United States · Pay by job · Community and Social Service
Mental Health Counselor salary and take-home pay
The typical US mental health counselor earns $59,350 a year, or $28.53 an hour (BLS, May 2025). In Texas, where the median for this job is $62,630, a single filer keeps about $52,503 a year after federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare.
BLS title: Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors (SOC 21-1018). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025.
How much does a mental health counselor earn?
| Percentile | Bar | A year | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $38,940 | $18.72 | |
| 25th | $47,100 | $22.65 | |
| Median | $59,350 | $28.53 | |
| 75th | $76,530 | $36.80 | |
| 90th | $97,590 | $46.92 |
The middle half of people in this job earn $47,100 to $76,530 a year, and about 491,930 people do it across the US (BLS, May 2025).
Take-home pay tool
Mental Health Counselor · Texas · single · median
$52,503.21 a year after tax
$4,375.27 a month · $2,019.35 a paycheck (every two weeks)
| Pay before tax | $62,630.00 |
|---|---|
| Federal income tax | −$5,335.60 |
| Social Security and Medicare | −$4,791.20 |
| Texas tax and payroll contributions | none |
| Take-home pay | $52,503.21 |
Pay: the median for this job in Texas, $62,630 a year (BLS). One job, standard deduction, nothing taken before tax, the year’s tax spread over 26 paychecks.
What does a mental health counselor take home at each pay point?
A single filer on the national figures, paid every two weeks, with nothing taken before tax:
| Pay a year | Texas | California | New York | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $38,940 | $33,468 | $32,456 | $31,763 |
| 25th | $47,100 | $40,025 | $38,580 | $37,844 |
| Median | $59,350 | $49,868 | $47,562 | $46,972 |
| 75th | $76,530 | $62,669 | $58,886 | $58,771 |
| 90th | $97,590 | $77,485 | $71,529 | $72,324 |
Take-home after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and state tax for 2026. New York is outside New York City.
Where does a mental health counselor keep the most after tax?
Our 19 states, ranked by take-home pay on each state’s own median for this job (single filer). Only these 19 states have take-home figures so far.
| Rank | State | Median pay | Take-home |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $80,770 | $65,381 |
| 2 | Washington | $68,910 | $56,352 |
| 3 | Wyoming | $62,980 | $52,784 |
| 4 | Texas | $62,630 | $52,503 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $62,820 | $50,279 |
| 6 | Michigan | $61,690 | $49,377 |
| 7 | Nevada | $57,210 | $48,148 |
| 8 | Illinois | $60,730 | $48,115 |
| 9 | Ohio | $58,360 | $47,911 |
| 10 | Florida | $56,790 | $47,811 |
| 11 | Virginia | $59,880 | $47,665 |
| 12 | California | $59,250 | $47,489 |
| 13 | Georgia | $58,960 | $47,361 |
| 14 | New York | $59,450 | $47,047 |
| 15 | New Hampshire | $54,840 | $46,244 |
| 16 | South Dakota | $53,650 | $45,288 |
| 17 | North Carolina | $55,490 | $45,061 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $52,010 | $42,337 |
| 19 | Tennessee | $49,580 | $42,018 |
How much does a mental health counselor earn in each state?
| State | Median pay | People in the job | Take-home (single) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $47,310 | not released | not yet |
| Alaska | $80,770 | 1,290 | $65,381 (#1) |
| Arizona | $65,300 | 9,990 | not yet |
| Arkansas | $51,580 | 2,570 | not yet |
| California | $59,250 | 75,610 | $47,489 (#12) |
| Colorado | $62,390 | 14,920 | not yet |
| Connecticut | $63,590 | 7,540 | not yet |
| Delaware | $56,020 | 1,700 | not yet |
| District of Columbia | $60,450 | 1,260 | not yet |
| Florida | $56,790 | 29,750 | $47,811 (#10) |
| Georgia | $58,960 | 9,600 | $47,361 (#13) |
| Hawaii | $60,090 | 2,110 | not yet |
| Idaho | $63,360 | 2,990 | not yet |
| Illinois | $60,730 | 20,250 | $48,115 (#8) |
| Indiana | $53,760 | 11,890 | not yet |
| Iowa | $60,880 | 3,530 | not yet |
| Kansas | $59,470 | 2,600 | not yet |
| Kentucky | $54,190 | 7,690 | not yet |
| Louisiana | $37,910 | 6,420 | not yet |
| Maine | $59,970 | 1,930 | not yet |
| Maryland | $59,530 | 9,730 | not yet |
| Massachusetts | $59,890 | 18,190 | not yet |
| Michigan | $61,690 | 10,100 | $49,377 (#6) |
| Minnesota | $58,780 | 7,110 | not yet |
| Mississippi | $46,990 | 2,090 | not yet |
| Missouri | $56,910 | 8,130 | not yet |
| Montana | $59,000 | 1,820 | not yet |
| Nebraska | $63,770 | 2,170 | not yet |
| Nevada | $57,210 | 1,810 | $48,148 (#7) |
| New Hampshire | $54,840 | 3,690 | $46,244 (#15) |
| New Jersey | $62,820 | 14,210 | $50,279 (#5) |
| New Mexico | $74,100 | 2,420 | not yet |
| New York | $59,450 | 26,770 | $47,047 (#14) |
| North Carolina | $55,490 | 10,300 | $45,061 (#17) |
| North Dakota | $68,630 | 1,290 | not yet |
| Ohio | $58,360 | 18,020 | $47,911 (#9) |
| Oklahoma | $59,350 | 5,150 | not yet |
| Oregon | $74,590 | 8,160 | not yet |
| Pennsylvania | $52,010 | 30,620 | $42,337 (#18) |
| Rhode Island | $65,120 | 2,170 | not yet |
| South Carolina | $52,370 | 6,300 | not yet |
| South Dakota | $53,650 | 1,710 | $45,288 (#16) |
| Tennessee | $49,580 | 9,040 | $42,018 (#19) |
| Texas | $62,630 | 21,400 | $52,503 (#4) |
| Utah | $63,890 | 6,320 | not yet |
| Vermont | $61,810 | 1,120 | not yet |
| Virginia | $59,880 | 17,940 | $47,665 (#11) |
| Washington | $68,910 | 14,250 | $56,352 (#2) |
| West Virginia | $49,430 | 2,100 | not yet |
| Wisconsin | $62,220 | 8,340 | not yet |
| Wyoming | $62,980 | 910 | $52,784 (#3) |
Median yearly pay for this job in each state, from BLS. Take-home and its rank are for the 19 states with a take-home engine so far. Each linked state shows its highest-paying jobs after tax.
What is the job outlook for a mental health counselor?
BLS expects jobs as a mental health counselor to grow 18.4% from 2025 to 2035, with about 50,500 openings a year (BLS Employment Projections 2025–35).
- Job growth, 2025 to 2035
- +18.4%
- Openings a year
- about 50,500
- Usual education
- Master's degree
- Work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Internship/residency
What do similar jobs pay?
The 10 community and social service jobs closest in pay to a mental health counselor:
- Marriage and Family Therapist median $66,940
- Probation Officer median $66,270
- School and Career Counselor median $64,330
- Health Education Specialist median $64,070
- Clergy median $60,810
- Mental Health Social Worker median $60,280
- Child and Family Social Worker median $59,550
- Other Social Service Specialist median $56,730
- Religious Education Director median $52,100
- Community Health Worker median $51,850
Every job in the group: Community and Social Service jobs. Not sure which job suits you? Try the free career test.
What else can I work out?
- Your paycheck on $59,350, with any pay schedule, 401(k) or HSA.
- Hourly to salary: $28.53 an hour as a yearly salary.
- Your 2026 tax refund on $59,350, with the new deductions for tips and overtime.
Where do these figures come from?
Pay is the BLS estimate for all employers in May 2025 (the latest), and the outlook is from BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Your own pay depends on your employer, area and experience. Take-home is our estimate for 2026: one job, the standard deduction, nothing taken before tax, from the same engine as our paycheck calculator.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics tables (BLS); Employment Projections tables (BLS). This site is independent and not part of the BLS.
Questions about mental health counselor pay
How much does a mental health counselor make an hour?
The median is $28.53 an hour (BLS, May 2025). The middle half earn $22.65 to $36.80, and the top 10% earn $46.92 or more.
Which state pays a mental health counselor the most?
Among the 50 states and DC, Alaska has the highest median for this job: $80,770 a year (BLS). After tax, of the 19 states we cover, Alaska leaves the most: $65,381 a year for a single filer on its median of $80,770.
What is a mental health counselor’s take-home pay?
On the national median of $59,350, a single filer keeps about $49,868 a year in Texas (no state income tax), $47,562 in California and $46,972 in New York outside New York City, after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and state tax. Pick your state in the tool above.
What education do you need to be a mental health counselor?
BLS lists a master's degree as the usual way in, with no work experience in a related job and an internship or residency.
Is the number of mental health counselor jobs growing?
BLS expects jobs as a mental health counselor to grow 18.4% from 2025 to 2035, with about 50,500 openings a year (BLS Employment Projections 2025–35).