Mental Health Counselor Salary.
Across 81 U.S. cities.
$59,000
national median salary
$47,000 to $76,000. Last updated August 2026.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $59,350 for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors (SOC 21-1018) across the United States, based on 491,930 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$38,940
25th percentile
$47,100
Median
$59,350
75th percentile
$76,530
90th percentile
$97,590
Workers surveyed
491,930
What BLS published in each release
May 2024 release
$59,190
May 2025 release
$59,350
These are two separate published estimates, not a time series. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not encourage the use of OEWS data for time-series analysis. Differences between releases reflect changes in occupational classification, survey methodology, and the three-year pooled sample as well as any change in pay, so the two figures should not be read as a rate of wage growth.
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors (SOC 21-1018) rather than Mental Health Counselorspecifically. The national range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 21-1018Highest Paying
$82,000
San Francisco, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$62,000
Chicago, IL
Lowest Paying
$45,000
Charleston, WV
The salary figures on this page are computed estimates, not observed wages. Each one is a national role baseline scaled by a Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity cost-of-living multiplier (2025 index) and rounded to the nearest $1,000. No published wage percentile is consulted and no wage survey response enters the calculation, so an Orbyt estimate must not be cited as a Bureau of Labor Statistics figure or as measured pay. The published wage data Orbyt holds is Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and Department of Labor H-1B Labor Condition Application filings, which record a filed minimum visa base wage rather than market pay. Where BLS publishes a wage for the occupation a role maps to, it is shown on that role's page as a separate benchmark, labelled with its occupation code, metro area and the number of employed workers it covers. Last updated August 2026. This role maps to BLS occupation code 21-1018. Full methodology.
Orbyt estimates the average Mental Health Counselor salary in the United States at $59,000 in 2026, within a range of $47,000 to $76,000. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page. San Francisco is the highest of the 81 cities at $82,000, while Chicago offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. Licensure status is the dominant pay factor, with fully licensed counselors (LPC, LMHC) earning 20 to 35% more than pre-licensed associates.
Mental Health Counselor salary by city.
Skills that increase Mental Health Counselor pay.
The skills below command measurable salary premiums for Mental Health Counselors based on job posting data. Learning the top skill here could add $8,260 to your annual compensation.
≈ +$8,260 per year
≈ +$7,670 per year
≈ +$7,080 per year
≈ +$6,490 per year
≈ +$6,490 per year
≈ +$5,900 per year
≈ +$5,900 per year
≈ +$5,310 per year
What you should know.
Licensure status is the dominant pay factor, with fully licensed counselors (LPC, LMHC) earning 20 to 35% more than pre-licensed associates. Practice setting matters, with private practice and substance abuse facilities paying above community mental health centers. Specializations in trauma, EMDR, or DBT also command premium rates.
Pre-licensed associates earn $38,000 to $45,000 during supervision years. Fully licensed counselors reach $52,000 to $65,000 in agency settings. Clinical directors or private practice owners can earn $75,000 to $110,000 depending on caseload, specialty, and insurance panel participation.
Agency-employed counselors receive health benefits, supervision hours for licensure, and CEU reimbursement. Private practice counselors can earn significantly more but must cover their own insurance, office costs, and marketing. Some employers offer student loan forgiveness eligibility.
Total compensation breakdown.
Salary by company size
Remote salary adjustment
Remote Mental Health Counselors typically earn $53,000 (10% less than on-site). This reflects location-adjusted pay policies at companies using geographic salary bands. Some companies pay flat national rates regardless of location.
Are you a Mental Health Counselor?
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Common questions about Mental Health Counselor pay.
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