How Much Does a Counselor Make? (Median Salary by State)

Read about salary and job outlook predictions for counselors.

Median Annual Counselor Salary

It’s estimated that one in four Americans is affected by mental health issues each year. Choosing counseling as a career means that you’ll face numerous challenges and opportunities—but the social, personal, and financial rewards could also be great. Here are median salaries and job growth data for mental health counselors, as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2023 Occupational Employment Statistics.

Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors

National data

Median Salary: $53,710

Projected job growth: 18.4%

10th Percentile: $36,700

25th Percentile: $44,600

75th Percentile: $70,130

90th Percentile: $89,920

Projected job growth: 18.4%

State data

State	Median Salary	Bottom 10%	Top 10%
Alabama	$44,890	$30,090	$70,010
Alaska	$70,860	$46,430	$103,590
Arizona	$58,640	$35,030	$82,740
Arkansas	$56,730	$29,240	$113,520
California	$58,080	$39,160	$108,070
Colorado	$58,110	$37,900	$92,360
Connecticut	$58,710	$36,850	$91,390
Delaware	$45,810	$34,090	$71,210
District of Columbia	$64,270	$40,930	$96,040
Florida	$52,260	$35,520	$80,370
Georgia	$48,290	$31,990	$80,020
Hawaii	$46,740	$45,950	$99,290
Idaho	$58,360	$39,290	$79,120
Illinois	$57,500	$39,440	$98,920
Indiana	$45,510	$35,550	$73,670
Iowa	$59,000	$38,570	$82,620
Kansas	$50,990	$35,610	$75,790
Kentucky	$47,060	$30,910	$84,630
Louisiana	$36,430	$27,750	$61,690
Maine	$53,900	$35,150	$83,570
Maryland	$54,460	$38,640	$86,320
Massachusetts	$54,920	$39,900	$80,840
Michigan	$56,160	$36,220	$82,540
Minnesota	$51,130	$41,060	$69,680
Mississippi	$42,010	$29,640	$63,980
Missouri	$48,130	$34,000	$77,470
Montana	$52,490	$33,600	$75,800
Nebraska	$58,320	$37,350	$82,490
Nevada	$57,580	$36,790	$86,810
New Hampshire	$54,470	$39,130	$80,540
New Jersey	$60,250	$37,220	$102,710
New Mexico	$62,120	$39,950	$98,270
New York	$59,740	$39,810	$99,700
North Carolina	$51,790	$37,000	$79,440
North Dakota	$61,240	$37,770	$82,680
Ohio	$50,580	$37,060	$81,500
Oklahoma	$57,190	$32,990	$95,790
Oregon	$62,070	$42,260	$99,380
Pennsylvania	$50,450	$36,490	$82,350
Rhode Island	$46,030	$36,140	$75,730
South Carolina	$47,480	$30,480	$75,670
South Dakota	$48,520	$37,440	$67,060
Tennessee	$45,490	$30,050	$75,330
Texas	$52,190	$35,370	$79,440
Utah	$62,870	$32,820	$106,390
Vermont	$56,980	$44,960	$77,800
Virginia	$54,590	$38,430	$80,150
Washington	$58,540	$41,400	$92,970
West Virginia	$44,140	$28,540	$74,450
Wisconsin	$58,740	$38,800	$97,450
Wyoming	$62,990	$36,840	$104,000

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2023 median salary; projected job growth through 2032. 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.

How do counselor salaries compare?

Career	Median Annual Salary
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors	$53,710
Rehabilitation Counselors	$44,040
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors	$61,710
Counselors, All Other	$46,130

What is my earning potential?

Job prospects and salary are dependent on the counseling type, as well as degree and certification level. Typically, counselors who work at local or state government agencies are paid the highest counselor salary, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), followed by hospitals and then residential care facilities. Counselors who have established private practices, as well as counselors employed in a group practice, had the highest counseling psychology salary of all other industries that employed a counselor’s services

Is there demand for this career?

According to the BLS, the demand for mental health counselors is expected to grow by 18.4% through 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations. 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.

What is the job growth for the field?

Marriage and family therapists are expected to see an increase in employment opportunities at a rate of 14.9% as well. Take a look at how some of the other counseling occupations compare as far as job growth:

Job Growth Outlook Comparison Through 2032

Mental Health Counselors—18.4%
Marriage and Family Therapists—14.9%
Social Workers—7.4%
School Counselors—5.4%
Rehabilitation Counselors—1.9%

How much competition will I face for a job?

Despite promising job growth reports and the vital role that counselors play in society, competition may be strong for jobs as growth may be offset by budgets. Counseling programs are often some of the first programs that are reduced when school budgets are cut, according to the U.S. News and World Report article, “A Numbers Game for High School Counselors.” Counseling jobs may also face budget constraints in government and social services organizations, making competition for in-demand jobs stiffer.

What kinds of companies hire counselors?

Counselors who are not in private practice are often found in the following industries:

Public and private clinics
Detention facilities
Hospitals
Nursing homes
Rehabilitation centers
Schools
Universities
Government agencies
Social service organizations

In the private sector, counselors and mental health professionals practice in businesses where people are the primary focus. By understanding the needs of people and organizations, professional counselors can help employers hire and keep the best employees.

Community counselors play a similar type of role, only instead of counseling a company, they work within the community. They assess the needs of a community in areas such as crime reduction, better food sources or housing needs.

How do I advance in my counselor career?

Professional development through continuing education is an important factor for advancement in a counseling career. With advanced degrees and continuing education and experience, some counselors may advance to positions such as head counselor, or move into administrative roles in any number of industries.

Another way to advance is to get certified, and most states require counselors to be certified or licensed. The National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) grants a general practice credential, National Certified Counselor (NCC), to counselors who have passed their examination, have completed a graduate degree and have two years of fieldwork under their belt.

Earning certification or licensure shows potential employers that you are a qualified and accomplished professional in your chosen career, and may play a role in employment decisions or promotions.