ABAOps Research — March 2026
2026 ABA Therapy Google Ads Cost Benchmarks
This page shows Google Ads cost-per-click (CPC) benchmarks for ABA therapy keywords across 100 US metro areas (DMAs). Data comes from monthly snapshots collected via Google Ads Keyword Planner through DataForSEO. These are median bid estimates, not live auction prices.
We classified 9,600+ ABA therapy keywords and collected CPC benchmarks across 100 US metros. Here is what ABA therapy keywords actually cost on Google — and where providers are most likely wasting money.
Glossary
CPC (Cost Per Click)
What advertisers pay each time a parent clicks their Google Ad.
Search Volume
Estimated monthly searches for a keyword in a metro area.
Intent Level
How likely a searcher is to take action (high intent = searching for a provider; informational = researching ABA therapy generally).
DMA (Designated Market Area)
Google's geographic unit for delivering ads — also referred to as "markets" or "metro areas" throughout this site. Our data covers the top 100 US DMAs.
Discovery Count
The number of distinct ABA provider websites ranking for a keyword — a measure of advertiser competition.
What ABA Patient-Acquisition Keywords Cost
These are national US averages from Google Ads Keyword Planner. Costs vary by market — competitive areas with multiple ABA providers bidding on the same terms will run higher.
| Keyword | CPC | Monthly Volume |
|---|---|---|
| aba providers near me | $27.23 | 880 |
| aba services near me | $23.48 | 4,400 |
| aba therapy for teens near me | $22.71 | 320 |
| aba centers near me | $21.96 | 6,600 |
| aba near me | $18.02 | 14,800 |
| aba clinics near me | $13.19 | 6,600 |
| autism near me | $6.95 | 2,900 |
Data: National US averages, March 2026. Source: Google Ads Keyword Planner via DataForSEO. CPC figures are median bid estimates at the national level, not live auction prices; market-level CPCs may be higher in competitive areas.
Metro-Level CPC: How Costs Vary by Market
National averages mask dramatic market-by-market differences. We collected CPC data across 100 US metros using DMA (Designated Market Area) targeting. In-home ABA keywords carry a 94% premium over local “near me” terms.
“aba near me” — CPC by Metro
| Metro | CPC | Monthly Volume |
|---|---|---|
| Denver | $54.33 | 260 |
| Baltimore | $38.45 | 210 |
| Indianapolis | $33.19 | 170 |
| Raleigh | $30.56 | 110 |
| Dallas | $25.78 | 720 |
| Atlanta | $24.03 | 390 |
| Houston | $22.80 | 590 |
| Phoenix | $22.06 | 260 |
| Chicago | $18.04 | 480 |
| Los Angeles | $16.75 | 720 |
| New York | $12.97 | 720 |
| Nashville | $9.40 | 140 |
“aba in-home therapy” — CPC by Metro
| Metro | CPC | Monthly Volume |
|---|---|---|
| Denver | $189.39 | 20 |
| Raleigh | $115.67 | 20 |
| Indianapolis | $97.81 | 20 |
| Austin | $86.97 | 20 |
| Phoenix | $75.49 | 70 |
| Dallas | $61.57 | 50 |
| Atlanta | $61.35 | 70 |
| Houston | $41.01 | 90 |
| Los Angeles | $30.24 | 110 |
| Chicago | $27.60 | 50 |
| New York | $17.48 | 90 |
Data: DMA Region-level, March 2026. Source: Google Ads Keyword Planner via DataForSEO. Metros with fewer than 20 monthly searches excluded. CPC data collected across 100 US metros. Top markets by CPC variance displayed.
The Negative Keyword Problem: 778 Terms That Waste ABA Ad Budgets
We identified 778 search terms that are clearly NOT from parents seeking therapy. These include job seekers, students pursuing ABA degrees, and academic researchers. If a provider runs Google Ads on broad or phrase match without excluding these terms, they risk paying $15–27 per click for traffic that will never convert to a patient inquiry.
Careers & Jobs — 623 terms
The largest category. Job seekers searching for ABA therapy positions, salaries, and hiring.
Education & Training — 66 terms
Students researching ABA degree programs, certifications, and continuing education.
Health-Tangential — 89 terms
Unrelated medical and therapy searches that overlap with ABA terminology.
Download the Full Negative Keyword List
All 778 ABA-specific negative keywords, categorized and ready to import into Google Ads.
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