Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The average salary for a counselor internship in the United States is $45,500 per year or $22 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly based on factors such as location, experience, and the specific field of counseling. For instance, interns in high-demand areas or specialized fields may see higher compensation.
Counselor interns can increase their earning potential by seeking positions in states with higher average salaries. For example, states like California and New York typically offer better compensation compared to others. Additionally, internships in sectors such as mental health and school counseling may present more lucrative opportunities.
Many organizations, including schools, hospitals, and community service agencies, offer counselor internships. These positions not only provide essential hands-on experience but also pave the way for future employment opportunities in the counseling field. To find the latest openings tailored to your interests, visit Zippia’s job board.
Let Zippia find your next counselor internship job
Let Zippia find your next counselor internship job
The average counselor internship salary in Washington, Illinois, and West Virginia are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average counselor internship salary states are Florida, Indiana, and Mississippi.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $51,908 | $24.96 |
| 2 | Illinois | $49,266 | $23.69 |
| 3 | New Mexico | $46,470 | $22.34 |
| 4 | North Dakota | $47,120 | $22.65 |
| 5 | California | $47,725 | $22.94 |
| 6 | Maine | $43,172 | $20.76 |
| 7 | Tennessee | $46,276 | $22.25 |
| 8 | Alaska | $46,255 | $22.24 |
| 9 | West Virginia | $47,948 | $23.05 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $42,143 | $20.26 |
| 11 | New York | $44,404 | $21.35 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $45,409 | $21.83 |
| 13 | Georgia | $45,119 | $21.69 |
| 14 | Oregon | $43,795 | $21.06 |
| 15 | Nebraska | $43,705 | $21.01 |
| 16 | Ohio | $44,451 | $21.37 |
| 17 | Massachusetts | $42,446 | $20.41 |
| 18 | Utah | $44,804 | $21.54 |
| 19 | Colorado | $43,426 | $20.88 |
| 20 | Louisiana | $42,604 | $20.48 |
| 21 | Kansas | $44,685 | $21.48 |
| 22 | Connecticut | $42,281 | $20.33 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | $44,072 | $21.19 |
| 24 | Vermont | $42,967 | $20.66 |
| 25 | Virginia | $43,898 | $21.10 |
| 26 | Hawaii | $44,124 | $21.21 |
| 27 | Nevada | $41,814 | $20.10 |
| 28 | South Carolina | $39,693 | $19.08 |
| 29 | District of Columbia | $44,310 | $21.30 |
| 30 | Iowa | $40,807 | $19.62 |
| 31 | New Hampshire | $40,973 | $19.70 |
| 32 | Montana | $38,219 | $18.37 |
| 33 | New Jersey | $39,705 | $19.09 |
| 34 | Minnesota | $38,550 | $18.53 |
| 35 | Texas | $40,127 | $19.29 |
| 36 | Wyoming | $37,241 | $17.90 |
| 37 | Maryland | $39,929 | $19.20 |
| 38 | Arizona | $37,431 | $18.00 |
| 39 | Alabama | $40,315 | $19.38 |
| 40 | Idaho | $37,616 | $18.08 |
| 41 | Michigan | $36,631 | $17.61 |
| 42 | Delaware | $37,983 | $18.26 |
| 43 | South Dakota | $37,262 | $17.91 |
| 44 | Florida | $36,557 | $17.58 |
| 45 | Missouri | $37,494 | $18.03 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $36,742 | $17.66 |
| 47 | Indiana | $35,785 | $17.20 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $34,159 | $16.42 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $35,390 | $17.01 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $34,695 | $16.68 |
| 51 | North Carolina | $34,620 | $16.64 |
The highest-paying cities for counselor interns are Chicago, IL, San Francisco, CA, and Alpharetta, GA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago, IL | $49,318 | $23.71 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $48,419 | $23.28 |
| 3 | Alpharetta, GA | $45,351 | $21.80 |
| 4 | Cleveland, OH | $44,886 | $21.58 |
| 5 | Eau Claire, WI | $44,684 | $21.48 |
| 6 | White Plains, NY | $44,400 | $21.35 |
| 7 | Beaverton, OR | $43,851 | $21.08 |
| 8 | Castle Rock, CO | $43,279 | $20.81 |
| 9 | Hamden, CT | $42,270 | $20.32 |
| 10 | Fitchburg, MA | $42,267 | $20.32 |
| 11 | Des Moines, IA | $40,727 | $19.58 |
| 12 | Kyle, TX | $40,312 | $19.38 |
| 13 | Columbia, SC | $39,818 | $19.14 |
| 14 | Brooklyn Park, MN | $38,579 | $18.55 |
| 15 | Pensacola, FL | $37,962 | $18.25 |
| 16 | Columbia, MO | $37,570 | $18.06 |
| 17 | Glendale, AZ | $37,498 | $18.03 |
| 18 | Charlotte, NC | $34,355 | $16.52 |
Counselor Interns are the most in-demand in these five cities:
A counselor internship's salary ranges from $31,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $65,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $65,000 | $5,417 | $31 |
| 75th Percentile | $55,000 | $4,583 | $26 |
| Average | $45,500 | $3,792 | $22 |
| 25th Percentile | $37,000 | $3,083 | $18 |
| 10th Percentile | $31,000 | $2,583 | $15 |
The highest paying types of counselor interns are intensive in-home counselor, crisis counselor, and school counselor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intensive In-Home Counselor | $51,428 | $4,286 | $24.73 | 122,300 |
| Alcohol And Drug Counselor | $45,758 | $3,813 | $22.00 | 77,461 |
| Community Health Counselor | $43,304 | $3,609 | $20.82 | 131,804 |
| Substance Abuse Counselor | $43,069 | $3,589 | $20.71 | 78,643 |
| Student Support Counselor | $41,329 | $3,444 | $19.87 | 134,839 |
| Rehabilitation Counselor | $43,111 | $3,593 | $20.73 | 77,220 |
Top companies hiring counselor interns now:
Counselor internship salaries at The Travelers Companies and Brave Care are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average counselor internship salary at companies like The Chicago High School for the Arts and University of California, Berkeley are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Travelers Companies | $63,987 | $30.76 |
| 2 | Brave Care | $57,262 | $27.53 |
| 3 | The Chicago High School for the Arts | $57,088 | $27.45 |
| 4 | University of California-Berkeley | $55,075 | $26.48 |
| 5 | Napa County, California | $53,543 | $25.74 |
| 6 | Acadia Healthcare | $53,078 | $25.52 |
| 7 | Chicago Public Schools | $51,363 | $24.69 |
| 8 | Iowa Department of Transportation | $51,233 | $24.63 |
| 9 | Marymount Manhattan College | $49,115 | $23.61 |
| 10 | Addiction Recovery Care | $48,669 | $23.40 |
| 11 | Meridian Behavioral Healthcare | $47,954 | $23.05 |
| 12 | Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania | $47,555 | $22.86 |
| 13 | Seafield Services | $46,775 | $22.49 |
| 14 | Tarzana Treatment Centers | $46,088 | $22.16 |
| 15 | HealthRIGHT 360 | $45,650 | $21.95 |
| 16 | RAMS | $45,598 | $21.92 |
| 17 | Midwest Holding Inc | $45,328 | $21.79 |
| 18 | CommunityHealthlink | $45,145 | $21.70 |
| 19 | Delta College | $44,250 | $21.27 |
| 20 | Center for Families & Children Inc. | $43,657 | $20.99 |
The average counselor internship salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Finance | $51,629 | $24.82 |
| 2 | Education | $48,937 | $23.53 |
| 3 | Government | $48,884 | $23.50 |
| 4 | Health Care | $47,199 | $22.69 |
| 5 | Professional | $46,586 | $22.40 |
| 6 | Non Profits | $43,277 | $20.81 |
The average counselor internship salary has risen by $7,802 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average counselor internship earned $37,698 annually, but today, they earn $45,500 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for counselor interns over the last decade.
Compare counselor internship salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare counselor internship salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $45,500 | $21.88 | +3.0% |
| 2025 | $44,100 | $21.21 | +2.4% |
| 2024 | $43,100 | $20.71 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $42,000 | $20.20 | +1.9% |
| 2022 | $41,200 | $19.81 | +2.2% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In House Jobs | Jdhuntr | In House Counsel Jobs California | Jdhuntr 54313 Intern, Federal Affairs, Legislative (Remote), Wash | Washington, DC | 06/29/2025 | $35,479 |
| Volunteers of America-Florida | Counselor Registered Intern | Cocoa, FL | 06/18/2025 | $45,413 |
| Palm Beach State College | Intern, Student Counseling Center | Lake Worth, FL | 06/13/2025 | $36,523 |
| Salt Lake City School District | Hourly Counselor Internship FTE (708) | Salt Lake City, UT | 06/06/2025 | $42,387 |
| In House Jobs | Jdhuntr | In House Counsel Jobs California | Jdhuntr 54313 Intern, Federal Affairs, Legislative (Remote), Wash | Washington, DC | 05/26/2025 | $35,479 |
| Chicago Lighthouse | Summer Intern-Counselor | Chicago, IL | 05/16/2025 | $41,740 |
| LSS of South Dakota | Residential Counselor/Worker Internship, Summit Oaks Center | Sioux Falls, SD | 05/16/2025 | $37,566 |
| Lutheran Social Service | Residential Counselor/Worker Internship, Summit Oaks Centers | Sioux Falls, SD | 05/16/2025 | $37,566 |
| Achievement Centers for Children | Overnight Camp Counselor-Great Student Internship | Strongsville, OH | 05/13/2025 | $24,783 |
| Lutheran Social Service | Residential Counselor/Worker Intern, Summit Oaks Center | Sioux Falls, SD | 04/28/2025 | $37,566 |
Search for counselor internship jobs