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

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 salary FAQ

How much does a Mental Health Counselor make?

The median Mental Health Counselor salary in the US is $56,000 per year — about $27/hour. Most earn between $42,000 (25th percentile) and $74,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a Mental Health Counselor?

Entry-level Mental Health Counselor positions typically start around $42,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid Mental Health Counselors earn?

The top 10% of Mental Health Counselors earn $98,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays Mental Health Counselors the most?

San Francisco has the highest median Mental Health Counselor salary at $78K 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 Mental Health Counselor salaries going up?

Yes — Mental Health Counselor pay is growing about 5.2% year over year, above the US average wage-growth rate.

Mental Health Counselor Salaryby City (2026)