What is the average Director of Mental Health Services salary in the US?

The national median Director of Mental Health Services salary is $118,000 per year. Entry-level positions start around $88,000, while senior professionals earn $200,000 or more.

Which city pays Director of Mental Health Servicess the most?

New York City offers the highest median Director of Mental Health Services salary at $221K per year among the cities we track. However, high-cost cities like San Francisco and New York often have lower purchasing power once cost of living is factored in.

How fast are Director of Mental Health Services salaries growing?

Director of Mental Health Services salaries are growing at 5% annually, above the national average wage growth rate.

Mental Health35% remote-eligible+5% YoY growth

Director of Mental Health Services Salary
by City (2026)

Lead mental health programs, manage clinical staff, and ensure quality of care. National median: $118K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$118K

Top 10% earn

$200K

Entry level

$88K

Salary growth

+5%/yr

Director of Mental Health Services salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
New York City, NY	$165K	$221K	$290K	187	6.85%
Cambridge, MA	$163K	$218K	$287K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$163K	$218K	$287K	185	11%
Bellevue, WA	$154K	$207K	$271K	175	None ✓
Irvine, CA	$151K	$203K	$267K	172	9.3%
Yonkers, NY	$145K	$195K	$256K	165	6.85%
Bethesda, MD	$145K	$195K	$256K	165	5.75%
Kirkland, WA	$143K	$191K	$251K	162	None ✓
Stamford, CT	$139K	$186K	$245K	158	6.99%
Hilo, HI	$136K	$183K	$240K	155	11%
Santa Ana, CA	$132K	$177K	$233K	150	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$130K	$175K	$229K	148	9.3%
Rockville, MD	$130K	$175K	$229K	148	5.75%
Alexandria, VA	$128K	$171K	$225K	145	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$128K	$171K	$225K	145	10.75%
San Francisco, CA	$123K	$165K	$217K	224	9.3%
Paterson, NJ	$123K	$165K	$217K	140	10.75%
Chula Vista, CA	$121K	$163K	$214K	138	9.3%
Edison, NJ	$121K	$163K	$214K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$121K	$163K	$214K	138	None ✓
San Jose, CA	$119K	$159K	$209K	210	9.3%
Oakland, CA	$114K	$153K	$202K	185	9.3%
Boston, MA	$114K	$153K	$202K	162	5%
Washington, DC	$114K	$153K	$202K	152	8.5%
Los Angeles, CA	$110K	$148K	$194K	163	9.3%
Jersey City, NJ	$110K	$148K	$194K	162	10.75%
San Diego, CA	$107K	$144K	$189K	148	9.3%
Seattle, WA	$107K	$144K	$189K	150	None ✓
Newark, NJ	$107K	$144K	$189K	155	10.75%
New Haven, CT	$107K	$144K	$189K	122	6.99%
Arlington, VA	$106K	$142K	$186K	148	5.75%
Nashua, NH	$106K	$142K	$186K	120	None ✓
Honolulu, HI	$106K	$142K	$186K	192	11%
Frisco, TX	$104K	$139K	$183K	118	None ✓
Long Beach, CA	$104K	$139K	$183K	155	9.3%
Riverside, CA	$104K	$139K	$183K	118	9.3%
Naperville, IL	$104K	$139K	$183K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$104K	$139K	$183K	118	None ✓
Worcester, MA	$104K	$139K	$183K	120	5%
Lowell, MA	$104K	$139K	$183K	118	5%
Gresham, OR	$104K	$139K	$183K	118	9.9%
Baltimore, MD	$104K	$139K	$183K	115	5.75%
Bridgeport, CT	$104K	$139K	$183K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$104K	$139K	$183K	118	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$104K	$139K	$183K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$104K	$139K	$183K	118	5.99%
Anchorage, AK	$104K	$139K	$183K	128	None ✓
Sacramento, CA	$101K	$136K	$178K	128	9.3%
Hialeah, FL	$101K	$136K	$178K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$101K	$136K	$178K	115	None ✓
Lakewood, CO	$101K	$136K	$178K	115	4.55%
Ann Arbor, MI	$101K	$136K	$178K	115	4.25%
Philadelphia, PA	$101K	$136K	$178K	110	3.07%
Portland, OR	$101K	$136K	$178K	130	9.9%
Frederick, MD	$101K	$136K	$178K	115	5.75%
Portland, ME	$101K	$136K	$178K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$101K	$136K	$178K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$101K	$136K	$178K	115	5.99%
Pembroke Pines, FL	$99K	$132K	$174K	112	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$99K	$132K	$174K	107	4.95%
Denver, CO	$99K	$132K	$174K	118	4.55%
Fort Collins, CO	$99K	$132K	$174K	112	4.55%
Cary, NC	$99K	$132K	$174K	112	4.75%
Hartford, CT	$99K	$132K	$174K	118	6.99%
Dallas, TX	$97K	$130K	$171K	96	None ✓
Miami, FL	$97K	$130K	$171K	123	None ✓
Tacoma, WA	$97K	$130K	$171K	128	None ✓
Minneapolis, MN	$97K	$130K	$171K	106	6.8%
Eugene, OR	$97K	$130K	$171K	110	9.9%
Houston, TX	$95K	$127K	$167K	91	None ✓
Plano, TX	$95K	$127K	$167K	105	None ✓
Round Rock, TX	$95K	$127K	$167K	108	None ✓
Gilbert, AZ	$95K	$127K	$167K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$95K	$127K	$167K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$95K	$127K	$167K	108	4.55%
Atlanta, GA	$95K	$127K	$167K	99	5.75%
Durham, NC	$95K	$127K	$167K	100	4.75%
Nashville, TN	$95K	$127K	$167K	102	None ✓
St. Paul, MN	$95K	$127K	$167K	104	6.8%
Boise, ID	$95K	$127K	$167K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$95K	$127K	$167K	108	6.6%
Aurora, CO	$93K	$125K	$164K	112	4.55%
Austin, TX	$92K	$124K	$163K	110	None ✓
Fort Worth, TX	$92K	$124K	$163K	93	None ✓
Irving, TX	$92K	$124K	$163K	97	None ✓
McKinney, TX	$92K	$124K	$163K	108	None ✓
Stockton, CA	$92K	$124K	$163K	105	9.3%
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$92K	$124K	$163K	118	None ✓
Scottsdale, AZ	$92K	$124K	$163K	118	2.5%
Springfield, MA	$92K	$124K	$163K	105	5%
Raleigh, NC	$92K	$124K	$163K	102	4.75%
Pittsburgh, PA	$92K	$124K	$163K	90	3.07%
Salem, OR	$92K	$124K	$163K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$92K	$124K	$163K	105	None ✓
Salt Lake City, UT	$92K	$124K	$163K	105	4.85%
Meridian, ID	$92K	$124K	$163K	105	5.8%
San Antonio, TX	$90K	$120K	$158K	87	None ✓
Arlington, TX	$90K	$120K	$158K	94	None ✓
Garland, TX	$90K	$120K	$158K	91	None ✓
Carrollton, TX	$90K	$120K	$158K	102	None ✓
Tampa, FL	$90K	$120K	$158K	102	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$90K	$120K	$158K	100	2.5%
Charlotte, NC	$90K	$120K	$158K	100	4.75%
Missoula, MT	$90K	$120K	$158K	102	6.75%
Denton, TX	$88K	$118K	$155K	100	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$88K	$118K	$155K	100	9.3%
Orlando, FL	$88K	$118K	$155K	100	None ✓
Cape Coral, FL	$88K	$118K	$155K	100	None ✓
Chandler, AZ	$88K	$118K	$155K	105	2.5%
Peoria, AZ	$88K	$118K	$155K	100	2.5%
Richmond, VA	$88K	$118K	$155K	98	5.75%
Madison, WI	$88K	$118K	$155K	102	5.3%
Rochester, MN	$88K	$118K	$155K	100	6.8%
Las Vegas, NV	$88K	$118K	$155K	102	None ✓
Reno, NV	$88K	$118K	$155K	108	None ✓
Provo, UT	$88K	$118K	$155K	100	4.85%
West Jordan, UT	$88K	$118K	$155K	100	4.85%
Overland Park, KS	$88K	$118K	$155K	100	5.7%
Dover, DE	$88K	$118K	$155K	100	6.6%
Fresno, CA	$86K	$116K	$152K	102	9.3%
Rochester, NY	$86K	$116K	$152K	90	6.85%
Albany, NY	$86K	$116K	$152K	98	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$86K	$116K	$152K	93	None ✓
St. Petersburg, FL	$86K	$116K	$152K	105	None ✓
Port St. Lucie, FL	$86K	$116K	$152K	98	None ✓
Mesa, AZ	$86K	$116K	$152K	98	2.5%
Virginia Beach, VA	$86K	$116K	$152K	98	5.75%
Chesapeake, VA	$86K	$116K	$152K	98	5.75%
Columbus, OH	$86K	$116K	$152K	90	3.99%
Milwaukee, WI	$86K	$116K	$152K	90	5.3%
North Las Vegas, NV	$86K	$116K	$152K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$86K	$116K	$152K	98	4.85%
Orem, UT	$86K	$116K	$152K	98	4.85%
Charleston, SC	$86K	$116K	$152K	105	6.5%
Nampa, ID	$86K	$116K	$152K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$86K	$116K	$152K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$86K	$116K	$152K	98	7.15%
Spokane, WA	$84K	$113K	$149K	95	None ✓
Colorado Springs, CO	$84K	$113K	$149K	102	4.55%
Cincinnati, OH	$84K	$113K	$149K	88	3.99%
Detroit, MI	$84K	$113K	$149K	82	4.25%
Kansas City, MO	$84K	$113K	$149K	90	5.3%
St. Louis, MO	$84K	$113K	$149K	86	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$84K	$113K	$149K	88	3.23%
Louisville, KY	$84K	$113K	$149K	85	5%
Corpus Christi, TX	$84K	$112K	$147K	84	None ✓
Bakersfield, CA	$84K	$112K	$147K	95	9.3%
Buffalo, NY	$84K	$112K	$147K	88	6.85%
Aurora, IL	$84K	$112K	$147K	95	4.95%
Glendale, AZ	$84K	$112K	$147K	95	2.5%
Norfolk, VA	$84K	$112K	$147K	95	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$84K	$112K	$147K	95	5.75%
Cleveland, OH	$84K	$112K	$147K	82	3.99%
Allentown, PA	$84K	$112K	$147K	95	3.07%
Huntsville, AL	$84K	$112K	$147K	88	5%
North Charleston, SC	$84K	$112K	$147K	95	6.5%
New Orleans, LA	$84K	$112K	$147K	92	6%
Des Moines, IA	$84K	$112K	$147K	88	4.82%
Omaha, NE	$84K	$112K	$147K	88	5.84%
El Paso, TX	$81K	$109K	$143K	82	None ✓
Midland, TX	$81K	$109K	$143K	92	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$81K	$109K	$143K	90	2.5%
Savannah, GA	$81K	$109K	$143K	92	5.75%
Athens, GA	$81K	$109K	$143K	92	5.75%
Memphis, TN	$81K	$109K	$143K	82	None ✓
Grand Rapids, MI	$81K	$109K	$143K	90	4.25%
Duluth, MN	$81K	$109K	$143K	92	6.8%
Birmingham, AL	$81K	$109K	$143K	82	5%
Columbia, SC	$81K	$109K	$143K	88	6.5%
Greenville, SC	$81K	$109K	$143K	92	6.5%
Oklahoma City, OK	$81K	$109K	$143K	82	4.75%
Baton Rouge, LA	$81K	$109K	$143K	88	6%
Albuquerque, NM	$81K	$109K	$143K	88	5.9%
Cheyenne, WY	$81K	$109K	$143K	92	None ✓
Lubbock, TX	$79K	$106K	$140K	78	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$79K	$106K	$140K	90	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$79K	$106K	$140K	90	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$79K	$106K	$140K	90	4.95%
Knoxville, TN	$79K	$106K	$140K	85	None ✓
Sterling Heights, MI	$79K	$106K	$140K	90	4.25%
Kenosha, WI	$79K	$106K	$140K	90	5.3%
Tulsa, OK	$79K	$106K	$140K	80	4.75%
Wichita, KS	$79K	$106K	$140K	82	5.7%
Fargo, ND	$79K	$106K	$140K	90	2.5%
Laredo, TX	$77K	$104K	$136K	76	None ✓
Pasadena, TX	$77K	$104K	$136K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$77K	$104K	$136K	88	None ✓
Syracuse, NY	$77K	$104K	$136K	88	6.85%
Gainesville, FL	$77K	$104K	$136K	88	None ✓
Greensboro, NC	$77K	$104K	$136K	88	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$77K	$104K	$136K	88	None ✓
Green Bay, WI	$77K	$104K	$136K	88	5.3%
Lexington, KY	$77K	$104K	$136K	88	5%
Great Falls, MT	$77K	$104K	$136K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$77K	$104K	$136K	88	None ✓
Bismarck, ND	$77K	$104K	$136K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$77K	$104K	$136K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$77K	$104K	$136K	88	None ✓
Little Rock, AR	$77K	$104K	$136K	82	4.9%
Beaumont, TX	$75K	$100K	$132K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$75K	$100K	$132K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$75K	$100K	$132K	85	None ✓
Winston-Salem, NC	$75K	$100K	$132K	85	4.75%
Warren, MI	$75K	$100K	$132K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$75K	$100K	$132K	85	4.25%
Independence, MO	$75K	$100K	$132K	85	5.3%
Lafayette, LA	$75K	$100K	$132K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$75K	$100K	$132K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$75K	$100K	$132K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$75K	$100K	$132K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$75K	$100K	$132K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$75K	$100K	$132K	85	4.9%
Amarillo, TX	$72K	$97K	$127K	82	None ✓
Waco, TX	$72K	$97K	$127K	82	None ✓
Pueblo, CO	$72K	$97K	$127K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$72K	$97K	$127K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$72K	$97K	$127K	82	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$72K	$97K	$127K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$72K	$97K	$127K	82	None ✓
South Bend, IN	$72K	$97K	$127K	82	3.23%
Mobile, AL	$72K	$97K	$127K	82	5%
Broken Arrow, OK	$72K	$97K	$127K	82	4.75%
Davenport, IA	$72K	$97K	$127K	82	4.82%
Killeen, TX	$70K	$94K	$124K	80	None ✓
Rockford, IL	$70K	$94K	$124K	80	4.95%
Macon, GA	$70K	$94K	$124K	80	5.75%
Akron, OH	$70K	$94K	$124K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$70K	$94K	$124K	80	3.99%
Erie, PA	$70K	$94K	$124K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$70K	$94K	$124K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$70K	$94K	$124K	80	3.23%
Bowling Green, KY	$70K	$94K	$124K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$70K	$94K	$124K	80	5%
Norman, OK	$70K	$94K	$124K	80	4.75%
Las Cruces, NM	$70K	$94K	$124K	80	5.9%
Gulfport, MS	$70K	$94K	$124K	80	5%
Abilene, TX	$69K	$92K	$121K	78	None ✓
Toledo, OH	$69K	$92K	$121K	78	3.99%
Evansville, IN	$69K	$92K	$121K	78	3.23%
Shreveport, LA	$69K	$92K	$121K	78	6%
Jackson, MS	$69K	$92K	$121K	78	5%
Charleston, WV	$69K	$92K	$121K	78	6.5%
Brownsville, TX	$66K	$89K	$116K	75	None ✓
Fort Smith, AR	$66K	$89K	$116K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$66K	$89K	$116K	75	6.5%

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $118K Director of Mental Health Services salary in Houston (COL 91, no tax) has significantly more purchasing power than the same salary in San Francisco (COL 224, 9.3% state tax). Use our calculator to see the real numbers.

Try COL Calculator →

Director of Mental Health Services Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Director of Mental Health Services is $118,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $88,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $155,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Director of Mental Health Servicess nationally earn $200,000+.

Education and requirements

Master's in Social Work or Psychology; LCSW/LPC; 10+ years. This role is 35% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

Director of Mental Health Services compensation is growing at 5% annually, well above the national average wage growth rate.

Director of Mental Health Services Salaryby City (2026)