Counseling Salaries

Counseling Salaries by Specialty

According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the median annual ranges for counseling salaries vary by specialty:

School and career counselors	$34,430 - $58,400
Substance abuse counselors	$25,840 - $40,130
Mental health counselors	$25,660 - $43,370
Marriage and family counselors	$30,260 - $49,990

The average annual salary for doctoral-level psychologists, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, was $72,830 in 2001. Master's level psychologist earned on average $33,300 in 2001.

Reports from PayScale.com* in October 2006 show the following median annual salaries for Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC):

Median Annual Salary - Nationwide

Mental health counselors	$36,950
Chemical dependency counselors	$35,000
Rehabilitation counselors	$35,000
Clinical Therapist	$35,000

Where you practice can make a difference to your income. PayScale.com reports poll the following major cities:

Median Annual Salary by City

Chicago	$35,000
Atlanta	$37,000
Dallas	$35,000
Phoenix	$42,500
Minneapolis-St. Paul	$37,500
Seattle	$40,000
Houston	$37,500

There are three factors that significantly effect 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.

*counseling salary information by PayScale.com