The average salary for a mental health counselor in Kentucky is around $54,190 per year.
Avg Salary
Mental health counselors earn an average yearly salary of $54,190.
Wages typically start from $35,150 and go up to $83,070.
11% below national average Updated in 2025
Mental health counselor earnings by seniority
Top-level mental health counselor earnings begin at:
$39.94 per hour
$83,070 per year
Senior-level mental health counselor earnings begin at:
$34.90 per hour
$72,590 per year
Mid-level mental health counselor earnings begin at:
$26.05 per hour
$54,190 per year
Junior-level mental health counselor earnings begin at:
$20.06 per hour
$41,730 per year
Starting level mental health counselor earnings begin at:
$16.90 per hour
$35,150 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 Kentucky. On average, they make less than licensed practical nurses but more than surgical assistants.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Licensed practical nurse salary | $60K |
| Family social worker salary | $59K |
| Recreational therapist salary | $59K |
| Art therapist salary | $59K |
| Clergy member salary | $59K |
| Drug and alcohol counselor salary | $54K |
| Mental health counselor salary | $54K |
| Ophthalmic medical technologist salary | $49K |
| Neurodiagnostic technologist salary | $49K |
| Surgical assistant salary | $49K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)