The average salary for a mental health counselor in the United States is around $59,350 per year.
Avg Salary
Mental health counselors earn an average yearly salary of $59,350.
Wages typically start from $38,940 and go up to $97,590.
6% below national average Updated in 2025
Mental health counselor earnings by seniority
Top-level mental health counselor earnings begin at:
$46.92 per hour
$97,590 per year
Senior-level mental health counselor earnings begin at:
$36.80 per hour
$76,530 per year
Mid-level mental health counselor earnings begin at:
$28.53 per hour
$59,350 per year
Junior-level mental health counselor earnings begin at:
$22.65 per hour
$47,100 per year
Starting level mental health counselor earnings begin at:
$18.72 per hour
$38,940 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Mental health counselor salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $80,770 |
| Oregon | $74,590 |
| New Mexico | $74,100 |
| Washington | $68,910 |
| North Dakota | $68,630 |
| Arizona | $65,300 |
| Rhode Island | $65,120 |
| Utah | $63,890 |
| Nebraska | $63,770 |
| Connecticut | $63,590 |
| Idaho | $63,360 |
| Wyoming | $62,980 |
| New Jersey | $62,820 |
| Texas | $62,630 |
| Colorado | $62,390 |
| Wisconsin | $62,220 |
| Vermont | $61,810 |
| Michigan | $61,690 |
| Iowa | $60,880 |
| Illinois | $60,730 |
| District of Columbia | $60,450 |
| Hawaii | $60,090 |
| Maine | $59,970 |
| Massachusetts | $59,890 |
| Virginia | $59,880 |
| Maryland | $59,530 |
| Kansas | $59,470 |
| New York | $59,450 |
| Oklahoma | $59,350 |
| California | $59,250 |
| Montana | $59,000 |
| Georgia | $58,960 |
| Minnesota | $58,780 |
| Ohio | $58,360 |
| Nevada | $57,210 |
| Missouri | $56,910 |
| Florida | $56,790 |
| Delaware | $56,020 |
| North Carolina | $55,490 |
| New Hampshire | $54,840 |
| Kentucky | $54,190 |
| Indiana | $53,760 |
| South Dakota | $53,650 |
| South Carolina | $52,370 |
| Pennsylvania | $52,010 |
| Arkansas | $51,580 |
| Tennessee | $49,580 |
| West Virginia | $49,430 |
| Alabama | $47,310 |
| Mississippi | $46,990 |
| Louisiana | $37,910 |
| Puerto Rico | $24,090 |
How do mental health counselor salaries compare to similar careers?
Mental health counselors earn about the same as related careers in the United States. On average, they make less than recreational therapists but more than paramedics.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Recreational therapist salary | $62K |
| Licensed practical nurse salary | $64K |
| Clergy member salary | $61K |
| Athletic trainer salary | $63K |
| Hearing aid specialist salary | $65K |
| Mental health counselor salary | $59K |
| Drug and alcohol counselor salary | $59K |
| Family social worker salary | $60K |
| Massage therapist salary | $58K |
| Paramedic salary | $61K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)