The median mental health counselor in the U.S. earns $59,350 a year ($28.53 an hour). Half earn between $47,100 and $76,530. Among the 50 largest metro areas, pay is highest in Portland, OR ($75,420) and lowest in Memphis, TN ($50,260).
Median $59,350
10th: $38,94090th: $97,590
Percentiles. Dark: the middle half of earners. Red line: median.
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors, May 2025.
Annual pay
U.S.
10th percentile
$38,940
25th percentile
$47,100
Median
$59,350
75th percentile
$76,530
90th percentile
$97,590
Average
$64,440
Jobs
491,930
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U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, www.bls.gov/oes. BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from BLS.gov.