How Much Do Mental Health Counselors Make? (2023 Salary)

Mental health counseling salaries are good, but you’ll get even more with the personal rewards you earn.

mental health counselor looking at paperwork in her office

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

And although they may not become rich, mental health counselors 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: $49,710

Projected job growth: 18.4%

10th Percentile: $34,580

25th Percentile: $39,810

75th Percentile: $64,400

90th Percentile: $82,710

Projected job growth: 18.4%

State data

State	Median Salary	Bottom 10%	Top 10%
Alabama	$41,120	$30,120	$69,630
Alaska	$63,900	$38,230	$94,960
Arizona	$50,460	$33,440	$76,960
Arkansas	$52,680	$28,830	$104,940
California	$56,060	$37,860	$102,940
Colorado	$50,860	$35,440	$93,820
Connecticut	$50,520	$35,680	$82,070
Delaware	$47,860	$31,720	$70,920
District of Columbia	$58,460	$38,620	$82,690
Florida	$48,040	$31,870	$76,980
Georgia	$44,990	$30,820	$74,550
Hawaii	$57,410	$39,210	$100,410
Idaho	$55,520	$38,340	$79,310
Illinois	$47,700	$36,780	$82,290
Indiana	$43,120	$32,950	$72,180
Iowa	$50,800	$31,320	$82,350
Kansas	$50,360	$37,070	$72,180
Kentucky	$45,340	$28,730	$78,240
Louisiana	$36,080	$27,290	$61,510
Maine	$54,500	$39,970	$113,430
Maryland	$57,380	$35,840	$86,530
Massachusetts	$52,410	$37,490	$84,870
Michigan	$50,460	$32,200	$80,960
Minnesota	$49,530	$39,470	$66,440
Mississippi	$43,180	$28,550	$66,020
Missouri	$44,980	$28,030	$70,910
Montana	$48,900	$29,160	$67,190
Nebraska	$49,480	$35,290	$78,210
Nevada	$63,060	$35,040	$92,380
New Hampshire	$46,700	$35,990	$74,190
New Jersey	$59,290	$36,680	$99,950
New Mexico	$59,870	$38,610	$82,590
New York	$54,290	$34,750	$83,800
North Carolina	$49,050	$33,280	$79,070
North Dakota	$59,860	$45,030	$76,450
Ohio	$48,420	$35,040	$78,310
Oklahoma	$49,060	$30,800	$83,580
Oregon	$57,570	$37,500	$87,170
Pennsylvania	$46,630	$33,490	$78,140
Rhode Island	N/A	N/A	N/A
South Carolina	$45,030	$30,090	$68,700
South Dakota	$45,780	$36,450	$64,550
Tennessee	$43,950	$28,950	$65,130
Texas	$47,140	$31,680	$76,640
Utah	$61,520	$30,290	$104,000
Vermont	$49,570	$39,140	$77,630
Virginia	$50,460	$37,090	$80,300
Washington	$51,480	$37,500	$80,940
West Virginia	$41,310	$29,900	$73,310
Wisconsin	$49,520	$33,470	$78,380
Wyoming	$59,760	$36,230	$95,220

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2022 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.

What’s my earning potential?

Salaries for mental health counselors in the top 10% earned more than $82,710 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 up to five lean 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	$49,710
Marriage and Family Therapists	$56,570
Rehabilitation Counselors	$39,990
Community Health Workers	$46,190
Social Workers, All Other	$61,420

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 18.4% job growth rate through 2032, 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 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 greater 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, mental health counselors are 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 do I advance 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.