Write Your Walk-Away Numbers Before You Interview

Before the tea: What follows is a recap of what someone said publicly on Reddit this fall — not Pair’s opinion, and not inside knowledge of any clinic. We’re not naming anyone. Corrections and green-flag stories: contact@pairaba.com.

It starts with a simple question on r/BCBA: Where are the good ABA companies in South Orange County, California?

Then they tell you why they’re looking.

The company is struggling to keep staff, with RBTs, BCBAs, and directors all heading for the exit. Even the bonus structure got the boot as the company tried to cut costs. At one point, the BCBA was juggling more than 20 cases and had to tell leadership multiple times that they were drowning before anything changed.

Their description of the company? A sinking ship.

What they wrote down first

Stability. A caseload capped at 15 clients. A billable requirement around 26 hours per week. Actual mentorship—not just vibes. And a bonus structure that doesn't disappear the second finances get tight.

It's not a wishlist. It's a walk-away list.

Pair’s walk-away decode (before you book the interview)

1. Caseload cap. What's the maximum BCBA caseload, and what happens when another BCBA leaves?
2. Weekly billable target. About 26 is the number this poster is shopping for.
3. Mentorship that has a calendar. A named mentor, protected time, and a program — not “we’re a family” energy with zero structure.
4. Bonus that survives a bad quarter. If the structure already dropped once because the company was losing money, ask what the current plan is — and whether it can disappear again mid-year.

Pair’s Take

We ask what your caseload cap, billable number, mentorship need, and bonus floor are before we shop — so you’re not negotiating from a sinking ship.

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Tell us your location, setting, schedule, salary goals, and the four lines above.

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