Feeling stuck. Not sure what to do
I'm a BCBA with 4 years of experience and have been in the ABA field for about 8 years total. I've changed jobs every 2–3 years, and my current position was one I accepted because I was burned out and simply needed stable employment at the time.
Right now I'm making about $1,200/week net pay with a requirement of roughly 20–24 billable hours per week. My agency is ethical, supportive, and I genuinely appreciate them, which makes this situation harder. The issue is that life has become more expensive, I have more family responsibilities, and I don't feel like my compensation matches my experience level or the amount of work involved.
The next opportunity for a pay increase isn't for another 3 months, and it depends on increasing my hours. The problem is that between client cancellations, family obligations, and normal life events, I'm already struggling to consistently meet my current requirements. I also drive 45 minutes to an hour several times a week, and our assessment process is fairly old-fashioned, requiring a lot of manual work compared to some of the newer systems I've seen elsewhere.
Part of me thinks I could make more money if I switched back to an hourly model, but I'm honestly exhausted from having my income depend on client attendance and availability. Sometimes I find myself wishing I were in a field where you simply clock in, do your work, and know you'll get paid regardless of whether someone cancels.
For those who have been BCBAs for several years, have you experienced something similar? Did you stay in the field and find a better role, move into a different area of behavior analysis, or leave altogether? I feel like I should be further along in my career by now, and I'm trying to figure out whether I need a different job, a different BCBA role, or a completely different path.
Please help i appreciate it