What is the average Mental Health Counselor salary in the US?

The national median Mental Health Counselor salary is $56,000 per year. Entry-level positions start around $42,000, while senior professionals earn $98,000 or more.

Which city pays Mental Health Counselors the most?

New York City offers the highest median Mental Health Counselor salary at $105K 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 Mental Health Counselor salaries growing?

Mental Health Counselor salaries are growing at 5.2% annually, above the national average wage growth rate.

Mental Health50% remote-eligible+5.2% YoY growth

Mental Health Counselor Salary
by City (2026)

Counsel individuals with mental health disorders, substance abuse, and life challenges. National median: $56K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$56K

Top 10% earn

$98K

Entry level

$42K

Salary growth

+5.2%/yr

Mental Health Counselor salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
New York City, NY	$79K	$105K	$138K	187	6.85%
Cambridge, MA	$78K	$104K	$137K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$78K	$104K	$137K	185	11%
Bellevue, WA	$74K	$98K	$130K	175	None ✓
Irvine, CA	$72K	$96K	$127K	172	9.3%
Yonkers, NY	$69K	$92K	$122K	165	6.85%
Bethesda, MD	$69K	$92K	$122K	165	5.75%
Kirkland, WA	$68K	$91K	$120K	162	None ✓
Stamford, CT	$66K	$88K	$117K	158	6.99%
Hilo, HI	$65K	$87K	$115K	155	11%
Santa Ana, CA	$63K	$84K	$111K	150	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$62K	$83K	$110K	148	9.3%
Rockville, MD	$62K	$83K	$110K	148	5.75%
Alexandria, VA	$61K	$81K	$107K	145	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$61K	$81K	$107K	145	10.75%
San Francisco, CA	$59K	$78K	$104K	224	9.3%
Paterson, NJ	$59K	$78K	$104K	140	10.75%
Chula Vista, CA	$58K	$77K	$102K	138	9.3%
Edison, NJ	$58K	$77K	$102K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$58K	$77K	$102K	138	None ✓
San Jose, CA	$57K	$76K	$100K	210	9.3%
Oakland, CA	$55K	$73K	$96K	185	9.3%
Boston, MA	$55K	$73K	$96K	162	5%
Washington, DC	$55K	$73K	$96K	152	8.5%
Los Angeles, CA	$53K	$70K	$93K	163	9.3%
Jersey City, NJ	$53K	$70K	$93K	162	10.75%
San Diego, CA	$51K	$68K	$90K	148	9.3%
Seattle, WA	$51K	$68K	$90K	150	None ✓
Newark, NJ	$51K	$68K	$90K	155	10.75%
New Haven, CT	$51K	$68K	$90K	122	6.99%
Arlington, VA	$50K	$67K	$89K	148	5.75%
Nashua, NH	$50K	$67K	$89K	120	None ✓
Honolulu, HI	$50K	$67K	$89K	192	11%
Frisco, TX	$50K	$66K	$87K	118	None ✓
Long Beach, CA	$50K	$66K	$87K	155	9.3%
Riverside, CA	$50K	$66K	$87K	118	9.3%
Naperville, IL	$50K	$66K	$87K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$50K	$66K	$87K	118	None ✓
Worcester, MA	$50K	$66K	$87K	120	5%
Lowell, MA	$50K	$66K	$87K	118	5%
Gresham, OR	$50K	$66K	$87K	118	9.9%
Baltimore, MD	$50K	$66K	$87K	115	5.75%
Bridgeport, CT	$50K	$66K	$87K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$50K	$66K	$87K	118	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$50K	$66K	$87K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$50K	$66K	$87K	118	5.99%
Anchorage, AK	$50K	$66K	$87K	128	None ✓
Sacramento, CA	$48K	$64K	$85K	128	9.3%
Hialeah, FL	$48K	$64K	$85K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$48K	$64K	$85K	115	None ✓
Lakewood, CO	$48K	$64K	$85K	115	4.55%
Ann Arbor, MI	$48K	$64K	$85K	115	4.25%
Philadelphia, PA	$48K	$64K	$85K	110	3.07%
Portland, OR	$48K	$64K	$85K	130	9.9%
Frederick, MD	$48K	$64K	$85K	115	5.75%
Portland, ME	$48K	$64K	$85K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$48K	$64K	$85K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$48K	$64K	$85K	115	5.99%
Pembroke Pines, FL	$47K	$63K	$83K	112	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$47K	$63K	$83K	107	4.95%
Denver, CO	$47K	$63K	$83K	118	4.55%
Fort Collins, CO	$47K	$63K	$83K	112	4.55%
Cary, NC	$47K	$63K	$83K	112	4.75%
Hartford, CT	$47K	$63K	$83K	118	6.99%
Dallas, TX	$46K	$62K	$81K	96	None ✓
Miami, FL	$46K	$62K	$81K	123	None ✓
Tacoma, WA	$46K	$62K	$81K	128	None ✓
Minneapolis, MN	$46K	$62K	$81K	106	6.8%
Eugene, OR	$46K	$62K	$81K	110	9.9%
Houston, TX	$45K	$60K	$80K	91	None ✓
Plano, TX	$45K	$60K	$80K	105	None ✓
Round Rock, TX	$45K	$60K	$80K	108	None ✓
Gilbert, AZ	$45K	$60K	$80K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$45K	$60K	$80K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$45K	$60K	$80K	108	4.55%
Atlanta, GA	$45K	$60K	$80K	99	5.75%
Durham, NC	$45K	$60K	$80K	100	4.75%
Nashville, TN	$45K	$60K	$80K	102	None ✓
St. Paul, MN	$45K	$60K	$80K	104	6.8%
Boise, ID	$45K	$60K	$80K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$45K	$60K	$80K	108	6.6%
Austin, TX	$44K	$59K	$78K	110	None ✓
Fort Worth, TX	$44K	$59K	$78K	93	None ✓
Irving, TX	$44K	$59K	$78K	97	None ✓
McKinney, TX	$44K	$59K	$78K	108	None ✓
Stockton, CA	$44K	$59K	$78K	105	9.3%
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$44K	$59K	$78K	118	None ✓
Scottsdale, AZ	$44K	$59K	$78K	118	2.5%
Aurora, CO	$45K	$59K	$78K	112	4.55%
Springfield, MA	$44K	$59K	$78K	105	5%
Raleigh, NC	$44K	$59K	$78K	102	4.75%
Pittsburgh, PA	$44K	$59K	$78K	90	3.07%
Salem, OR	$44K	$59K	$78K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$44K	$59K	$78K	105	None ✓
Salt Lake City, UT	$44K	$59K	$78K	105	4.85%
Meridian, ID	$44K	$59K	$78K	105	5.8%
San Antonio, TX	$43K	$57K	$75K	87	None ✓
Arlington, TX	$43K	$57K	$75K	94	None ✓
Garland, TX	$43K	$57K	$75K	91	None ✓
Carrollton, TX	$43K	$57K	$75K	102	None ✓
Tampa, FL	$43K	$57K	$75K	102	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$43K	$57K	$75K	100	2.5%
Charlotte, NC	$43K	$57K	$75K	100	4.75%
Missoula, MT	$43K	$57K	$75K	102	6.75%
Denton, TX	$42K	$56K	$74K	100	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$42K	$56K	$74K	100	9.3%
Orlando, FL	$42K	$56K	$74K	100	None ✓
Cape Coral, FL	$42K	$56K	$74K	100	None ✓
Chandler, AZ	$42K	$56K	$74K	105	2.5%
Peoria, AZ	$42K	$56K	$74K	100	2.5%
Richmond, VA	$42K	$56K	$74K	98	5.75%
Madison, WI	$42K	$56K	$74K	102	5.3%
Rochester, MN	$42K	$56K	$74K	100	6.8%
Las Vegas, NV	$42K	$56K	$74K	102	None ✓
Reno, NV	$42K	$56K	$74K	108	None ✓
Provo, UT	$42K	$56K	$74K	100	4.85%
West Jordan, UT	$42K	$56K	$74K	100	4.85%
Overland Park, KS	$42K	$56K	$74K	100	5.7%
Dover, DE	$42K	$56K	$74K	100	6.6%
Fresno, CA	$41K	$55K	$73K	102	9.3%
Rochester, NY	$41K	$55K	$73K	90	6.85%
Albany, NY	$41K	$55K	$73K	98	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$41K	$55K	$73K	93	None ✓
St. Petersburg, FL	$41K	$55K	$73K	105	None ✓
Port St. Lucie, FL	$41K	$55K	$73K	98	None ✓
Mesa, AZ	$41K	$55K	$73K	98	2.5%
Virginia Beach, VA	$41K	$55K	$73K	98	5.75%
Chesapeake, VA	$41K	$55K	$73K	98	5.75%
Columbus, OH	$41K	$55K	$73K	90	3.99%
Milwaukee, WI	$41K	$55K	$73K	90	5.3%
North Las Vegas, NV	$41K	$55K	$73K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$41K	$55K	$73K	98	4.85%
Orem, UT	$41K	$55K	$73K	98	4.85%
Charleston, SC	$41K	$55K	$73K	105	6.5%
Nampa, ID	$41K	$55K	$73K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$41K	$55K	$73K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$41K	$55K	$73K	98	7.15%
Spokane, WA	$40K	$54K	$71K	95	None ✓
Colorado Springs, CO	$40K	$54K	$71K	102	4.55%
Cincinnati, OH	$40K	$54K	$71K	88	3.99%
Detroit, MI	$40K	$54K	$71K	82	4.25%
Kansas City, MO	$40K	$54K	$71K	90	5.3%
St. Louis, MO	$40K	$54K	$71K	86	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$40K	$54K	$71K	88	3.23%
Louisville, KY	$40K	$54K	$71K	85	5%
Corpus Christi, TX	$40K	$53K	$70K	84	None ✓
Bakersfield, CA	$40K	$53K	$70K	95	9.3%
Buffalo, NY	$40K	$53K	$70K	88	6.85%
Aurora, IL	$40K	$53K	$70K	95	4.95%
Glendale, AZ	$40K	$53K	$70K	95	2.5%
Norfolk, VA	$40K	$53K	$70K	95	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$40K	$53K	$70K	95	5.75%
Cleveland, OH	$40K	$53K	$70K	82	3.99%
Allentown, PA	$40K	$53K	$70K	95	3.07%
Huntsville, AL	$40K	$53K	$70K	88	5%
North Charleston, SC	$40K	$53K	$70K	95	6.5%
New Orleans, LA	$40K	$53K	$70K	92	6%
Des Moines, IA	$40K	$53K	$70K	88	4.82%
Omaha, NE	$40K	$53K	$70K	88	5.84%
El Paso, TX	$39K	$52K	$68K	82	None ✓
Midland, TX	$39K	$52K	$68K	92	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$39K	$52K	$68K	90	2.5%
Savannah, GA	$39K	$52K	$68K	92	5.75%
Athens, GA	$39K	$52K	$68K	92	5.75%
Memphis, TN	$39K	$52K	$68K	82	None ✓
Grand Rapids, MI	$39K	$52K	$68K	90	4.25%
Duluth, MN	$39K	$52K	$68K	92	6.8%
Birmingham, AL	$39K	$52K	$68K	82	5%
Columbia, SC	$39K	$52K	$68K	88	6.5%
Greenville, SC	$39K	$52K	$68K	92	6.5%
Oklahoma City, OK	$39K	$52K	$68K	82	4.75%
Baton Rouge, LA	$39K	$52K	$68K	88	6%
Albuquerque, NM	$39K	$52K	$68K	88	5.9%
Cheyenne, WY	$39K	$52K	$68K	92	None ✓
Lubbock, TX	$38K	$50K	$67K	78	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$38K	$50K	$67K	90	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$38K	$50K	$67K	90	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$38K	$50K	$67K	90	4.95%
Knoxville, TN	$38K	$50K	$67K	85	None ✓
Sterling Heights, MI	$38K	$50K	$67K	90	4.25%
Kenosha, WI	$38K	$50K	$67K	90	5.3%
Tulsa, OK	$38K	$50K	$67K	80	4.75%
Wichita, KS	$38K	$50K	$67K	82	5.7%
Fargo, ND	$38K	$50K	$67K	90	2.5%
Laredo, TX	$37K	$49K	$65K	76	None ✓
Pasadena, TX	$37K	$49K	$65K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$37K	$49K	$65K	88	None ✓
Syracuse, NY	$37K	$49K	$65K	88	6.85%
Gainesville, FL	$37K	$49K	$65K	88	None ✓
Greensboro, NC	$37K	$49K	$65K	88	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$37K	$49K	$65K	88	None ✓
Green Bay, WI	$37K	$49K	$65K	88	5.3%
Lexington, KY	$37K	$49K	$65K	88	5%
Great Falls, MT	$37K	$49K	$65K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$37K	$49K	$65K	88	None ✓
Bismarck, ND	$37K	$49K	$65K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$37K	$49K	$65K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$37K	$49K	$65K	88	None ✓
Little Rock, AR	$37K	$49K	$65K	82	4.9%
Beaumont, TX	$36K	$48K	$63K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$36K	$48K	$63K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$36K	$48K	$63K	85	None ✓
Winston-Salem, NC	$36K	$48K	$63K	85	4.75%
Warren, MI	$36K	$48K	$63K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$36K	$48K	$63K	85	4.25%
Independence, MO	$36K	$48K	$63K	85	5.3%
Lafayette, LA	$36K	$48K	$63K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$36K	$48K	$63K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$36K	$48K	$63K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$36K	$48K	$63K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$36K	$48K	$63K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$36K	$48K	$63K	85	4.9%
Amarillo, TX	$34K	$46K	$61K	82	None ✓
Waco, TX	$34K	$46K	$61K	82	None ✓
Pueblo, CO	$34K	$46K	$61K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$34K	$46K	$61K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$34K	$46K	$61K	82	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$34K	$46K	$61K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$34K	$46K	$61K	82	None ✓
South Bend, IN	$34K	$46K	$61K	82	3.23%
Mobile, AL	$34K	$46K	$61K	82	5%
Broken Arrow, OK	$34K	$46K	$61K	82	4.75%
Davenport, IA	$34K	$46K	$61K	82	4.82%
Killeen, TX	$34K	$45K	$59K	80	None ✓
Rockford, IL	$34K	$45K	$59K	80	4.95%
Macon, GA	$34K	$45K	$59K	80	5.75%
Akron, OH	$34K	$45K	$59K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$34K	$45K	$59K	80	3.99%
Erie, PA	$34K	$45K	$59K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$34K	$45K	$59K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$34K	$45K	$59K	80	3.23%
Bowling Green, KY	$34K	$45K	$59K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$34K	$45K	$59K	80	5%
Norman, OK	$34K	$45K	$59K	80	4.75%
Las Cruces, NM	$34K	$45K	$59K	80	5.9%
Gulfport, MS	$34K	$45K	$59K	80	5%
Abilene, TX	$33K	$44K	$58K	78	None ✓
Toledo, OH	$33K	$44K	$58K	78	3.99%
Evansville, IN	$33K	$44K	$58K	78	3.23%
Shreveport, LA	$33K	$44K	$58K	78	6%
Jackson, MS	$33K	$44K	$58K	78	5%
Charleston, WV	$33K	$44K	$58K	78	6.5%
Brownsville, TX	$32K	$42K	$56K	75	None ✓
Fort Smith, AR	$32K	$42K	$56K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$32K	$42K	$56K	75	6.5%

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $56K Mental Health Counselor 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 →

Mental Health Counselor Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Mental Health Counselor is $56,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $42,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $74,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Mental Health Counselors nationally earn $98,000+.

Education and requirements

Master's in Counseling or Psychology; state license. This role is 50% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

Mental Health Counselor compensation is growing at 5.2% annually, well above the national average wage growth rate. Demand for qualified Mental Health Counselors significantly outpaces supply in most major metros.

Mental Health Counselor Salaryby City (2026)