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
San Francisco, CA	$123K	$165K	$217K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$119K	$159K	$209K	210	9.3%
New York City, NY	$117K	$157K	$206K	187	6.85%
Cambridge, MA	$116K	$156K	$205K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$116K	$156K	$205K	185	11%
Oakland, CA	$114K	$153K	$202K	185	9.3%
Boston, MA	$114K	$153K	$202K	162	5%
Washington, DC	$114K	$153K	$202K	152	8.5%
Bellevue, WA	$113K	$152K	$199K	175	None ✓
Irvine, CA	$112K	$150K	$198K	172	9.3%
Los Angeles, CA	$110K	$148K	$194K	163	9.3%
Jersey City, NJ	$110K	$148K	$194K	162	10.75%
Yonkers, NY	$110K	$147K	$194K	165	6.85%
Bethesda, MD	$110K	$147K	$194K	165	5.75%
Kirkland, WA	$109K	$146K	$192K	162	None ✓
San Diego, CA	$107K	$144K	$189K	148	9.3%
Seattle, WA	$107K	$144K	$189K	150	None ✓
Newark, NJ	$107K	$144K	$189K	155	10.75%
Stamford, CT	$108K	$144K	$190K	158	6.99%
Hilo, HI	$107K	$143K	$188K	155	11%
Arlington, VA	$106K	$142K	$186K	148	5.75%
Honolulu, HI	$106K	$142K	$186K	192	11%
Santa Ana, CA	$105K	$141K	$185K	150	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$105K	$140K	$184K	148	9.3%
Rockville, MD	$105K	$140K	$184K	148	5.75%
Long Beach, CA	$104K	$139K	$183K	155	9.3%
Worcester, MA	$104K	$139K	$183K	120	5%
Alexandria, VA	$104K	$139K	$182K	145	5.75%
Baltimore, MD	$104K	$139K	$183K	115	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$104K	$139K	$182K	145	10.75%
Anchorage, AK	$104K	$139K	$183K	128	None ✓
Paterson, NJ	$102K	$137K	$180K	140	10.75%
Sacramento, CA	$101K	$136K	$178K	128	9.3%
Chula Vista, CA	$101K	$136K	$179K	138	9.3%
Philadelphia, PA	$101K	$136K	$178K	110	3.07%
Portland, OR	$101K	$136K	$178K	130	9.9%
Edison, NJ	$101K	$136K	$179K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$101K	$136K	$179K	138	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$99K	$132K	$174K	107	4.95%
Denver, CO	$99K	$132K	$174K	118	4.55%
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%
New Haven, CT	$96K	$129K	$170K	122	6.99%
Nashua, NH	$96K	$128K	$168K	120	None ✓
Houston, TX	$95K	$127K	$167K	91	None ✓
Plano, TX	$95K	$127K	$167K	105	None ✓
Frisco, TX	$95K	$127K	$167K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$95K	$127K	$167K	118	9.3%
Naperville, IL	$95K	$127K	$167K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$95K	$127K	$167K	118	None ✓
Atlanta, GA	$95K	$127K	$167K	99	5.75%
Lowell, MA	$95K	$127K	$167K	118	5%
Durham, NC	$95K	$127K	$167K	100	4.75%
Nashville, TN	$95K	$127K	$167K	102	None ✓
St. Paul, MN	$95K	$127K	$167K	104	6.8%
Gresham, OR	$95K	$127K	$167K	118	9.9%
Bridgeport, CT	$95K	$127K	$167K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$95K	$127K	$167K	118	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$95K	$127K	$167K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$95K	$127K	$167K	118	5.99%
Hialeah, FL	$94K	$126K	$166K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$94K	$126K	$166K	115	None ✓
Lakewood, CO	$94K	$126K	$166K	115	4.55%
Ann Arbor, MI	$94K	$126K	$166K	115	4.25%
Frederick, MD	$94K	$126K	$166K	115	5.75%
Portland, ME	$94K	$126K	$166K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$94K	$126K	$166K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$94K	$126K	$166K	115	5.99%
Pembroke Pines, FL	$93K	$125K	$164K	112	None ✓
Aurora, CO	$93K	$125K	$164K	112	4.55%
Fort Collins, CO	$93K	$125K	$164K	112	4.55%
Cary, NC	$93K	$125K	$164K	112	4.75%
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 ✓
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$92K	$124K	$163K	118	None ✓
Scottsdale, AZ	$92K	$124K	$163K	118	2.5%
Raleigh, NC	$92K	$124K	$163K	102	4.75%
Pittsburgh, PA	$92K	$124K	$163K	90	3.07%
Eugene, OR	$92K	$124K	$163K	110	9.9%
Salt Lake City, UT	$92K	$124K	$163K	105	4.85%
Round Rock, TX	$92K	$123K	$162K	108	None ✓
Gilbert, AZ	$92K	$123K	$162K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$92K	$123K	$162K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$92K	$123K	$162K	108	4.55%
Boise, ID	$92K	$123K	$162K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$92K	$123K	$162K	108	6.6%
Stockton, CA	$91K	$122K	$160K	105	9.3%
Springfield, MA	$91K	$122K	$160K	105	5%
Salem, OR	$91K	$122K	$160K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$91K	$122K	$160K	105	None ✓
Meridian, ID	$91K	$122K	$160K	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 ✓
Denton, TX	$89K	$120K	$157K	100	None ✓
Carrollton, TX	$90K	$120K	$158K	102	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$89K	$120K	$157K	100	9.3%
Tampa, FL	$90K	$120K	$158K	102	None ✓
Cape Coral, FL	$89K	$120K	$157K	100	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$90K	$120K	$158K	100	2.5%
Peoria, AZ	$89K	$120K	$157K	100	2.5%
Charlotte, NC	$90K	$120K	$158K	100	4.75%
Rochester, MN	$89K	$120K	$157K	100	6.8%
West Jordan, UT	$89K	$120K	$157K	100	4.85%
Overland Park, KS	$89K	$120K	$157K	100	5.7%
Missoula, MT	$90K	$120K	$158K	102	6.75%
Dover, DE	$89K	$120K	$157K	100	6.6%
Albany, NY	$89K	$119K	$156K	98	6.85%
Port St. Lucie, FL	$89K	$119K	$156K	98	None ✓
Chesapeake, VA	$89K	$119K	$156K	98	5.75%
North Las Vegas, NV	$89K	$119K	$156K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$89K	$119K	$156K	98	4.85%
Orem, UT	$89K	$119K	$156K	98	4.85%
Nampa, ID	$89K	$119K	$156K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$89K	$119K	$156K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$89K	$119K	$156K	98	7.15%
Bakersfield, CA	$88K	$118K	$154K	95	9.3%
Orlando, FL	$88K	$118K	$155K	100	None ✓
Aurora, IL	$88K	$118K	$154K	95	4.95%
Chandler, AZ	$88K	$118K	$155K	105	2.5%
Glendale, AZ	$88K	$118K	$154K	95	2.5%
Norfolk, VA	$88K	$118K	$154K	95	5.75%
Richmond, VA	$88K	$118K	$155K	98	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$88K	$118K	$154K	95	5.75%
Allentown, PA	$88K	$118K	$154K	95	3.07%
Madison, WI	$88K	$118K	$155K	102	5.3%
Las Vegas, NV	$88K	$118K	$155K	102	None ✓
Reno, NV	$88K	$118K	$155K	108	None ✓
Provo, UT	$88K	$118K	$155K	100	4.85%
North Charleston, SC	$88K	$118K	$154K	95	6.5%
Midland, TX	$87K	$116K	$153K	92	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$86K	$116K	$152K	102	9.3%
Rochester, NY	$86K	$116K	$152K	90	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$86K	$116K	$152K	93	None ✓
St. Petersburg, FL	$86K	$116K	$152K	105	None ✓
Mesa, AZ	$86K	$116K	$152K	98	2.5%
Athens, GA	$87K	$116K	$153K	92	5.75%
Virginia Beach, VA	$86K	$116K	$152K	98	5.75%
Columbus, OH	$86K	$116K	$152K	90	3.99%
Milwaukee, WI	$86K	$116K	$152K	90	5.3%
Duluth, MN	$87K	$116K	$153K	92	6.8%
Charleston, SC	$86K	$116K	$152K	105	6.5%
Greenville, SC	$87K	$116K	$153K	92	6.5%
Cheyenne, WY	$87K	$116K	$153K	92	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$86K	$115K	$152K	90	None ✓
Pasadena, TX	$85K	$115K	$151K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$85K	$115K	$151K	88	None ✓
Syracuse, NY	$85K	$115K	$151K	88	6.85%
Tallahassee, FL	$86K	$115K	$152K	90	None ✓
Gainesville, FL	$85K	$115K	$151K	88	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$86K	$115K	$152K	90	4.95%
Greensboro, NC	$85K	$115K	$151K	88	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$85K	$115K	$151K	88	None ✓
Sterling Heights, MI	$86K	$115K	$152K	90	4.25%
Green Bay, WI	$85K	$115K	$151K	88	5.3%
Kenosha, WI	$86K	$115K	$152K	90	5.3%
Lexington, KY	$85K	$115K	$151K	88	5%
Great Falls, MT	$85K	$115K	$151K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$85K	$115K	$151K	88	None ✓
Fargo, ND	$86K	$115K	$152K	90	2.5%
Bismarck, ND	$85K	$115K	$151K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$85K	$115K	$151K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$85K	$115K	$151K	88	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$84K	$113K	$149K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$84K	$113K	$149K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$84K	$113K	$149K	85	None ✓
Spokane, WA	$84K	$113K	$149K	95	None ✓
Colorado Springs, CO	$84K	$113K	$149K	102	4.55%
Winston-Salem, NC	$84K	$113K	$149K	85	4.75%
Cincinnati, OH	$84K	$113K	$149K	88	3.99%
Detroit, MI	$84K	$113K	$149K	82	4.25%
Warren, MI	$84K	$113K	$149K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$84K	$113K	$149K	85	4.25%
Kansas City, MO	$84K	$113K	$149K	90	5.3%
St. Louis, MO	$84K	$113K	$149K	86	5.3%
Independence, MO	$84K	$113K	$149K	85	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$84K	$113K	$149K	88	3.23%
Louisville, KY	$84K	$113K	$149K	85	5%
Lafayette, LA	$84K	$113K	$149K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$84K	$113K	$149K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$84K	$113K	$149K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$84K	$113K	$149K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$84K	$113K	$149K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$84K	$113K	$149K	85	4.9%
Corpus Christi, TX	$84K	$112K	$147K	84	None ✓
Amarillo, TX	$84K	$112K	$147K	82	None ✓
Waco, TX	$84K	$112K	$147K	82	None ✓
Buffalo, NY	$84K	$112K	$147K	88	6.85%
Pueblo, CO	$84K	$112K	$147K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$84K	$112K	$147K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$84K	$112K	$147K	82	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$84K	$112K	$147K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$84K	$112K	$147K	82	None ✓
Cleveland, OH	$84K	$112K	$147K	82	3.99%
South Bend, IN	$84K	$112K	$147K	82	3.23%
Huntsville, AL	$84K	$112K	$147K	88	5%
Mobile, AL	$84K	$112K	$147K	82	5%
Broken Arrow, OK	$84K	$112K	$147K	82	4.75%
New Orleans, LA	$84K	$112K	$147K	92	6%
Des Moines, IA	$84K	$112K	$147K	88	4.82%
Davenport, IA	$84K	$112K	$147K	82	4.82%
Omaha, NE	$84K	$112K	$147K	88	5.84%
Killeen, TX	$83K	$111K	$146K	80	None ✓
Rockford, IL	$83K	$111K	$146K	80	4.95%
Macon, GA	$83K	$111K	$146K	80	5.75%
Akron, OH	$83K	$111K	$146K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$83K	$111K	$146K	80	3.99%
Erie, PA	$83K	$111K	$146K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$83K	$111K	$146K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$83K	$111K	$146K	80	3.23%
Bowling Green, KY	$83K	$111K	$146K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$83K	$111K	$146K	80	5%
Norman, OK	$83K	$111K	$146K	80	4.75%
Las Cruces, NM	$83K	$111K	$146K	80	5.9%
Gulfport, MS	$83K	$111K	$146K	80	5%
Abilene, TX	$82K	$110K	$145K	78	None ✓
Toledo, OH	$82K	$110K	$145K	78	3.99%
Evansville, IN	$82K	$110K	$145K	78	3.23%
Shreveport, LA	$82K	$110K	$145K	78	6%
Jackson, MS	$82K	$110K	$145K	78	5%
Charleston, WV	$82K	$110K	$145K	78	6.5%
El Paso, TX	$81K	$109K	$143K	82	None ✓
Brownsville, TX	$81K	$109K	$143K	75	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$81K	$109K	$143K	90	2.5%
Savannah, GA	$81K	$109K	$143K	92	5.75%
Memphis, TN	$81K	$109K	$143K	82	None ✓
Grand Rapids, MI	$81K	$109K	$143K	90	4.25%
Birmingham, AL	$81K	$109K	$143K	82	5%
Columbia, SC	$81K	$109K	$143K	88	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%
Fort Smith, AR	$81K	$109K	$143K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$81K	$109K	$143K	75	6.5%
Lubbock, TX	$79K	$106K	$140K	78	None ✓
Knoxville, TN	$79K	$106K	$140K	85	None ✓
Tulsa, OK	$79K	$106K	$140K	80	4.75%
Wichita, KS	$79K	$106K	$140K	82	5.7%
Laredo, TX	$77K	$104K	$136K	76	None ✓
Little Rock, AR	$77K	$104K	$136K	82	4.9%

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 salary FAQ

How much does a Director of Mental Health Services make?

The median Director of Mental Health Services salary in the US is $118,000 per year — about $57/hour. Most earn between $88,000 (25th percentile) and $155,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a Director of Mental Health Services?

Entry-level Director of Mental Health Services positions typically start around $88,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid Director of Mental Health Servicess earn?

The top 10% of Director of Mental Health Servicess earn $200,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays Director of Mental Health Servicess the most?

San Francisco has the highest median Director of Mental Health Services salary at $165K among the cities we track. But high-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often have lower real purchasing power once cost of living and taxes are factored in.

Are Director of Mental Health Services salaries going up?

Yes — Director of Mental Health Services pay is growing about 5% year over year, above the US average wage-growth rate.

Director of Mental Health Services Salaryby City (2026)