Salary

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Masters In Counseling Salary Overview

What is the Average Salary For Someone With a Masters Degree in Counseling?

Answer: The average annual salary for individuals with a Master’s Degree in Counseling is $50,310 (BLS 2020). However, the actual salary that an individual person with a masters in counseling degree will earn depends on a number of factors, including:

1. Type of Counseling Field: The type of counseling field can impact the salary. For example, mental health counselors, substance abuse counselors, and marriage and family therapists all have different salary ranges. Here are a few average salary figures for some of the more common careers for someone with a masters degree in counseling:
   
   
   1. School and Career Counselors – $58,120
   2. Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors – $49,950
   3. Marriage and Family Therapists – $53,590
   4. Rehabilitation Counselors – $40,850
   5. Clinical, Counseling, and School Psychologists – $89,910
   6. Social and Community Service Managers – $72,900
   7. Medical and Health Services Managers – $107,680
   8. Human Resources Specialists – $64,560
   9. Postsecondary Education Administrators – $98,490
   10. Training and Development Managers – $123,470
       
       
2. Geographic Location: The location of the counseling practice can influence the salary. Urban areas may have higher salaries than rural areas due to a higher demand for counselors, and in certain states counselors tend to earn more on average. For instance, the five states with the highest average annual wage for individuals with a Master’s degree in Counseling are:
   
   
   1. New Jersey – $65,880
   2. Alaska – $64,600
   3. California – $63,210
   4. District of Columbia – $62,310
   5. Oregon – $60,690

3. Years of Experience: Counselors with more years of experience typically earn higher salaries, as they have built up their skills and knowledge over time. This bears out, as average salary data for counselors as a whole based on their experience, is as follows (BLS 2020):
   
   
   • Less than 1 year of experience: $40,940
   • 1 to 4 years of experience: $44,540
   • 5 to 9 years of experience: $50,210
   • 10 to 19 years of experience: $55,130
   • 20 or more years of experience: $57,320

4. Education and Credentials: Additional certifications and credentials, such as a license to practice counseling or a specialty certification, may increase earning potential.
   
   
5. Type of Employer: The type of employer can also impact salary, with private practices generally offering the highest salaries, but also having the widest variation in pay, compared to government agencies or non-profit organizations. Here are the average salaries of counselors based on the type of employer:
   
   
   1. Private Practice Counselor: According to BLS data, the average annual wage for Mental Health Counselors, including those in private practice, was $50,590.
   2. Employee Counselor: According to BLS data, the average annual wage for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors, including those who work as employees, was $49,950.
   3. Government Counselor: According to BLS data, the average annual wage for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors working for the government was $54,820.
   4. Nonprofit Counselor: According to Payscale data, the average annual salary for Mental Health Counselors working for nonprofit organizations was $42,764.
      
      
6. Demand for Services: The demand for counseling services can influence the salary of counselors. Areas with higher demand may result in higher salaries for counselors.
   
   
7. Negotiation Skills: Lastly, the ability to negotiate salary can also impact the amount earned by a counselor. Effective negotiation skills can help counselors to obtain higher salaries than those who do not negotiate.

Salaries of Common Careers With A Masters Degree in Counseling

The following is a list of common careers for individuals with a masters in counseling degree, as well as the average salary, salary rage, and number of people employed in the US for each career:

1. Mental Health Counselor: Provides therapy to individuals, couples, and families to help manage mental health issues. Average salary: $48,720; Salary range: $30,830 – $79,010; Number of people employed: 306,030.
2. Substance Abuse Counselor: Helps individuals overcome addiction to drugs and alcohol through counseling and support. Average salary: $46,240; Salary range: $29,980 – $76,080; Number of people employed: 96,040.
3. School Counselor: Helps students with academic and personal issues, provides guidance on college and career planning. Average salary: $58,120; Salary range: $35,500 – $97,910; Number of people employed: 324,510.

4. Career Counselor: Assists individuals with career planning and job search strategies. Average salary: $60,160; Salary range: $35,660 – $95,380; Number of people employed: 36,800.
5. Rehabilitation Counselor: Helps individuals with disabilities overcome challenges and develop necessary skills to become self-sufficient. Average salary: $44,710; Salary range: $28,620 – $73,560; Number of people employed: 105,770.
6. Marriage and Family Therapist: Helps couples and families improve their relationships and communication. Average salary: $51,340; Salary range: $32,550 – $87,700; Number of people employed: 47,600.
7. Art Therapist: Uses art to help individuals express emotions and improve mental health. Average salary: $51,220; Salary range: $31,080 – $80,450; Number of people employed: 1,120.
8. Grief Counselor: Helps individuals and families cope with the loss of a loved one. Average salary: $47,420; Salary range: $29,200 – $74,420; Number of people employed: Data not available.
9. Crisis Counselor: Provides support and guidance to individuals experiencing a crisis, such as a natural disaster or traumatic event. Average salary: $46,240; Salary range: $29,980 – $76,080; Number of people employed: Data not available.
10. Military Counselor: Helps military personnel and their families cope with the unique challenges of military life, such as deployment and PTSD. Average salary: $56,000; Salary range: $31,440 – $87,420; Number of people employed: Data not available.
11. Geriatric Counselor: Helps elderly individuals cope with physical and mental health challenges associated with aging. Average salary: $49,170; Salary range: $29,980 – $78,690; Number of people employed: Data not available.
12. Sports Psychologist: Works with athletes to help them manage stress, anxiety, and other mental health issues that may affect their performance. Average salary: $78,470; Salary range: $41,230 – $129,310; Number of people employed: Data not available.
13. Spiritual Counselor: Provides spiritual guidance and support to individuals and families. Average salary: $44,630; Salary range: $27,780 – $72,350; Number of people employed: Data not available.
14. Forensic Counselor: Helps individuals involved in the criminal justice system cope with mental health issues and trauma. Average salary: $58,120; Salary range: $35,500 – $97,910; Number of people employed: Data not available.
15. Neuropsychologist: Specializes in understanding how the brain affects behavior and cognitive functions, and uses this knowledge to diagnose and treat neurological disorders. Average salary: $101,790; Salary range $62,080 and $154,210. There are approximately 4,000 licensed neuropsychologists in the United States.
16. Play Therapist: Uses play and other expressive techniques to help children process emotions and improve mental health. Average salary: $50,460; Salary range: $29,300 – $82,480; Number of people employed: Data not available.
17. Health Psychologist: Works with individuals to address the psychological and behavioral factors that impact physical health and illness. Average salary: $80,370; Salary range: $43,030 – $132,070; Number of people employed: Data not available.
18. Human Resources Specialist: Helps organizations manage employee relations, benefits, and policies. May also assist with training and development programs. Average salary: $67,460; Salary range: $41,170 – $110,030; Number of people employed: 553,660.
19. Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Counselor: Provides counseling services to employees and their families as part of an employer-sponsored program. Average salary: $50,960; Salary range: $29,910 – $82,530; Number of people employed: Data not available.
20. Mental Health Program Manager: Oversees the development and implementation of mental health programs, such as community outreach initiatives or treatment plans for specific populations. Average salary: $78,460; Salary range: $46,820 – $132,070; Number of people employed: Data not available.

What Is The Employment Outlook For Counselors?

The overall employment outlook for masters in counseling degree holders is positive, with almost every field outpacing the average growth in the US economy generally. But the rate of projected job growth varies significantly depending on which counseling career path you plan to follow. Here are some of the most common careers for masters degree in counseling graduates, and the projected employment growth of those careers over the next decade (source BLS.gov):

1. School and Career Counselors: 8% projected growth.
2. Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors: 25% projected growth.
3. Marriage and Family Therapists: 25% projected growth.
4. Rehabilitation Counselors: 10% projected growth.
5. Clinical, Counseling, and School Psychologists: 3% projected growth.
6. Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers: 13% projected growth.
7. Health Educators and Community Health Workers: 13% projected employment growth.
8. Medical and Health Services Managers: 32% projected employment growth.
9. Training and Development Managers: 7% projected employment growth.
10. Human Resources Specialists: 7% projected employment growth.

The map to the left shows the concentration of clinical and counseling psychologists employed by state (source: BLS Clinical and Counseling Psychologists, 2020).

It shows that counselors are well represented in every state, and are one of the most evenly distributed careers. That means that not only are there counseling career opportunities across the country, but that the career offers a lot of geographic flexibility, should you decide to relocate later in your career.

How Much Does Having a Masters Impact Your Salary As A Counselor?

On average, obtaining a masters degree in counseling translates into a substantially higher salary compared to counselors with a bachelors degree. For example, School and Career Counselors with a bachelors earn on average $58,120 per year, whereas someone in the same career with a masters in counseling earns $69,130 on average. Applying those statistics across the entire field, indicates that a masters in counseling offers students a 19% annual increase over working in the same job with a bachelors degree.

Taken together, these salary statistics indicate that a master’s degree in counseling can open up opportunities for higher salaries and career advancement in the counseling field.