Mental Health Counselor Salary, Skills & Requirements (2026)
Advertised pay, starting pay, skills and experience from 14,686 US job postings by 2,817 employers. Data as of October 2026.
What US employers post for mental health counselors: advertised pay, the skills and experience they ask for, and the job titles they use, from 14,686 open job postings (October 2026).
- The median advertised pay for mental health counselors in US job postings is $73,000 a year (4,272 postings from 876 employers, October 2026).
- The middle half of those postings offer $61,000 to $92,000.
- Postings that ask for up to 1 year of experience advertise a median of $71,000 a year (608 postings).
- The skills that most set mental health counselor postings apart are crisis intervention, treatment planning, case management.
- Postings that state a minimum ask for a median of 2 years of experience.
Mental Health Counselor job postings in the US, October 2026
- $73,000
- Median advertised pay (4,272 postings)
- $61,000–$92,000
- Middle 50% of postings
- $71,000
- Starting pay (postings asking up to 1 year)
- 14,686
- US job postings from 2,817 employers
How much does a mental health counselor make?
The median advertised pay is $73,000 a year, from 4,272 US job postings by 876 employers that state pay. One in ten postings offers $125,000 or more.
Advertised pay in 4,272 US mental health counselor job postings: median $73,000 a year, middle half $61,000 to $92,000.
- Median: $73,000
- 25th percentile: $61,000
- 75th percentile: $92,000
The figures as a table
| Annual pay | Share of postings |
|---|---|
| $10K–$20K | 0.1% |
| $20K–$30K | 0.1% |
| $30K–$40K | 1.1% |
| $40K–$50K | 7.7% |
| $50K–$60K | 13.4% |
| $60K–$70K | 18.8% |
| $70K–$80K | 19.6% |
| $80K–$90K | 12.5% |
| $90K–$100K | 8.0% |
| $100K–$110K | 3.5% |
| $110K–$120K | 3.2% |
| $120K–$130K | 2.6% |
| $130K–$140K | 2.3% |
| $140K–$150K | 1.3% |
| $150K–$160K | 0.5% |
| $160K–$170K | 1.1% |
| $170K–$180K | 0.8% |
| $180K–$190K | 0.2% |
| $190K–$200K | 0.8% |
| $200K–$210K | 0.9% |
| $210K–$220K | 0.1% |
| $220K–$230K | 0.1% |
| $230K–$240K | 0.1% |
| $240K–$250K | 0.1% |
| $250K–$260K | 0.0% |
| $360K–$370K | 0.1% |
Midpoint of each posting's pay range, hourly pay × 2,080 hours; at most 20 postings per employer; US, October 2026.
| Median | Middle 50% | Postings | Most common titles | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Postings that state an hourly rate | $36.00 | $28.00–$51.00 | 1,274 | Clinician, Mental Health Therapist, Mental Health Clinician |
| Postings that state an annual salary | $73,000 | $62K–$86K | 1,639 | Clinician, Mental Health Therapist, Outpatient Therapist |
| All pay postings, annualised | $73,000 | $61K–$92K | 4,272 | – |
What is the starting salary for a mental health counselor?
Postings that ask for up to 1 year of experience advertise a median of $71,000 a year (608 postings).
| Experience asked | Median advertised pay | Postings |
|---|---|---|
| 0-1 years | $71,000 | 608 |
| 2-4 years | $76,000 | 1,018 |
| 5+ years | withheld | 95 |
Highest-paying mental health counselor jobs
Specializations with at least 250 postings that state pay.
| Specialization | Median pay | Postings with pay | Employers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mental Health Therapist | $83,000 | 1,287 | 201 |
| Clinician | $78,000 | 606 | 229 |
| Mental Health Counselor (general) | $75,000 | 741 | 198 |
| Therapist | $72,000 | 635 | 227 |
| Counselor | $71,000 | 373 | 118 |
| Substance Abuse Counselor | $62,000 | 312 | 114 |
Mental health counselor pay by state
Single-location US postings; states with at least 100 postings that state pay. States with pay-transparency laws (such as California, Colorado, New York and Washington) are over-represented among postings that state pay.
| State | Median pay | Middle 50% | Postings with pay | Share of postings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $93,000 | $73,000–$112,000 | 322 | 9.2% |
| Washington | $91,000 | $73,000–$118,000 | 143 | 2.5% |
| Massachusetts | $77,000 | $62,000–$95,000 | 410 | 6.5% |
| Minnesota | $76,000 | $62,000–$118,000 | 114 | 2.2% |
| Pennsylvania | $74,000 | $55,000–$86,000 | 174 | 5.8% |
| New Jersey | $73,000 | $68,000–$113,000 | 119 | 3.2% |
| Colorado | $73,000 | $65,000–$96,000 | 193 | 3.2% |
| Illinois | $72,000 | $55,000–$94,000 | 232 | 4.2% |
| New York | $70,000 | $62,000–$86,000 | 275 | 6.9% |
Skills employers ask for in mental health counselor job postings
| Skill | Share of postings |
|---|---|
| Communication | 26% |
| Crisis intervention | 15% |
| Interpersonal skills | 14% |
| Organizational skills | 12% |
| Work independently | 8% |
| Compassionate | 7% |
| Case management | 7% |
| Treatment planning | 7% |
| Counseling | 7% |
| Problem-solving | 6% |
Skills named in the posting text; at most 20 postings per employer; US, October 2026. Methodology.
Skills that set mental health counselors apart
- Crisis intervention40.7× as often as in all postings · 15%
- Treatment planning41.1× as often as in all postings · 7%
- Case management21.2× as often as in all postings · 7%
- Counseling23.2× as often as in all postings · 7%
- Hipaa5.1× as often as in all postings · 5%
Skills named in at least 5% of these postings and at least 3 times as often as in job postings overall.
Have a mental health counselor job posting in front of you? See which of its skills your resume is missing.
What does a mental health counselor do?
Employers post these jobs as Clinician, Mental Health Therapist, Therapist, Outpatient Therapist, Mental Health Clinician and other titles. The largest specializations are Therapist (19%), Clinician (15%), Mental Health Therapist (24%), Counselor (10%), Substance Abuse Counselor (7%), Crisis Intervention Specialist (3%).
The closest official occupation is Mental Health Counselors (21-1014.00). Its most important tasks:
- Maintain confidentiality of records relating to clients' treatment.
- Encourage clients to express their feelings and discuss what is happening in their lives, helping them to develop insight into themselves or their relationships.
- Counsel clients or patients, individually or in group sessions, to assist in overcoming dependencies, adjusting to life, or making changes.
- Perform crisis interventions to help ensure the safety of the patients and others.
- Fill out and maintain client-related paperwork, including federal- and state-mandated forms, client diagnostic records, and progress notes.
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
How much experience do you need to be a mental health counselor?
Among 3,320 postings that state a minimum, the median is 2 years. Under 1% say 0 years and 39% ask for 1 year or less.
Minimum experience asked in 3,320 US mental health counselor job postings: median 2 years, and 39% ask for 1 year or less.
The figures as a table
| Minimum experience asked | Share of postings |
|---|---|
| 0 yr | 2% |
| 1 yr | 37% |
| 2 yrs | 43% |
| 3-4 yrs | 13% |
| 5-7 yrs | 5% |
| 8-9 yrs | under 1% |
| 10+ yrs | under 1% |
Postings that state a minimum (required or preferred); at most 20 postings per employer; US, October 2026.
We do not show a degree figure: in our checks, degree requirements in posting text were found too rarely to publish one. Why.
Full-time 80%, Part-time 20% of the 2,176 postings that state working hours.
Other names for a mental health counselor: job titles employers use
| Job title | Employers using it |
|---|---|
| Clinician | 505 (17.9%) |
| Mental Health Therapist | 365 (13.0%) |
| Mental Health Counselor | 150 (5.3%) |
| Therapist | 138 (4.9%) |
| Outpatient Therapist | 123 (4.4%) |
| Mental Health Clinician | 121 (4.3%) |
| Clinical Therapist | 115 (4.1%) |
| Substance Abuse Counselor | 115 (4.1%) |
| Behavioral Health Therapist | 111 (3.9%) |
| LPC | 93 (3.3%) |
| Licensed Mental Health Therapist | 92 (3.3%) |
| Counselor | 91 (3.2%) |
| Mental Health Professional | 86 (3.0%) |
| Behavioral Health Clinician | 86 (3.0%) |
| Licensed Professional Counselor | 73 (2.6%) |
| Licensed Clinician | 68 (2.4%) |
| Licensed Therapist | 63 (2.2%) |
| Licensed Mental Health Counselor | 53 (1.9%) |
| Behavioral Health Counselor | 51 (1.8%) |
| LMFT | 49 (1.7%) |
Titles read in our audit and used by at least 3 employers.
Mental health counselor job titles compared
The titles people search for most, from the US job postings that use each exact title (October 2026).
| Job title | Open postings | Employers | Median pay | Median experience | Skills named most |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Counselor | 169 | 91 | – | – | – |
| Clinician | 1,501 | 505 | $78K | 2 years | communication, crisis intervention, interpersonal skills |
| Therapist | 412 | 138 | – | – | communication, interpersonal skills, crisis intervention |
| Mental Health Therapist | 1,137 | 365 | $80K | 2 years | communication, crisis intervention, organizational skills |
| Substance Abuse Counselor | 283 | 115 | – | – | communication, individual counseling, crisis intervention |
Therapist vs Counselor
| Therapist | Counselor | |
|---|---|---|
| Open US postings | 412 | 169 |
| Employers | 138 | 91 |
| Median advertised pay | – | – |
| Median experience asked | – | – |
| Skills that stand out | – | – |
Mental Health Counselor compared with similar careers
| Career | Median pay | Median experience | Postings | Shares N of top 25 skills |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mental Health Counselor | $73K | 2 years | 14,686 | – |
| Social Worker | $78K | 2 years | 7,930 | 19 |
| Psychologist | $125K | 2 years | 4,081 | 17 |
| Case Manager | $23.51/hr | 2 years | 17,865 | 17 |
| Mental Health Technician | $20.66/hr | 1 year | 5,443 | 16 |
Similar careers
| Career | Shares N of the top 25 skills | Median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Social Worker | 19 | $78K |
| Psychologist | 17 | $125K |
| Case Manager | 17 | $23.51/hr |
| Mental Health Technician | 16 | $20.66/hr |
| Nurse Practitioner | 14 | $142K |
| Genetic Counselor | 11 | – |
Applying for mental health counselor jobs?
- Mental health counselor resume examples: one-page examples for these roles
- Match your resume to a job: paste a posting and see the skills your resume is missing
- Check your resume: see how an applicant tracking system reads it
- Find mental health counselor jobs: search open postings
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mental health counselor make?
How much does a Clinician make?
How much does a Mental Health Therapist make?
Source and method
Open US job postings collected from employers' applicant tracking systems, de-duplicated, counted only when their job title was read in our audit. Shares count at most 20 postings per employer, and franchise locations of one brand count as one employer. Pay uses hourly and annual figures only; a figure is shown when leaving out the largest employer moves it by 10% or less. Every figure states its number of postings. Methodology and measured accuracy.
Accuracy check: we read 19 randomly chosen postings counted on this page in full; 18 of them were this career or a closely related one (October 2026).
Download the figures on this page (CSV): every number above with its count of postings. Aggregate figures are licensed CC BY 4.0; cite the page when you reuse them.