In Mexico, it is common for psychologists, pedagogues, and health and social care personnel to have a basic and common understanding of developmental disorders. To learn more about the topic, in this article we will delve into the salary of professionals in autism spectrum disorders in Mexico, as well as the job profiles they may have.
It is also very likely that during their academic training, they have taken courses focused on caring for people with disabilities or have even performed interventions for individuals with ASD.
However, despite this background or common reference framework, specialization and certification are highly valued when aspiring to a better job position, salary increases, more clients, recognition, or the development of research in ASD.
If you are interested in pursuing postgraduate studies in Autism Spectrum Care or want to evaluate if you are currently receiving fair compensation for your services as a specialist in ASD care and interventions, continue reading to learn about the updated salary table and other ideas that will help you in your professional path.
The first thing you should know is that in Mexico there are few professionals considered experts in autism spectrum care, and a medical vision still persists, along with limited information on awareness or information about Autism Spectrum Disorders.
National autism care centers are scarce. According to the Google directory, just over a hundred are registered, and most are concentrated in the Mexican capital, Mexico City. While this is regrettable, it also represents a field of opportunities for you to be motivated from your profession to make changes regarding this reality.
Updated Salary for an ASD Care Professional in Mexico in 2023
After reviewing Mexican talent pools, we have found that on average, an ASD specialist (psychologist, pedagogue, educator, speech therapist, social worker) has a monthly salary averaging 10,000 Mexican pesos.
That is, $500 if you work dependently for non-profit organizations, educational care centers, or health centers. But as we mentioned earlier, there are few of these centers in the nation, and almost all are concentrated in Mexico City.
If you are just starting on the path of intervention for individuals with ASD, the salary can average 8,000 pesos/month. Keep in mind that these are salaries from institutions in Mexico City; therefore, in other areas of the country, this value could decrease.
If you are a specialist with more than one year of experience, training in psychology or speech therapy, your salary could rise to 12,000 pesos per month. That is, 144,000 pesos annually.
The profile linked to currently available job offers for ASD professionals in Mexico leans towards:
- Graduates in education, psychology, or pedagogy with theoretical-practical specialization in ASD.
- More than one year of experience working with children or individuals with ASD.
- Experience in educational and therapeutic intervention.
- Work with family members and expertise in developing individualized plans and objectives.
- Knowledge of Augmentative and Alternative Communication Techniques and behavioral modification and sensory stimulation techniques.
Prices for consultations and interventions by an independent professional (freelancer) in ASD treatments in Mexico
If your professional ideal is self-employment and having your own time and office to offer private and individualized therapy services, the fee for a psychology consultation or ASD intervention therapy costs between 25 and 80 dollars per hour. In Mexican pesos, this is between 300-1500 Mexican pesos per hour.
This cost increases slightly for home therapies, in which case the professional adds travel expenses.
Organizations specializing in ASD promote therapies of 30 hours per week in the first year of care and subsequently, reducing or adjusting them according to the individual’s progress with ASD.
Online Treatments and New Diagnostic and Care Centers for Autism Spectrum Disorders
Considering the global and national reality, from this professional guidance space, we recommend two options you should consider to help boost your professional proposal.
Actually, there are three recommendations.
- The first is not to waste time and enroll in a Specialization in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) care that validates your practical knowledge or allows you to acquire it.
- The second is to leverage ICTs and internet services to enable the possibility of providing online consultations. This way, you won’t lose contact with your clients, you’ll maintain your work rhythm regardless of your location or mobility conditions, and you’ll be available and close – at a distance – to your clients.
- Consider, along with colleagues, the construction of networks and care centers outside the territory of the Mexican capital. In the country, there are a hundred educational and care organizations concentrated in Mexico City. This means that in the interior of Mexico, there is an underserved population to whom you can offer solidarity and guidance, and with whom you can begin to build a network of potential clients.
Psychologists, pedagogues, psychiatrists, and educators, this is the master’s degree you need
To conclude our article, we want to invite you to explore the academic offer in Autism Spectrum Care that ISEP University offers you, which is unique as a postgraduate program in Mexico, as among other advantages, it offers double degrees with similar branches of education.
This training is recognized by Mexico’s national educational authorities and is considered one of the best master’s degrees in Spain (Study Diario El Mundo, 2017). This specialization is taught by active, top-level professionals.