Per-session rates in New York City early intervention are not publicly reported by agencies. The New York State Department of Health sets the reimbursement rate the state pays agencies. What therapists actually receive is the agency rate, which is that state rate minus the agency's cut. That cut varies by 15 to 25 percentage points between agencies, producing a wide range of per-session pay that most therapists have no systematic way to compare.
EI Match collects per-session rate data directly from therapist-reported figures on our matching calls, job postings, and agency disclosures. This is the most complete current picture of what NYC EI agencies are actually paying therapists in 2026.
NYC EI per-session rates: all disciplines, all agencies
Speech-Language Pathology (SLP)
NYC market average for licensed SLP: approximately $62 to $67 per session. The spread between the top and bottom of the market is $53 to $105, a range of $52 per session. At 20 sessions per week and 48 working weeks, that difference equals $49,920 per year in gross income.
Occupational Therapy (OT)
Physical Therapy (PT), Special Instruction (SI), ABA
What the state actually reimburses in 2026
New York State reimburses agencies approximately $73 to $82 for a 30-minute individual SLP session in NYC as of 2026, reflecting the 5% rate increase approved in late 2024. Agencies paying licensed SLPs $62 to $75 are passing through 76 to 91% of the state rate. Agencies paying $52 to $58 are keeping 29 to 37% as their administrative margin, which is on the higher end.
The typical agency margin in well-run NYC EI operations is 20 to 28% of the state reimbursement rate, covering legitimate costs: billing staff, EI-Hub management, service coordination, compliance, and a reasonable operating margin. Agencies taking more than 35% consistently are either running unusually high overhead or extracting more profit than the compensation model can sustainably support for therapists.
Why rates vary so widely within the same agency
Per-session rates at the same agency can vary by $10 to $20 for therapists in identical roles. The primary factors: years of experience in EI (not just clinical experience), bilingual skills, geographic flexibility (particularly willingness to serve the Bronx or Staten Island), and when you negotiated relative to the agency's current staffing pressure. Therapists who accepted the first offer made to them are frequently being paid below what the same agency is currently offering to new recruits.
If you have not renegotiated your rate in the past 12 months and you have been with an agency for over a year, you should. Cite your track record with families, your note completion rate, and any geographic flexibility you offer. Most agencies will move $3 to $8 if asked with specifics.
Annual income at different rate levels
Based on 48 billable weeks per year.
How to find out if you are being underpaid
Use our pay calculator to see what your discipline earns at every NYC EI agency. Enter your discipline and license status, and the calculator shows you exactly where your current rate ranks relative to the full market. Many therapists find they are earning $8 to $15 below what peer agencies are currently offering for the same discipline and experience level.
If you discover a significant gap, use the data as the basis for a rate conversation with your current agency, or get matched with agencies that are currently paying better for your discipline.