▼21%
$18.73
Avg. Base Hourly Rate (USD)
/ hour
Avg. Base Hourly Rate (USD)
10%
$14.15
MEDIAN
$18.73
90%
$25.61
The average hourly pay for a Mental Health Counselor is $18.73 in 2025
Hourly Rate
$14 - $26
Bonus
$0 - $2k
Total Pay
$31k - $51k
Is Average Early-Career Mental Health Counselor with Milieu Therapy Skills Hourly Pay your job title? Find out what you should be paid
Use our tool to get a personalized report on your market worth.What's this?
EXPLORE BY:
Featured Content
‹
Remote Work
New research shows how to set pay for remote employees
Gender Pay Gap
New research shows that each woman experiences the disparity of gender pay gap in different ways, depending on her position, age, race and education.
Compensation Best Practices Report
From compensation planning to variable pay to pay equity analysis, we surveyed 4,900+ organizations on how they manage compensation.
Salary Budget Survey Report
See how organizations are shifting their salary budgets this year.
Retention Report
Get strategies you can use to retain top talent and learn how impactful employee retention really is.
Variable Pay Playbook
Before you decide whether variable pay is right for your org, get a deeper understanding of the variable pay options and the cultural impact of pay choices.
›
What is the Pay by Experience Level for Mental Health Counselors?
What Do Mental Health Counselors Do?
Find your market worth – how it works:
Common Health Benefits for a Mental Health Counselor
Medical
57%
Dental
29%
Vision
29%
None
43%
Gender Breakdown for Mental Health Counselors
Female
85.7%
Male
14.3%
This data is based on 7 survey responses. Learn more about the gender pay gap.
FAQs About Mental Health Counselors
What is the highest pay for Mental Health Counselors?
Our data indicates that the highest pay for a Mental Health Counselor is $25.61 / hour
What is the lowest pay for Mental Health Counselors?
Our data indicates that the lowest pay for a Mental Health Counselor is $14.15 / hour
How can Mental Health Counselors increase their salary?
Increasing your pay as a Mental Health Counselor is possible in different ways. Change of employer: Consider a career move to a new employer that is willing to pay higher for your skills. Level of Education: Gaining advanced degrees may allow this role to increase their income potential and qualify for promotions. Managing Experience: If you are a Mental Health Counselor that oversees more junior Mental Health Counselors, this experience can increase the likelihood to earn more.