Mental Health Counselor Salary in Chicago, IL
Updated
The median mental health counselor in the Chicago area earns $61,600 a year ($29.62 an hour), 4% above the U.S. median ($59,350) and 1% above the Illinois median ($60,730). Half of the 15,580 mental health counselors there earn between $47,770 and $82,950.
| Annual pay | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $43,010 | $43,010 | $38,940 |
| 25th percentile | $47,770 | $47,390 | $47,100 |
| Median | $61,600 | $60,730 | $59,350 |
| 75th percentile | $82,950 | $80,070 | $76,530 |
| 90th percentile | $114,770 | $109,100 | $97,590 |
| Average | $70,180 | $68,530 | $64,440 |
| Jobs | 15,580 | 20,250 | 491,930 |
Chicago, IL ranks 15th of the 50 largest U.S. metro areas for mental health counselor pay. Highest: Portland, OR ($75,420).
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Check my payMental health counselor pay in other cities
- Portland, OR: $75,420
- Seattle, WA: $73,580
- San Jose, CA: $72,550
- San Francisco, CA: $68,400
- Houston, TX: $67,370
- Austin, TX: $66,780
- Phoenix, AZ: $66,020
- Washington, DC: $65,270
- All cities
Similar jobs in Chicago, IL
- Social Worker: $64,790
- All jobs in Chicago, IL
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, published May 15, 2026
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.