Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Job outlook for bereavement counselors in the United States
Are bereavement counselor jobs in demand?
Bereavement counselor job and salary trends over time
Bereavement counselor jobs over time
Bereavement counselor job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 927 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 991 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 968 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 936 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 895 | 0.00% |
Average bereavement counselor salary over time
Bereavement counselor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $64,298 | $30.91 | +3.1% |
| 2024 | $62,349 | $29.98 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $60,860 | $29.26 | +2.5% |
| 2022 | $59,371 | $28.54 | +2.0% |
| 2021 | $58,234 | $28.00 | +2.3% |
Bereavement counselor jobs by state
Most common states for bereavement counselors
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 946 | 14% |
| 2 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 82 | 12% |
| 3 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 70 | 7% |
| 4 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 217 | 6% |
| 5 | Delaware | 961,939 | 57 | 6% |
| 6 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 32 | 6% |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 649 | 5% |
| 8 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 37 | 5% |
| 9 | Alaska | 739,795 | 36 | 5% |
| 10 | New York | 19,849,399 | 793 | 4% |
| 11 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 466 | 4% |
| 12 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 362 | 4% |
| 13 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 320 | 4% |
| 14 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 296 | 4% |
| 15 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 270 | 4% |
| 16 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 228 | 4% |
| 17 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 155 | 4% |
| 18 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 125 | 4% |
| 19 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 57 | 4% |
| 20 | Vermont | 623,657 | 26 | 4% |
Most common cities for bereavement counselors
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Plymouth | 1 | 2% | $66,242 |
| 2 | Roseville | 1 | 1% | $73,841 |
| 3 | New York | 1 | 0% | $65,706 |
| 4 | Phoenix | 1 | 0% | $71,723 |
Bereavement Counselor job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of bereavement counselor experts
Western Illinois University
Florida Institute of Technology
SUNY College at Oswego
Ohio State University
St. John Fisher College
Penn State College of Medicine
Louisiana State University at Shreveport
Boston College
Monmouth University
Augustana University
Concordia University Irvine
Monmouth University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Washington State University
Lincoln University
Muhlenberg College
Ohio State University
What Bereavement Counselor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Vanessa Alleyne: Two of the most heavily sought out areas of expertise in the field today are trauma and substance use disorders. If you have taken courses in these areas as a grad student, bravo for you! The aftermath of the pandemic has left us in tremendous need of caring, coping strategies for trauma, as well as more evidence based, compassionate care for substance use disorders. The old tough love strategies aren't really effective in today's complex world. Sometimes students will say that they don't want to work with substance abuse, but it's shortsighted to think that you won't, even in a private practice. Many, if not most people seeking help are impacted by substances, either via someone they know or someone in the family. The emergence of legalized sports betting has also begun a new level of problematic gambling that will require a good skill set. Group work for these and other disorders will increase, so the ability to work well in groups will be in high demand. Additionally, we are at the early stages of successful use of psychedelic medicines for a range of mental health disorders. Learning about these possibilities will be important in terms of making appropriate referrals to psychedelic providers. Finally, I will mention a typically unmentionable or perhaps forgotten area that we need better skills in now more than ever. End of life counseling needs are rising as our elderly population in the US soars. We need to be able to support clients and their families through the processes and anxieties that come with these highly difficult experiences. I am beginning a summer course at MSU now in End of Life Counseling as an elective, and the class is FULL. Many of us want and need to explore this final stage of the lifespan, both professionally and personally, in order to be of maximal assistance to others.
Dr. Tiffany Bainter PhD LCPC NCC
Associate ProfessorWestern Illinois University
Clinical, Counseling And Applied Psychology
What general advice would you give to a Bereavement Counselor?
Dr. Tiffany Bainter PhD LCPC NCC: Starting a career in counseling is a fulfilling journey but comes with its own set of challenges. My advice to graduates stepping into this field would be to prioritize self-care. It's crucial to maintain a healthy balance between your professional and personal life, especially when dealing with emotionally taxing situations. Seek supervision and mentorship regularly; having guidance from experienced professionals can provide invaluable insights and support as you navigate your counseling career. Additionally, stay open to continuous learning. The field of counseling is dynamic, with new research and techniques emerging constantly. Pursue opportunities for further education, attend workshops, and stay updated with the latest developments in the field. Cultivate empathy and cultural competence to better understand and connect with clients from diverse backgrounds. Building strong therapeutic relationships based on trust and empathy is at the core of effective counseling practice. Lastly, remember to advocate for mental health awareness and the importance of access to quality mental health services. Being a counselor goes beyond individual sessions; it involves being an advocate for your clients' well-being within the larger societal context.
What Bereavement Counselor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Mariana Juras Ph.D.: I believe multiple language and cultural knowledges and experiences are great assets to have, and also to integrate human specific and technology integration with the mental health field, by also considering ethics, culture, and humane relevancy. Neuropsychology is also a developing field and integration with mental health treatment is increasing.
What Bereavement Counselor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Jodi Mullen PhD LMHC RPT-S: The bulk of the work a mental health counselor does is clinical, meaning you meet with clients and provide counseling. There is also record keeping, preparation, and administrative responsibilities. New and seasoned counselors alike spend some time in supervision and consultation with other counselors. Supervision is a time to discuss cases with a more experienced professional where there are opportunities for growth professionally and personally. Consultation involves either meeting with others connected to your clients, like parents of children clients, or with professionals in mental health and other fields that can help the counselor sort out a challenge. In that case it may be an attorney or a trauma specialist.
What Bereavement Counselor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Donna Sheperis PhD, LPC, NCC, CCMHC, ACS, BC-TMH: There are so many different employment positions that a mental health counselor could take that a day could be incredibly different depending on their area of specialty. A private practitioner could have a full day of hour long individual sessions. A hospital based counselor might spend time running groups or doing crisis stabilization. A home-based counselor might travel from site to site providing family therapy or assessing living situations for child placement. Someone working in a substance use rehabilitation facility might find themselves Providing individual, group, and family therapy all within the span of several hours. In other words, a mental health counselor is going to be very flexible and able to provide a number of different services depending on the type of work that interests them and that they find themselves seeking specialty training and credentialing in.
What will help Bereavement Counselors increase their earning potential?
Donna Sheperis PhD, LPC, NCC, CCMHC, ACS, BC-TMH: When I talk to my former students as well as my friends and colleagues in the profession, they all tell me how richly rewarded they are providing a service to people who struggle with aspects of mental health. Being part of someone’s treatment, watching them find their way through trauma that has been burdening them, helping people leave behind a pass that no longer serves them, helping them find a way through genetically predisposed illness, or to overcome thoughts of death or suicide… These are all remarkable journeys to embark on with clients. To have the privilege to be part of healing when people are in crisis and pain and at their most vulnerable is really an awesome honor. Those experiences keep us hopeful and.buoyed throughout our career. When working in such an interpersonally intense profession, carrying that weight can be challenging itself. Some of the more routine tasks of the work that we do can also be burdening. As mental health counselors, we find ourselves making sure that we seek to do our own work in order to be able to do this work for others.
What Bereavement Counselor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Samantha Bates PhD, LISW-S: One of the best things about being a mental health practitioner is supporting someone during a time of immense need. The human spirit is beautiful to witness, and the role of a mental health provider is to use the vulnerability and time spent together to empower someone to see their strengths, utilize new skills, and decide what the future holds for them. I think the best day of my professional career was when a young woman told me that had I not been in her life at the time she might not be here today. Knowing you were a support for someone, and the time you spent together made an impact, is incredibly rewarding and fulfilling. One thing that is challenging in the mental health profession is the lack of coordinated services and supports. Access and equity continue to challenge the profession and are issues we must address to tackle the mental health crisis.
What will help Bereavement Counselors increase their earning potential?
Emily Yowell Ph.D.: Psychologists should be aware of what others in their field are making for similar positions. It is important to ask for what your work is worth in an initial position to assure raises are based on a solid starting salary. Newer psychologists may also consider asking for an early review that prompts an early conversation around potential raises, bonus, or other job benefits.
John Kiweewa Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorSt. John Fisher College
Wegmans School of Nursing
What soft skills should all Bereavement Counselors possess?
John Kiweewa Ph.D.: Receptivity to Feedback: Openness to consistently accept feedback in a respectful way is a vital quality, especially for new graduates. Such openness is important not only to feedback from supervisors but from colleagues and clients. Agreeing to or feeling bound to act on the feedback received is not as important as communicating appreciation for the effort of others in giving feedback. In this case, display of behaviors such as anger, annoyance, frustration, defensiveness, excessive/exaggerated self-criticism, or withdrawal gets in the way of learning and/or being a member of a team.
Appropriate Self-Disclosure: The ability for mental health practitioners to 'use' themselves for the benefit of their clients is one of the cornerstones of effective counseling. Such a quality is most evident when one only shares information about themselves that fits the nature and purpose of the interaction with a particular client. When personal information is revealed, it is tasteful, relevant, and is not upsetting, distracting, or confusing to others. Prospective employers are keenly aware of the ways self-serving or self-aggrandizing disclosure of personal information can negatively impact the ability to provide meaningful services to clients.
Reliability and Follow Through: Mental health professionals work in a helping profession that requires the professional to be consistently dependable, reliable, and able to follow through with tasks and assignments in a timely and thorough manner. This includes meeting deadlines, being punctual to sessions with clients and for agency meetings, being prepared, and having a reputation as one who can be counted on to do their part when functioning as a team or project member.
Flexibility and Adaptability: This quality is most evident when a mental health counseling professional consistently demonstrates a willingness to change or compromise in the face of new information, circumstances, and contexts. Situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic, for instance, require mental health practitioners to have an openness to solutions that match the needs of their service recipients and organizations.
Sense of Humor: There is little to cheer about in the professional life of mental health professionals. We spend the majority of our working time listening to the most painful and vulnerable aspects of people's lives. This quality is most evident when a mental health counselor assumes an orientation to life that acknowledges to self and others the value of looking at the "lighter side" of life to maintain a balance; when they find enjoyment in laughing with others and recognize laughter as a way of reducing tension and as an important aspect of social discourse.
Confidence Balanced with Humility: Confidence in one's abilities (self-efficacy) is a general challenge for beginning mental health counselors. Some may appear over-confident as a way to compensate for lack of experience in the field and to project an image of competence. It is, therefore, important that new graduate is able to act with self-assurance by consistently expressing themselves in a clear, deliberate, and unassuming manner. It is not helpful to "put on airs" or flaunt knowledge or skills in order to bring attention to oneself. What is important is to convey appreciation for the privilege to partake in other people's life journeys and struggles.
Martha Peaslee Levine M.D.
Medical Director of the PHP and IOP, Director of the Office of Professional Mental HealthPenn State College of Medicine
Adolescent Medicine, Psychiatry
What skills stand out on Bereavement Counselor resumes?
Martha Peaslee Levine M.D.: Certainly, experience is one thing that we look for, which can be a challenge when applying for their first position. Other ways to get experience are through volunteer work or demonstrating a passion for a certain mental health issue, and being involved in advocacy. Looking for and participating in research opportunities while in college or post-graduate work. Within the field of counseling, it is important to demonstrate a passion for the work. Other skills would be any additional training. Individuals can sometimes pursue workshops or other training that builds on some of their skills or interests. Some organizations target certain interests or specialties. It can be important to get involved in these to get more education and skills and make connections within the field.
What soft skills should all Bereavement Counselors possess?
Martha Peaslee Levine M.D.: Good communication skills are important. Working as a therapist involves interacting with someone. It will be important to demonstrate being able to listen effectively and being able to communicate clearly. Active listening is important in therapy and in an interview. Be engaged; listen to the interviewer so that you are clearly providing the information that they need. For example, I often ask interviewees to tell me about a case that they found rewarding or challenging. From this, I want to know how someone thinks through a clinical situation. I want to hear how they describe their client (anonymously, of course) and how they put together the important parts of the story. If it was challenging and they now recognize ways to handle it differently, that lets me know that they have thought about this. It also shows that they are willing to reflect on difficult situations and learn from them. If someone cannot relate a story or discuss a client with me, that makes me wonder about their skills as a therapist and their interest in their patients. These clinical interactions can come from your work in school, shadowing someone in training, or internships. It is recognizing and describing the important elements of the case. Another important skill is good written communication. Check your resumes for spelling mistakes. Reread any emails to make certain they are clear. Send thank-you notes. Keep things professional--use the interviewer's professional title when you write. Be on time and have a question or two to ask about the position or place of employment. Examples can be, what are they looking for in a counselor? What have they found the most rewarding working in this office? Find your own go-to question, but interviewers what to know that you are interested.
What skills will help Bereavement Counselors earn the most?
Martha Peaslee Levine M.D.: If someone demonstrates compassion, great interpersonal skills, self-reflection, and a willingness to grow in their profession, that will benefit them tremendously. If clients feel understood and helped and want to keep working with you, your team will also recognize your skills.
Kacie Blalock Ph.D.
Associate Professor; Director, Master of CounselingLouisiana State University at Shreveport
Department Of Psychology
What hard/technical skills are most important for Bereavement Counselors?
Kacie Blalock Ph.D.: It is important that counselors are able to effectively take notes and summarize progress, interpret assessments, memorize and recall information, and keep clear yet concise records.
Treniece Lewis Harris Ph.D.
Associate Professor of the Practice, Program Director, Master's Program in Mental Health CounselingBoston College
Department of Counseling, Developmental, and Educational Psychology
What skills stand out on Bereavement Counselor resumes?
Treniece Lewis Harris Ph.D.: The skills that likely stand out the most on psychologists' resumes include empathy, critical thinking, knowledge of mental health and illness determinants, psychological assessment, evidence-based psychotherapy skills, and research design and implementation.
What soft skills should all Bereavement Counselors possess?
Treniece Lewis Harris Ph.D.: -compassion
-active listening
-perspective-taking
-open-mindedness and respect for differences
-humility
-curiosity and critical observation
-problem recognition and analytical thinking
-creativity and flexibility
-presentation skills
What hard/technical skills are most important for Bereavement Counselors?
Treniece Lewis Harris Ph.D.: -Differential diagnosis to determine whether a person is experiencing an adjustment problem related to everyday life stressors or mental illness
-Knowledge and application of developmental and personality theory to human behavior.
-Experience in using multiple evidence-based psychotherapy models
-Psychological assessment, especially in neuropsychological testing
-Research design and implementation to study
-Program development
-Curriculum design and teaching skills
What skills will help Bereavement Counselors earn the most?
Treniece Lewis Harris Ph.D.: -psychotherapy skills
-neuropsychological assessment skills
-research design and program development skills
-teaching skills
-leadership skills
What soft skills should all Bereavement Counselors possess?
Alan Cavaiola Ph.D.: The type of things to emphasize would be similar to those described above in terms of soft skills. Also, applicants may want to stress if they've worked with any special populations during their Practicum or Internships (e.g., children, adolescents, people with co-occurring disorders, people with substance use disorders, veterans, first responders, people with disabilities, people of various racial or ethnic groups, homeless people, etc.) Also, any counselor working in a Joint Commission or CARF program will be required to know how to write treatment plans, so those skills are also helpful to emphasize. One student was hired because she knew how to administer and score the SASSI-3 (Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory).
Dr. Benjamin Jeppsen
Associate ProfessorAugustana University
Psychology Department
What soft skills should all Bereavement Counselors possess?
Dr. Benjamin Jeppsen: Cultural awareness, knowledge, and skills are important, including openness to work with people with varying religious views. The ability to easily connect with others and put people at ease in your presence is valuable in working with clients and collaborating with a treatment team. As more and more agencies interact with the medical field, spiritual leaders, and other holistic approaches to health, counselors need to see their role in an interdisciplinary approach to healing and work effectively with other departments. With teletherapy/virtual therapy, just the simple difficulty of creating eye contact when one's camera is not directly aligned with their viewscreen can complicate important connections in the therapeutic relationship. Learning to effectively connect through screens is essential.
What skills will help Bereavement Counselors earn the most?
Dr. Benjamin Jeppsen: It depends on the population they want to work with and the clinical setting they are comfortable in. But one thing that I wish I had learned more about was how to run a health service business. Though this won't be an eye-catcher on your resume when applying for counselor positions, if you want to work at a private practice (even if you won't be the owner), an understanding of basic business principles--especially how to work with insurance companies--will help you earn more money. I worked in private practice for a little over a year. I was very frustrated about differing reimbursement processes from one insurance company to the next. Sometimes it was 6 months before I was paid for sessions I completed with clients due to difficult insurance policies. Suppose you're not comfortable contacting your clients directly to collect co-insurance, copayments, etc. In that case, private practice may not be for you. I ended up doing quite a bit of unintended pro-bono work because the insurance company refused payment (due to unmet deductibles, or the client had used all of their "approved" sessions) because I was uncomfortable going to collections with clients who couldn't pay and were unaware of their insurance limits before starting. So in terms of earning potential, learn about how third-party payer systems work, and develop a good prior authorization protocol with documentation of exactly what services you can provide that will get you paid. Then, if your business is healthy enough, hire someone else to do the job of collecting payments, working with insurance companies, and contacting clients who owe to avoid those ruptures and complications in the therapeutic relationship.
What's a good job out of college for Bereavement Counselors?
Michael Eschelbach Ph.D.: A good job out of college is any job, some might argue. A better job would be one that employs what you studied in college because it asks you to do what you prepared to do. A still better job is one that offers the opportunity to use the whole college experience in problem-solving, creativity, interpersonal relationships - learning, thinking, and communication skills that allow you to see an opportunity, be inspired by it, and pursue it.
What experience really stands out on Bereavement Counselor resumes?
Joanne Jodry: For new graduates, the reputation of the Professional Counseling program you graduate from and the networking you do help in job searches. It is also essential on your resume to convey that you understand the counseling profession and bring empathy and compassion along with your professional theoretical skills.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Bereavement Counselors?
Joanne Jodry: After any disaster, there is a mental health and addiction aftermath that can go on for years. People all react to crises in different fashions and depending on what their coping skills are going into the situation. This pandemic is a prolonged crisis, and that often has more prolonged impacts on clients. Unfortunately, this pandemic, and all of the broad sweeping consequences, will create a greater demand for counseling professionals to work with people who are suffering and those who are experiencing the long-range impact on their quality of life.
What type of skills will young Bereavement Counselors need?
Dr. Thomas Dearden Ph.D.: Indeed, the way we work is changing. The skills that young graduates will need are diverse. Transferable skills and soft skills will certainly be marketable. These include traditional crafts such as communication, but I also think the world expects more empathy from its employees. Young graduates with an understanding of racism, sexism, and environmental responsibility will become increasingly important.
How do you envision technology impacting Bereavement Counselors in the next 5 years?
Carrie Cuttler Ph.D.: Now that we are all getting used to remote teaching and distance learning, more universities may ramp up their distance learning and global campus offerings. I anticipate more companies, like Zoom, creating safe, secure, online environments for learning and for meetings.
How do you envision technology impacting Bereavement Counselors in the next 5 years?
Melina McConatha Ph.D.: Technology is woven in all parts of our lives - especially today. Human services can be strengthened by technology through accessibility and efficiency; however, it must be driven by human service ethics that can only be delivered by people.
Erika Bagley Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorMuhlenberg College
Department of Developmental Psychology
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Bereavement Counselors to find work opportunities?
Erika Bagley Ph.D.: The pandemic has really led to a boom in online therapy, teaching, and recreation. So, where a job opportunity is located may be wherever graduates find themselves. Moving to a particular city or geographic area for career opportunities is likely not going to be as important as having skills to facilitate remote interactions. Even if an effective vaccine comes through, there are many people who have found that receiving services and learning online to be a better fit for them, so I don't see the need for this skill set going away in the future.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Bereavement Counselors?
Nikole Patson Ph.D.: When much of the country went into lockdown in April due to COVID, many students saw their research and service-learning projects, internships, and jobs end. As this pandemic has continued, many of these important experience-building opportunities have not come back.
Students are now finding it difficult to gain professionalizing experience. Furthermore, students often must work to fund their education. Because so many employers have cut down on their hours, students find it necessary to work during hours they would have dedicated to these professionalizing activities. All of this means that students will graduate with less experience than students who graduated before the pandemic.