctuality
  • Willingness to complete paid RBT certification within 20 days of hire
  • Team mindset: may occasionally help support a nearby ABC clinic if additional coverage is needed

Why Candidates Choose ABC

  • Guaranteed full-time hours
  • Paid training + fully covered RBT certification
  • Raises every 6 months with clear growth goals
  • Health insurance covered at 90%
  • Dental and Vision benefits
  • 10 paid holidays, 10 PTO days, and 2 flex days
  • Free lunch every Friday
  • DoorDash DashPass and Calm app provided
  • Student loan repayment support
  • Supportive, team-focused work environment

Growth Opportunities: At Action Behavior Centers, we are committed to helping our team members grow. Many Behavior Therapists advance into roles such as: Clinical Administrators, Operations Managers, and Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA)

Check Out Our Community & Culture

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A Quick Note: Please do not reach out to clinic locations directly regarding your application status, as teams are busy supporting clients and families.

ABC is an equal opportunity employer.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, disability, marital status, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws, including the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act (PHRA). We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

@Copyright 2026

Key Responsibilities

Provide one-on-one, play-based ABA therapy to children ages 18 months to 8 years, following personalized treatment plans and collecting session data. Support children's communication, social, and independent skills while maintaining a safe therapy environment and collaborating with the team.

Requirements

Applicants must be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma, be able to lift up to 30 pounds, and be comfortable with frequent movement and floor-level activities. Reliable attendance, punctuality, and completion of paid RBT certification within 20 days of hire are required; prior experience is not necessary.

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure

Certifications

Board Certification

Key Skills

Following Treatment PlansSession Data CollectionCommunication SkillsSocial Skills DevelopmentIndependent Living SkillsMaintaining a Safe EnvironmentTeam CollaborationActive Engagement

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Child Autism Therapist (Entry-Level) at Action Behavior Centers a 6.4 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the Above average in Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) — ranked against 7,863 active Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no weekend requirements, no night shifts.

Counselor Career Context

Action Behavior Centers holds silver-tier status on WeekdayDoc's Top Employers work-life index, composite score 73/100, 330 active listings.

Of the 50 active Mental Health Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 36% are remote, 26% have no call, 72% require no weekends.

Mental Health Therapy by the numbers
MeasureThis jobMarket
Work-life score6.4 / 10 · above average in mental health therapy (counseling)ranked against 7,863 Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listingslisting-based score, 0–10
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$47k in purchasing powerIllinois index 100.0 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Mental Health Therapy listings in Illinois354 active7,838 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 36% remote · 26% no call · 72% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Action Behavior Centerssilver tier, 73/100Top Employers work-life index330 active listings
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index (7,863 Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listings), Top Employers work-life index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Oct 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top Counselor Jobs

47 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

47 jobs · 37 employers
20
<$75k
22
$75k-95k
0
$95k-115k
5
$115k-135k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

41 jobs · 37 employers
401k / retirement match
90%
CME allowance
41%
Sign-on bonus
37%
Loan repayment
20% this job
PSLF eligible
17%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

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Work-life snapshot

median 6.0this job 6.4
Better work-life than 60% of Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 7,863 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • No weekends
  • No nights
Action Behavior Centers logo

About Action Behavior Centers

Mental Health Care
Austin, Texas
5,001-10,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Paid training
RBT certification covered
Health insurance (90% covered)
Dental and vision benefits
10 paid holidays
10 PTO days
2 flex days
Free lunch every Friday

Living in Grayslake

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$354k
Typical market rent
$2,317/mo
Residents’ average commute
27 min
State income tax
Up to 5%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Sep 2026), Zillow market rents (Sep 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.