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Clinical counselor salary
Average clinical counselor salary
$54,191
Understanding the Clinical Counselor Salary
The average salary for a clinical counselor is approximately $54,191 per year, or about $26 per hour. These figures can fluctuate significantly based on factors such as geographic location, industry, and years of experience. For instance, clinical counselors in states like California and New York often earn higher salaries compared to those in other regions.
Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level clinical counselors may start with salaries around $40,000, while those with extensive experience can earn upwards of $70,000 annually. This progression highlights the importance of gaining experience and pursuing further education or certifications.
Industry Variations
Different industries also offer varying salary scales. Clinical counselors working in healthcare can expect competitive compensation, while those in non-profit organizations may see lower pay. Understanding these dynamics enables prospective counselors to target their job searches effectively.
Conclusion
Research from multiple sources corroborates these salary estimates, reinforcing the significance of informed career decisions. Explore your options today to find the best fit for your skills and ambitions.
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Where can a Clinical Counselor earn more?
Clinical counselor salary estimates from across the web
Average clinical counselor salary by state
The average clinical counselor salary in Maryland, Maine, and Arizona are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average clinical counselor salary states are Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for clinical counselors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | $62,352 | $29.98 |
| 2 | Arizona | $62,204 | $29.91 |
| 3 | Washington | $61,869 | $29.74 |
| 4 | Maryland | $63,702 | $30.63 |
| 5 | New York | $60,111 | $28.90 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $58,715 | $28.23 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $58,074 | $27.92 |
| 8 | Michigan | $59,391 | $28.55 |
| 9 | District of Columbia | $61,471 | $29.55 |
| 10 | Oregon | $57,122 | $27.46 |
| 11 | North Dakota | $55,587 | $26.72 |
| 12 | South Dakota | $55,341 | $26.61 |
| 13 | Missouri | $59,550 | $28.63 |
| 14 | Illinois | $55,482 | $26.67 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $53,320 | $25.63 |
| 16 | Vermont | $54,692 | $26.29 |
| 17 | Colorado | $54,110 | $26.01 |
| 18 | Kansas | $56,180 | $27.01 |
| 19 | Minnesota | $52,787 | $25.38 |
| 20 | West Virginia | $53,155 | $25.56 |
| 21 | Indiana | $52,658 | $25.32 |
| 22 | Ohio | $53,721 | $25.83 |
| 23 | Connecticut | $51,397 | $24.71 |
| 24 | Kentucky | $53,349 | $25.65 |
| 25 | California | $54,636 | $26.27 |
| 26 | Florida | $48,648 | $23.39 |
| 27 | Virginia | $52,725 | $25.35 |
| 28 | Nebraska | $50,426 | $24.24 |
| 29 | Alabama | $51,273 | $24.65 |
| 30 | New Hampshire | $52,462 | $25.22 |
| 31 | Hawaii | $48,613 | $23.37 |
| 32 | Alaska | $46,846 | $22.52 |
| 33 | New Jersey | $49,563 | $23.83 |
| 34 | Iowa | $48,236 | $23.19 |
| 35 | Delaware | $49,528 | $23.81 |
| 36 | Montana | $45,893 | $22.06 |
| 37 | Nevada | $49,039 | $23.58 |
| 38 | Tennessee | $45,160 | $21.71 |
| 39 | Georgia | $46,935 | $22.56 |
| 40 | Idaho | $46,668 | $22.44 |
| 41 | Wisconsin | $45,311 | $21.78 |
| 42 | New Mexico | $44,938 | $21.60 |
| 43 | Utah | $46,173 | $22.20 |
| 44 | Wyoming | $45,203 | $21.73 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $43,392 | $20.86 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $44,635 | $21.46 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $42,964 | $20.66 |
| 48 | Texas | $43,796 | $21.06 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $43,753 | $21.04 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $42,603 | $20.48 |
| 51 | North Carolina | $43,141 | $20.74 |
Highest paying cities for clinical counselors
The highest-paying cities for clinical counselors are Bethesda, MD, Peoria, AZ, and Spokane, WA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bethesda, MD | $63,310 | $30.44 |
| 2 | Peoria, AZ | $62,420 | $30.01 |
| 3 | Spokane, WA | $61,450 | $29.54 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $60,202 | $28.94 |
| 5 | Saint Louis, MO | $59,457 | $28.59 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $55,598 | $26.73 |
| 7 | San Francisco, CA | $55,516 | $26.69 |
| 8 | Arlington, VA | $54,475 | $26.19 |
| 9 | Denver, CO | $54,181 | $26.05 |
| 10 | Toledo, OH | $54,155 | $26.04 |
| 11 | Scranton, PA | $53,449 | $25.70 |
| 12 | Omaha, NE | $50,410 | $24.24 |
| 13 | Largo, FL | $48,640 | $23.38 |
| 14 | Knoxville, TN | $45,129 | $21.70 |
| 15 | Austin, TX | $43,979 | $21.14 |
| 16 | Stillwater, OK | $43,811 | $21.06 |
| 17 | Spartanburg, SC | $42,795 | $20.57 |
Clinical counselor salary details
A clinical counselor's salary ranges from $43,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $67,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a clinical counselor's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $67,000 | $5,583 | $32 |
| 75th Percentile | $61,000 | $5,083 | $29 |
| Average | $54,191 | $4,516 | $26 |
| 25th Percentile | $48,000 | $4,000 | $23 |
| 10th Percentile | $43,000 | $3,583 | $21 |
Highest paying clinical counselor jobs
The highest paying types of clinical counselors are lead counselor, licensed professional counselor, and clinical social worker.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Counselor Internship | $45,500 | $3,792 | $21.88 | 132,694 |
| Intensive In-Home Counselor | $51,428 | $4,286 | $24.73 | 122,300 |
| Alcohol And Drug Counselor | $45,758 | $3,813 | $22.00 | 77,461 |
| Clinical Therapist | $57,864 | $4,822 | $27.82 | 136,898 |
| Substance Abuse Counselor | $43,069 | $3,589 | $20.71 | 78,643 |
| Licensed Professional Counselor | $94,675 | $7,890 | $45.52 | 153,612 |
Top companies hiring clinical counselors now:
Which companies pay clinical counselors the most?
Clinical counselor salaries at Novo Nordisk and Gilead Sciences are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average clinical counselor salary at companies like San Francisco State University and The LASIK Vision Institute are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Novo Nordisk | $69,847 | $33.58 |
| 2 | Gilead Sciences | $68,423 | $32.90 |
| 3 | San Francisco State University | $65,167 | $31.33 |
| 4 | The LASIK Vision Institute | $64,397 | $30.96 |
| 5 | Loyola Marymount University | $63,927 | $30.73 |
| 6 | University of Illinois Springfield | $62,318 | $29.96 |
| 7 | Cottage Health | $59,719 | $28.71 |
| 8 | Mercy Health | $58,306 | $28.03 |
| 9 | CVS Health | $57,145 | $27.47 |
| 10 | Indiana University Health La Porte Hospital Inc | $57,060 | $27.43 |
| 11 | ProMedica Toledo Hospital | $56,834 | $27.32 |
| 12 | Lighthouse | $56,314 | $27.07 |
| 13 | Lincoln Holdings LLC | $56,023 | $26.93 |
| 14 | Prime Healthcare | $55,791 | $26.82 |
| 15 | Horizon Services | $55,477 | $26.67 |
| 16 | Bon Secours Community Hospital | $55,338 | $26.60 |
| 17 | University of Colorado Boulder | $55,266 | $26.57 |
| 18 | Heritage Operations Group | $55,037 | $26.46 |
| 19 | Winnetka Park District | $54,969 | $26.43 |
| 20 | ProCare Therapy | $54,556 | $26.23 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Clinical Counselor salary by industry
The average clinical counselor salary varies across industries:
- The average clinical counselor salary in the professional industry is $53,306, the highest of any industry.
- The average clinical counselor salary in the finance industry is $50,788.
- Clinical counselors in the non profits industry earn an average salary of $44,344, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for clinical counselors
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Professional | $53,306 | $25.63 |
| 2 | Education | $50,788 | $24.42 |
| 3 | Government | $47,716 | $22.94 |
| 4 | Health Care | $46,185 | $22.20 |
| 5 | Non Profits | $44,344 | $21.32 |
High paying clinical counselor jobs
Clinical counselor salary trends
The average clinical counselor salary has risen by $9,293 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average clinical counselor earned $44,898 annually, but today, they earn $54,191 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for clinical counselors over the last decade.
Compare clinical counselor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average clinical counselor salary over time
Compare clinical counselor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Clinical counselor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $54,200 | $26.05 | +3.0% |
| 2024 | $52,500 | $25.26 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $51,300 | $24.66 | +2.4% |
| 2022 | $50,000 | $24.06 | +1.9% |
| 2021 | $49,100 | $23.60 | +2.2% |
Recently added clinical counselor salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thriveworks | Clinical Professional Counselor In Training (Cpct) | Woodridge, IL | 06/30/2025 | $45,000 |
| Get It-Healthcare | Clinical Counselor-Remote | Millington, TN | 06/29/2025 | $50,000 |
| Ciconix, LLC | Clinical Counselor (Local Remote | US & International Locations) | Gulfport, MS | 06/29/2025 | $65,000 |
| Ciconix, LLC | Clinical Counselor (Local Remote | US & International Locations) | Kane, IL | 06/29/2025 | $65,000 |
| Ciconix, LLC | Clinical Counselor (Local Remote | US & International Locations) | Norfolk, VA | 06/29/2025 | $65,000 |
| Ciconix, LLC | Clinical Counselor (Local Remote | US & International Locations) | Silverdale, WA | 06/29/2025 | $65,000 |
| Ciconix, LLC | Clinical Counselor (Local Remote | US & International Locations) | Hawaii | 06/29/2025 | $65,000 |
| Ciconix, LLC | Clinical Counselor (Local Remote | US & International Locations) | Groton, CT | 06/29/2025 | $65,000 |
| Ciconix, LLC | Clinical Counselor (Local Remote | US & International Locations) | Jacksonville, FL | 06/29/2025 | $65,000 |
| Ciconix, LLC | Clinical Counselor (Local Remote | US & International Locations) | Augusta, GA | 06/29/2025 | $65,000 |
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