A mental health counselor’s starting salary can vary greatly depending on where you live, the degree level you hold and the type of setting in which you work. Most employers offer their counselors year-end bonuses and cost-of-living adjustments.
A mental health counselor is an important member of a patient’s care team, working in psychiatric hospitals or private practices. Mental health counselors help patients deal with their feelings and symptoms related to mental disorders. They may also have roles in treating addictions or other behavioral issues, such as eating disorders.
The starting salary of a mental health counselor varies depending on factors such as location, employer, and years of experience. The national average for new counselors is $44,100 per year, but in some areas of the country it can be higher than that.
Starting Salary For Mental Health Counselor Overview
If you’re looking for a job as a mental health counselor, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve got everything you need to know about the starting salary of a mental health counselor, how long it takes to become one, and what kind of education is required.
Mental Health Counselor Salary
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for clinical, counseling, and school psychologists was $75,550 in May 2016. The top 10% earned more than $117,760 per year. This means that if you have a four-year degree in psychology or social work and some experience under your belt, you can expect to make around $75,000 each year as an entry-level mental health counselor.
The starting salary of a mental health counselor with a master’s degree is much higher than that of an individual who has only completed an undergraduate degree program. According to Indeed’s data from 2017, individuals who had received their master’s degrees were earning nearly double what those who only had bachelor’s degrees were making (around $60K vs. $35K). This trend holds true for all ranges of education: individuals who have earned PhDs are earning nearly three times as much as those with associate.
What Does a Mental Health Counselor Do?
Mental health counselors treat individuals who have mental illnesses, are undergoing a personal crisis, or who need help developing healthy behaviors in order to reach their goals and improve their mental and physical wellness. Mental health counseling typically takes place one-on-one between a counselor and his or her client but can also take place in group settings. Mental health counselors commonly choose to focus their practice area with a specialization, such as working with a specific age range, mental disorder (such as depression or anxiety), or other defined group such as those struggling with grief.
Mental health counselors typically align their practice with a specific “school” or method of mental health treatment such as psychotherapy (more commonly known as “talk therapy”) or cognitive behavioral therapy (a practice that aims to change unhelpful behaviors and improve emotional control). They may work independently or as part of a group practice, hospital, or clinic, or in other treatment centers. Especially in larger clinical settings, mental health counselors often function as part of a larger care team comprised of doctors and other healthcare professionals working to improve and support a patient’s overall health and well-being. There are many mental health counseling degree programs that can help prepare future counselors for the various options.
How to Become a Mental Health Counselor
Mental health therapists occupy a position of trust with clients who are often vulnerable, which is why all 50 states and Washington DC closely regulate mental health counselor licensing. As previously noted, becoming licensed as a mental health counselor requires a master’s degree. The typical process of becoming a mental health counselor is to:
- Earn a master’s degree in mental health counseling or a closely-related major that fulfills your state’s licensing requirements.
- Earn one to three years of supervised work experience under a licensed professional, again depending on state rules.
- Take the professional counselor exam(s) required by your state.
- Apply for a mental health counseling license.
- Start applying for mental health counselor jobs.
There are many titles associated with mental health counselor careers. While Mental Health Counselor (MHC) or Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) are common terms for a license to practice in this career field, there are other variations depending on the state. These include Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), and Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC).
Mental Health Counseling Salaries
HOW MUCH DO MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS MAKE?
In 2020, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that the average salary of substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in the U.S. was $51,550. This places the occupation one of the highest out of most counseling incomes, as shown in the table below.
| Counseling Occupations | Oregon Annual Mean Wage | U.S Annual Mean Wage | Difference |
| Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors | $65,380 | $62,320 | $3,060 |
| Marriage and Family Therapists | $57,570 | $56,890 | $680 |
| Rehabilitation Counselors | $43,870 | $42,080 | $1,790 |
| Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors | $59,800 | $51,550 | $8,250 |
| Counselors, All Other | $53,680 | $50,800 | $2,880 |
How Much do Mental Health Counselors Make?
The median annual mental health counselor salary was $44,630External link:open_in_new. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’s figures from May 2018, the top 10% earners in mental health counseling careers had a median annual salary of over $72,990. The lowest 10% earned less than $28,240 a year.
However, mental health counselor salaries vary based on a number of factors:
- Education – Higher-level degrees usually correlate with higher earning potential and mental health counselor salaries are no exception. The highest paying positions are typically reserved for those with post-secondary and/or graduate-level degrees in mental health counseling.
- Specialization – The median pay varies depending upon the counselor’s field. For example, careers in school counseling and family counseling tend to have higher earning potential than careers in rehabilitation counselingExternal link:open_in_new. Psychiatrists and other associated careers requiring a master’s degree in psychology are among the highest paying in mental health care.
- Experience – Employers are willing to pay more for professionals with longer tenures in their area of expertise. Many mental health counselor vocations have higher than average burnout ratesExternal link:open_in_new due to the intensity of the work; while burnout can happen at any point of a career, many employers will pay a premium for mental health professionals who have achieved a combination of success and longevity in the field. Similarly, private practitioners can command higher salaries based on their work history.
- Industry – There is a notable discrepancy in the median counselor salary figures depending on where counselors are employed. Here’s a breakdown of median mental health counseling salaries External link:open_in_new as of May 2018:
| Employer | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Government | $51,690 |
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | $48,310 |
| Individual and family services | $44,120 |
| Outpatient mental health and substance abuse centers | $43,120 |
| Residential mental health and substance abuse facilities | $38,190 |
