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 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.

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: $59,350

Projected job growth: 16.8%

10th Percentile: $38,940

25th Percentile: $47,100

75th Percentile: $76,530

90th Percentile: $97,590

Projected job growth: 16.8%

State data

State	Median Salary	Bottom 10%	Top 10%
Alabama	$47,310	$34,420	$76,510
Alaska	$80,770	$58,240	$114,650
Arizona	$65,300	$44,520	$95,210
Arkansas	$51,580	$35,760	$100,270
California	$59,250	$44,640	$111,080
Colorado	$62,390	$44,060	$100,020
Connecticut	$63,590	$44,080	$99,540
Delaware	$56,020	$36,940	$80,710
District of Columbia	$60,450	$43,060	$107,980
Florida	$56,790	$39,430	$84,410
Georgia	$58,960	$37,390	$90,980
Hawaii	$60,090	$48,460	$104,790
Idaho	$63,360	$36,400	$98,760
Illinois	$60,730	$43,010	$109,100
Indiana	$53,760	$37,580	$83,200
Iowa	$60,880	$44,450	$102,890
Kansas	$59,470	$37,910	$85,860
Kentucky	$54,190	$35,150	$83,070
Louisiana	$37,910	$29,860	$65,720
Maine	$59,970	$43,310	$89,220
Maryland	$59,530	$44,050	$91,980
Massachusetts	$59,890	$43,180	$96,200
Michigan	$61,690	$38,490	$94,400
Minnesota	$58,780	$45,250	$77,320
Mississippi	$46,990	$32,770	$77,310
Missouri	$56,910	$37,650	$89,400
Montana	$59,000	$36,840	$83,640
Nebraska	$63,770	$42,400	$109,610
Nevada	$57,210	$42,920	$98,010
New Hampshire	$54,840	$38,480	$81,050
New Jersey	$62,820	$40,630	$104,310
New Mexico	$74,100	$48,900	$113,420
New York	$59,450	$42,410	$90,590
North Carolina	$55,490	$37,440	$86,010
North Dakota	$68,630	$43,270	$86,630
Ohio	$58,360	$39,010	$83,730
Oklahoma	$59,350	$35,350	$92,870
Oregon	$74,590	$49,860	$102,830
Pennsylvania	$52,010	$36,280	$81,970
Rhode Island	$65,120	$43,960	$98,440
South Carolina	$52,370	$35,010	$81,420
South Dakota	$53,650	$39,210	$67,010
Tennessee	$49,580	$34,950	$76,620
Texas	$62,630	$37,650	$95,910
Utah	$63,890	$35,410	$106,080
Vermont	$61,810	$47,820	$80,690
Virginia	$59,880	$39,730	$100,040
Washington	$68,910	$47,220	$110,580
West Virginia	$49,430	$36,990	$73,360
Wisconsin	$62,220	$46,510	$94,640
Wyoming	$62,980	$36,960	$103,150

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2025 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 $97,590 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	$59,350
Marriage and Family Therapists	$66,940
Rehabilitation Counselors	$46,850
Community Health Workers	$51,850
Social Workers, All Other	$71,900

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.