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How to hire a crisis intervention counselor

Crisis intervention counselor hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring crisis intervention counselors in the United States:

  • The median cost to hire a crisis intervention counselor is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
  • Small businesses spend $1,105 per crisis intervention counselor on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • There are a total of 7,392 crisis intervention counselors in the US, and there are currently 30,988 job openings in this field.
  • Las Vegas, NV, has the highest demand for crisis intervention counselors, with 4 job openings.

How to hire a crisis intervention counselor, step by step

To hire a crisis intervention counselor, you need to identify the specific skills and experience you want in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and advertise the job opening to attract potential candidates. To hire a crisis intervention counselor, you should follow these steps:

Here's a step-by-step crisis intervention counselor hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a crisis intervention counselor job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new crisis intervention counselor
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    The crisis intervention counselor hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a crisis intervention counselor to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a crisis intervention counselor that fits the bill.

    This list presents crisis intervention counselor salaries for various positions.

    Type of Crisis Intervention CounselorDescriptionHourly rate
    Crisis Intervention CounselorMental health counselors and marriage and family therapists help people manage and overcome mental and emotional disorders and problems with family and other relationships. They listen to clients and ask questions to help the clients understand their problems and develop strategies to improve their lives.$18-34
    Graduate ClinicianA Graduate Clinician provides speech and language therapy for students. They develop transitional programs for students in preparation for post-graduation.$20-41
    Counselor InternshipWhen it comes to Counselor Internship, among the primary responsibilities is to assist in dealing with various activities such as preparing and verifying necessary documentation, observing consultations and outreach programs, guide clients and help develop multiple helpful strategies, and provide assessments. Furthermore, one can conduct counseling and consultation only under supervision... Show more$14-31
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Social Work
    • Behavioral Problems
    • Safety Planning
    • Mental Health Crisis
    • Hotline Calls
    • Child Abuse
    • Emergency Room
    • Crisis Assessment
    • Suicide Prevention
    • Intake Interviews
    • Law Enforcement
    • Domestic Violence
    • Sexual Assault
    • Crisis Situations
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Conduct group check-in and co-lead group psychotherapy sessions to help clients identify and manage problems associate with psychiatric conditions.
    • Conduct group check-in and co-lead group psychotherapy sessions to help clients identify and manage problems associate with psychiatric conditions.
    • Organize and lead regular youth and college bible studies, teaching about prayer and promoting spirituality.
    More crisis intervention counselor duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your crisis intervention counselor job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A crisis intervention counselor can vary based on:

    • Location. For example, crisis intervention counselors' average salary in louisiana is 43% less than in massachusetts.
    • Seniority. Entry-level crisis intervention counselors 46% less than senior-level crisis intervention counselors.
    • Certifications. A crisis intervention counselor with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a crisis intervention counselor's salary.

    Average crisis intervention counselor salary

    $52,041yearly

    $25.02 hourly rate

    Entry-level crisis intervention counselor salary
    $38,000 yearly salary
    Updated January 21, 2026

    Average crisis intervention counselor salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1Massachusetts$70,178$34
    2California$66,152$32
    3New York$64,011$31
    4Maryland$63,143$30
    5Oregon$62,205$30
    6Pennsylvania$58,941$28
    7Maine$51,690$25
    8Utah$46,935$23
    9Minnesota$45,965$22
    10Missouri$45,254$22
    11Tennessee$43,991$21
    12Georgia$42,065$20
    13Florida$40,343$19

    Average crisis intervention counselor salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Sante Group$56,653$27.248
    2Boston Scientific$55,980$26.911
    3St Joseph Medical Group$52,167$25.089
    4WellSpan Health$51,410$24.7217
    5Access International, Inc.$50,833$24.441
    6Key Autism Services$50,515$24.29
    7Behavioral Health Response$50,383$24.221
    8Cleveland High School$50,270$24.17
    9City of Union City$49,411$23.76
    10Boston Medical Center$48,943$23.532
    11City of Portland$47,676$22.92
    12The Opportunity Alliance$46,787$22.492
    13University of Florida$44,619$21.457
    14Good Shepherd Services$44,335$21.3110
    15San Diego Youth Services$43,702$21.01
    16Metro Nashville$43,413$20.87
    17LifeBridge Health$41,265$19.84
    18East Bay Agency for Children$40,773$19.602
    19State of Georgia: Teachers Retirement System of Georgia$39,253$18.8724
  4. Writing a crisis intervention counselor job description

    A crisis intervention counselor job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a crisis intervention counselor job description:

    Crisis intervention counselor job description example

    Access Services is seeking to hire a high-energy and self-motivated Crisis Intervention Counselor to join our Montgomery County Mobile Crisis team, with an office based out of Plymouth Meeting, PA.
    *$1,000 HIRING BONUS!

    Montgomery County Mobile Crisis offers 24/7 support to people of all ages in difficult times. Individuals in crisis can speak with a counselor regarding mental health, addiction, trauma, etc., either by phone/video or in-person in their homes or communities.

    As a Crisis Intervention Counselor, you will have the opportunity to provide meaningful counseling, help individuals in need to develop coping strategies, and facilitate linkage to other agencies or community resources that can be of assistance to our clients.

    Crisis intervention work is excellent, diversified experience for those looking to pursue a career in social services. You will meet people from all walks of life and have a chance to make a real impact in critical moments.

    Visit our Facebook page to get a glimpse of what we do!

    Work Schedule:

    40 hours per week. 5 days per week, 8-hour shifts.

    Shifts can occur on weekdays or weekends.

    Schedules vary from week to week. Typically, Crisis staff will work a combination of the following shifts: 8 AM to 4 PM; 2 PM to 10 PM; 10 AM to 6 PM; 12pm to 8pm.

    Monthly schedules are provided 2-3 weeks in advance.

    After the first 90 days of employment, Crisis staff will work approx. 2 overnight shifts per month.

    Requirements

    Key Responsibilities:

    Provide immediate access to “hands-on” crisis support through phone counseling and mobile in-person crisis intervention

    Provide rapid and effective assessment, support, hospitalization (when necessary), linkage to community resources, crisis prevention planning, and follow up

    Develop and write action plans in a timely manner with clear and measurable outcomes

    Participate in assertive outreach to individuals identified to be high users of crisis services

    Complete progress notes and required documentation in a timely manner for each individual served

    Qualifications:

    Bachelor's degree in a related field such as psychology, social work, etc. (required)

    Some prior work or internship experience related to mental health (strongly preferred)

    Valid driver's license with 2+ years of driving experience, reliable vehicle, and adequate car insurance (required)

    No Driver's License suspensions in the last 48 months

    Benefits

    Compensation:

    Starting rate of $19.24/hourly for candidates with bachelor's degrees

    Starting rate of $20.20/hourly for candidates with master's degrees

    Rates are negotiable based on experience in the field

    Benefits:

    All employees: Mileage reimbursement and paid travel time between worksites; Discounts on various services, gyms & retail shopping; Referral bonuses, Employee Assistance Program.

    20 days of PTO; 9 paid holidays 401K, Health/Vision/Dental insurance; Health Savings Account; Life/Disability insurance, Tuition Reimbursement, Student Loan Assistance.

    Access Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

    #BH123
  5. Post your job

    There are various strategies that you can use to find the right crisis intervention counselor for your business:

    • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your crisis intervention counselor job on Zippia to find and recruit crisis intervention counselor candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Recruiting crisis intervention counselors requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

    You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new crisis intervention counselor

    Once you have selected a candidate for the crisis intervention counselor position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

    It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new crisis intervention counselor. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a crisis intervention counselor?

Hiring a crisis intervention counselor comes with both the one-time cost per hire and ongoing costs. The cost of recruiting crisis intervention counselors involves promoting the job and spending time conducting interviews. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider the cost of crisis intervention counselor recruiting as well the ongoing costs of maintaining the new employee.

The median annual salary for crisis intervention counselors is $52,041 in the US. However, the cost of crisis intervention counselor hiring can vary a lot depending on location. Additionally, hiring a crisis intervention counselor for contract work or on a per-project basis typically costs between $18 and $34 an hour.

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