Explore Salaries For Mental Health Counselors

By: All Psychology Schools Staff

Updated: January 21, 2026

Home » Mental Health Counseling » Salary Therapist Salary: How Much Do Mental Health Counselors Make?

Mental health counselors can earn a wide range of salaries and enjoy faster-than-average job growth projections

Mental health counselors help clients with issues such as depression, OCD and PTSD overcome their challenges and develop into healthier human beings.

Even though they may not become rich, a mental health counselor can make a good living.

Keep reading to find out just what your earning potential is and compare it to the salary of other counselors and therapists.

Median Annual Mental Health Counselor Salary

Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors

National data

Median Salary: $59,190

Projected job growth: 16.8%

10th Percentile: $39,090

25th Percentile: $47,170

75th Percentile: $76,230

90th Percentile: $98,210

Projected job growth: 16.8%

State data

State	Median Salary	Bottom 10%	Top 10%
Alabama	$48,880	$35,940	$73,050
Alaska	$79,220	$52,790	$129,990
Arizona	$63,830	$42,130	$95,860
Arkansas	$49,990	$31,600	$102,400
California	$61,310	$44,190	$118,970
Colorado	$59,190	$40,570	$98,030
Connecticut	$62,960	$43,030	$98,660
Delaware	$49,680	$38,960	$78,510
District of Columbia	$66,140	$44,210	$101,130
Florida	$56,830	$38,790	$83,330
Georgia	$55,320	$39,020	$93,200
Hawaii	$54,390	$48,910	$158,310
Idaho	$65,240	$43,550	$85,960
Illinois	$59,570	$42,500	$107,630
Indiana	$49,280	$36,650	$78,920
Iowa	$60,880	$43,840	$89,840
Kansas	$57,760	$36,710	$80,720
Kentucky	$51,790	$33,970	$89,690
Louisiana	$40,200	$29,170	$66,560
Maine	$60,970	$43,810	$93,070
Maryland	$57,820	$41,160	$97,050
Massachusetts	$59,030	$43,220	$91,260
Michigan	$59,530	$37,200	$89,170
Minnesota	$58,720	$45,210	$75,530
Mississippi	$46,810	$32,590	$78,480
Missouri	$56,640	$35,630	$80,160
Montana	$58,660	$32,930	$80,870
Nebraska	$64,410	$37,660	$100,090
Nevada	$59,470	$43,490	$92,440
New Hampshire	$58,520	$39,520	$85,800
New Jersey	$64,710	$40,680	$118,320
New Mexico	$70,770	$47,910	$92,520
New York	$62,070	$43,160	$101,910
North Carolina	$56,470	$38,440	$83,790
North Dakota	$66,450	$42,520	$86,550
Ohio	$56,990	$39,210	$83,200
Oklahoma	$58,610	$33,860	$94,980
Oregon	$69,660	$48,570	$103,380
Pennsylvania	$58,320	$38,760	$87,540
Rhode Island	$49,770	$38,990	$90,350
South Carolina	$50,720	$34,730	$84,190
South Dakota	$53,400	$40,410	$74,250
Tennessee	$48,170	$30,890	$75,240
Texas	$60,630	$38,720	$96,260
Utah	$65,920	$34,560	$111,470
Vermont	$60,410	$45,960	$80,480
Virginia	$58,410	$39,150	$96,230
Washington	$64,220	$45,450	$100,210
West Virginia	$46,710	$32,000	$77,260
Wisconsin	$62,470	$44,660	$98,290
Wyoming	$61,640	$36,110	$102,550

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2024 median salary; projected job growth through 2034. Actual salaries vary depending on location, level of education, years of experience, work environment, and other factors. Salaries may differ even more for those who are self-employed or work part time.

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What’s my earning potential?

Salaries for mental health counselors in the top 10% earned more than $98,210 according to the BLS. As with most psychology careers, experience and location play an enormous factor in salary. Those working in private practice generally earn a higher income than their counterparts—as well as enjoy the benefits of a flexible schedule—although it can take several years to build up a strong client base.

How do mental health counselor salaries compare to other counseling careers?

Career	Median Annual Salary
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors	$59,190
Marriage and Family Therapists	$63,780
Rehabilitation Counselors	$46,110
Community Health Workers	$51,030
Social Workers, All Other	$69,480

Is there demand for this career?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, career employment for mental health counselors is expected to grow much faster than average as more people turn to professionals to help them cope with mental problems. In fact, the BLS predicts a 16.8% job growth rate through 2034, much faster than the national average for all career fields combined. National long-term projections of employment growth may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions, and do not guarantee actual job growth. Also, insurance companies may provide for the reimbursement of counselors and therapists as a less costly alternative to psychiatric and psychological treatment.

How much competition will I face for a job?

Job prospects should be good for those choosing to enter the field as approximately 25% of North Americans suffer from diagnosable mental health issues each year. With the increasing awareness of the related social, political and economic impacts of these problems, there is a growing need for professional mental health counselors.

What kind of companies hire mental health counselors?

People in mental health counseling will work in a variety of settings, including mental health centers, substance abuse treatment centers, hospitals, in private practice, and in employee assistance programs. According to the BLS, a mental health counselor is most frequently employed by the following types of industries or offices:

• Individual and Family Services
• Outpatient Care Centers
• Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities
• Local Government
• Offices of Other Health Practitioners

How can I move up in my mental health counseling career?

Being a mental health counselor is not only rewarding, it’s also a gateway career to other professions. For those who have earned a master’s degree in counseling, you can earn a master’s in social work (MSW) or another counseling area. This, as well as getting your mandatory license, will open your career options and allow you to move into other areas of counseling, such as rehabilitation counseling, substance abuse counseling, marriage and family counseling and educational counseling.