Counseling Salary by Specialty Prospects for advancement in a counseling career depend greatly upon the field of counseling chosen, and the degree and certification level that have been attained. Generally, counselors employed by local or state government agencies have the highest counseling salary, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Counselors who have established private practices, as well as counselors employed in a group practice, had the highest counseling salary of all other industries who employed a counselor's services.  According to the BLS' 2010 Edition, counseling salary median annual ranges vary by specialty: | School and career counselors | $38,740 – $65,360 | | Substance abuse counselors | $29,410 – $47,290 | | Mental health counselors | $35,580 – $48,580 | | Marriage and family counselors | $34,840 – $56,320 | The average annual salary for doctoral-level psychologists, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, was $82,800 in 2008. Master's level psychologists earned on average $64,140 in 2008. Reports from PayScale.com in March 2009 show the following median annual salaries for Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC): Median Annual Salary - Nationwide | Mental health counselors | $39,450 | | Chemical dependency counselors | $40,540 | | Rehabilitation counselors | $36,547 | | Clinical Therapist | $40,259 | Where you practice can make a difference to your income. PayScale.com's 2010 survey reports median salaries in the following major cities: Median Annual Salary by City | Chicago | $39,526 | | Atlanta | $35,345 | | Dallas | $41,067 | | Los Angeles | $40,229 | | St. Louis | $33,930 | | New York | $47,826 | | Houston | $46,651 | There are three factors that significantly affect counseling salaries: - Location (city, state)
- Years of experience
- Size of business
Larger employers such as hospitals, schools and colleges offer more competitive salaries for counselors than smaller, non-profit social organizations. Counselors in private practice earn a similar range of income, which is also greatly affected by location and years of experience.  |
 
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