Research Summary. Using a combination of public government and company data as well as data gathered from thousands of job postings, the Zippia data team has created average salary estimates for jobs across the US. Using that data set, the team has identified the types of counselors that are the highest paid based on their average annual salaries.
Here is a summary of our findings for the highest-paying types of counselors:
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Crisis Counselor is the highest-paid type of counselor with an average salary of $51,142 and an average hourly rate of $24.59.
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The second highest-paying type of counselor is school counselor, with an average salary of $49,904.
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The average counselor salary is $36,225 per year, and the average hourly pay is $17.42.
Table Of Contents: Background | Table | Methodology | FAQs
Background
Choosing a career path can be difficult, and while pay shouldn’t be the only thing you consider in your decision, it is a significant factor. So if you’d like to work as a counselor, it helps to have an idea of what the highest-paid types of counselors are so that you can plan your career progression.
Here are the top salaries for different types of counselors:
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Crisis Counselor
Average Salary: $51,142
A crisis counselor is responsible for providing assistance and emotional support to clients under crises or mental health emergencies caused by stress, trauma, grief, and other factors. Most crisis counselors work at clinics or counseling centers, and there are instances where they can be at schools and organizations. Aside from diagnosing and providing specific treatments, a crisis counselor must also build rapport with clients, helping them feel comfortable every step of the way, and serving as a positive influence in their journey to recovery.
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School Counselor
Average Salary: $49,904
A school counselor is responsible for monitoring the students’ social and personal development, advising them of their career aspirations, and assisting them with their academic achievements and goals. School counselors also ensure that the students receive the highest learning standards to pave their way towards society’s advancement and global competitiveness. They evaluate students’ behavior through personal counseling, understanding their challenges, and develop strategies to overcome their needs. A school counselor must have excellent communication and decision-making skills, supporting students with their goals, and honing their skills efficiently.
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Mental Health Counselor
Average Salary: $49,471
A mental health counselor is responsible for helping patients deal with their emotional and mental disorders by developing treatment plans and conducting regular counseling to track the patient’s progress and condition. Mental health counselors encourage active communication from their patients, provide coping strategies for triggering situations, seek advice from other health care professionals, and guide patients on doing other activities that would help them relax. A mental health counselor must have excellent knowledge of the mental health disciplines to assist patients in their healthy lifestyle development.
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Academic Counselor
Average Salary: $47,454
In high schools and universities, an academic counselor specializes in providing counseling and consultations to students, focusing on their educational and career growth. They typically meet with students to discuss their short and long term goals and help by providing them with insights and information or referring them to other services and resources. Moreover, an academic counselor must assist students by addressing their issues and concerns, giving them emotional support and academic advice, and helping them navigate through various procedures.
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Alcohol And Drug Counselor
Average Salary: $45,758
A drug alcohol counselor treats addicts in either one-on-one or group settings. They help by educating and developing possible treatment plans for patients to support them in coping with their addictive personalities. A drug and alcohol counselor will evaluate to determine the progress has been successfully made towards recovery. They help patients better understand and overcome their addictions. Counselors help through offering support, rehabilitation, and guidance by using various techniques. Drug alcohol counselors seek to help an addict find the source of their addiction.
Below is a full table of the average pay for various counselor that pay the most followed by a more detailed explanation of our methodology.
Highest-Paying Types Of Counselors
Methodology
Zippia uses publicly published information from government sources such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Foreign Labor Certification Data Center (FLC), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to create its salary estimates.
Our data science team also checks job postings and company-published resources for additional up-to-date salary information for counselors.
Once they’ve gathered the data, the team calculates a weighted average for each job title they’re estimating a salary for. For more details on our salary estimates, you can read the detailed methodology.
Highest-Paying Types Of Counselor Jobs FAQs
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What is the highest-paid counselor job?
The highest-paid counselor job is a crisis counselor. Crisis Counselors earn an average salary of $51,142, which is $ 24.59 hourly.
A crisis counselor is responsible for providing assistance and emotional support to clients under crises or mental health emergencies caused by stress, trauma, grief, and other factors. Most crisis counselors work at clinics or counseling centers, and there are instances where they can be at schools and organizations. Aside from diagnosing and providing specific treatments, a crisis counselor must also build rapport with clients, helping them feel comfortable every step of the way, and serving as a positive influence in their journey to recovery.
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What is a good salary for a counselor?
A good salary for a counselor is $36,225 or more. The average counselor salary is $36,225, so those making at least $36,225 are earning above-average paychecks.
Keep in mind, however, that the average counselor salary does fluctuate based on location, as companies will adjust their pay scales based on the cost of living in that area. Research what the average salary is in your area for someone of your expertise and experience level to get a more accurate view on how well you’re being paid.
In addition, if you’re just starting your career as a counselor, the average entry level salary is $0, so don’t base your opinion of your salary on the $36,225 average, as this includes all counselors of all skill and experience levels.
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Do Counselor jobs pay well?
No, counselor jobs don’t pay well. As in any industry, some counselor jobs pay better than others, but the average counselor salary of $36,225 is times the average national salary of about $44,225 per year.
In addition to this, many counselor jobs have high earning potential, with the top 10% of counselors earning $0 a year on average.
Counselors’ salaries will fluctuate based on their experience level, industry, and location, so pay attention to these factors when you’re looking for a job as a counselor. Do your research on the going rate for a counselor in your area with your expertise, and don’t be afraid to negotiate your salary based on that information.
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Where do counselors get paid the most?
Counselors get paid the most in Pennsylvania. In Pennsylvania, counselors earn an average annual salary of $38,462 and an average hourly wage of $18.49.
Following PA, the states with the highest-paid counselors are Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York, with average annual salaries of $39,779, $38,507, and $39,761 respectively.
The cities with the highest-paid counselor salaries are:
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
