Get a Salary Report for



- Compare Your Salary
- Evaluate a Job Offer


- Price a New Hire
- Give a Raise



- Benchmark Jobs
- Create a Comp Plan

Mental Health Counselor Salary

Change Country United States » Job » Mental Health Counselor Overview » Mental Health Counselor Salary
Updated: 23 May 2013
Find Out Exactly What You Should Be Paid
Job Title:
Years in Field/Career:
Location:
United States (change)
- OR -
Job Satisfaction
Extremely satisfied Image
Extremely satisfied
Rated 5 out of 5 based on 395 Mental Health Counselor votes.
Follow Us On:
follow us on twitter    linkedin  
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Salary and career advice to put you a step ahead.
newsletter icon

ADVERTISEMENT
Mental Health Counselor 2013 Total Pay (?
XAll compensation data shown are gross, national 10th to 90th percentile ranges. Pay can vary greatly by location. To view local data, take the PayScale survey.
)
$27,951 - $59,832
(Median)
0
28K
39K
47K
60K
MEDIAN: $39,018
10%
50%
75%
90%
national salary data
National Salary Data

National Salary Data

 (?
XAll compensation data shown are gross, national 10th to 90th percentile ranges. Pay can vary greatly by location. To view local data, take the PayScale survey.
)
$0$20K$40K$60K
Salary$28,973 - $53,701  
   
Bonus$0.00 - $1,561  
Profit Sharing$0.00 - $1,973  
Commission$0.00 - $25,000  
Total Pay (?
XTotal Pay combines base annual salary or hourly wage, bonuses, profit sharing, tips, commissions, overtime pay and other forms of cash earnings, as applicable for this job. It does not include equity (stock) compensation, cash value of retirement benefits, or the value of other non-cash benefits (e.g. healthcare).
)
$27,951 - $59,832  
PayScale
Country: United States | Currency: USD | Updated: 23 May 2013 | Individuals Reporting: 1,393

Mental Health Counselor Job Listings

jobs by Indeed job search
Search for more jobs:

Job Description for Mental Health Counselor

Mental health counselors work with patients every step of the way in the treatment of their mental health issues. At the beginning of treatment process, they interview and observe patients from a variety of backgrounds and experiences to diagnose them. They then design a specialized treatment plan that may involve individual or group therapy sessions. Additionally, they maintain accurate records of any treatment the patient undergoes. Many who choose this profession find a great deal of fulfillment in helping people cope with and overcome their problems.
People looking to pursue this line of work must earn bachelor's or master's degree in counseling, psychology, social work, or another related field. They must also earn and maintain a license to practice psychotherapy. Experience working in clinical counseling is preferred, and certain positions require experience working with a certain demographic (e.g. children, the elderly, etc.). Those who choose this career path generally work in hospitals or standalone clinics, but some may travel to other shelters and facilities.
Mental health counselors must be compassionate and empathetic in listening to their patients' issues and concerns. It is also important that they be trustworthy with their patients' confidential medical information. Written communication skills are crucial for record-keeping purposes, and the counselor must also make sure to keep open lines of communication between the patient and all healthcare professionals involved in treatment. Difficult situations may arise during patient treatment, so the counselor needs to maintain a level head in order to handle these issues effectively and responsibly.
Mental Health Counselor Tasks
  • Design and implement treatment plans.
  • Assesses patient mental status and problems through interviews and observations.
  • Maintain accurate required documentation of patient care.
  • Counsel clients to promote optimal mental health, individually and in group sessions.
Read more about: Counselors, Mental Health
Your Mental Health Counselor Connections Invite your friends

Please log in with Facebook to see who you know.


Facebook_Login

company salaries
Companies and Industries for Mental Health Counselor Salaries

Popular Employers

Salary Range

Community Mental Health Center$31,250 - $39,302
Corizon$42,868 - $49,495
Popular Industries

Salary Range

Community Mental Health Center$28,821 - $49,480
Counseling Services$28,504 - $51,620
Health Care$29,698 - $52,982
College or University$29,489 - $52,416
Hospital$30,447 - $55,070

key statistics
Key Statistics for Mental Health Counselor Salaries and Jobs

Female
77%
female alumni
 
Male
23%
male alumni
Salary:$31,678 - $44,415 $34,625 - $49,402
Years of Experience
Less than 1 year
5%
1-4 years
49%
5-9 years
22%
10-19 years
17%
20 years or more
7%
Most Common Health Benefits
medical benefits Medical: 69% dental benefits Dental: 55%
vision benefits Vision: 39% employee benefits None: 27%

alumni reports
Special Features

ceo incomes
Fortune 100 CEO Income Compared to Average Worker at Company
Many CEOs earn millions a year, but how does their pay compare to the average worker at their company? We list the highest earners.
More Special Features
»
Which jobs, cities and industries are seeing wages rise or fall? Track the latest compensation trends with The PayScale Index Q1 2013 results.
» You think you have a bad boss? We reveal the Top 5 Jobs That Hate Their Boss.

career path
Career Path for Mental Health Counselor Jobs

Common Past Jobs
Common Future Jobs

Mental Health Counselor

Salary Range

$27,951 - $59,832
payscale
Clinical Therapist
$30,224 - $63,400
Case Manager, Social Services
$24,181 - $42,486
Mental Health Case Manager
$24,147 - $44,353
 
Common Future Jobs

Mental Health Counselor

Salary Range

$27,951 - $59,832
payscale
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
$36,059 - $74,458
Social Worker (MSW)
$30,212 - $58,529
Marriage / Family Therapist
$30,362 - $95,892
 

career path
Salary Map for Mental Health Counselor Jobs

Highest Salaries By City for Mental Health Counselor Jobs

Top Cities by Popularity for Mental Health Counselor Jobs

Highest Salaries By City Top Cities by Popularity

average job salaries
More Charts for Mental Health Counselor Jobs

Next Steps
Start the survey
- OR -
Sign in with LinkedIn
PayScale Research
Center