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Crisis workers play a crucial role in supporting individuals during emergencies, offering both emotional and practical assistance. As of October 2025, the average salary for a crisis worker is approximately $33,805 annually, translating to about $16 per hour. This figure can change based on experience, location, and specific job responsibilities.
Salaries for crisis workers can vary widely across different states and organizations. For instance, urban areas with higher demand for mental health services often offer competitive salaries compared to rural regions. Additionally, crisis workers with advanced training or specializations may command higher wages.
Many crisis workers find employment in diverse settings, including hospitals, schools, and nonprofit organizations. By building experience and pursuing further education, professionals can advance their careers and potentially increase their earnings. If you're interested in making a difference, consider a career as a crisis worker.
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The average crisis worker salary in New York, Maine, and New Hampshire are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average crisis worker salary states are Alabama, Pennsylvania, and Georgia.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $44,846 | $21.56 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $37,061 | $17.82 |
| 3 | New Hampshire | $37,861 | $18.20 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $37,796 | $18.17 |
| 5 | Maine | $39,088 | $18.79 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $35,087 | $16.87 |
| 7 | Minnesota | $33,197 | $15.96 |
| 8 | North Dakota | $32,343 | $15.55 |
| 9 | Wisconsin | $31,484 | $15.14 |
| 10 | Vermont | $33,004 | $15.87 |
| 11 | Washington | $33,224 | $15.97 |
| 12 | Michigan | $30,147 | $14.49 |
| 13 | Massachusetts | $31,887 | $15.33 |
| 14 | District of Columbia | $32,610 | $15.68 |
| 15 | Illinois | $30,129 | $14.49 |
| 16 | California | $30,900 | $14.86 |
| 17 | Delaware | $28,892 | $13.89 |
| 18 | Ohio | $26,947 | $12.96 |
| 19 | Oregon | $28,634 | $13.77 |
| 20 | Nevada | $27,608 | $13.27 |
| 21 | Iowa | $27,158 | $13.06 |
| 22 | North Carolina | $27,578 | $13.26 |
| 23 | Wyoming | $26,585 | $12.78 |
| 24 | South Dakota | $26,164 | $12.58 |
| 25 | West Virginia | $24,282 | $11.67 |
| 26 | Texas | $25,593 | $12.30 |
| 27 | Kansas | $25,613 | $12.31 |
| 28 | Kentucky | $25,162 | $12.10 |
| 29 | Tennessee | $23,659 | $11.37 |
| 30 | Indiana | $25,153 | $12.09 |
| 31 | Idaho | $26,157 | $12.58 |
| 32 | Alaska | $25,392 | $12.21 |
| 33 | Virginia | $26,729 | $12.85 |
| 34 | Maryland | $27,246 | $13.10 |
| 35 | Montana | $23,945 | $11.51 |
| 36 | Utah | $23,166 | $11.14 |
| 37 | New Mexico | $24,740 | $11.89 |
| 38 | Mississippi | $23,408 | $11.25 |
| 39 | Colorado | $24,611 | $11.83 |
| 40 | Hawaii | $24,725 | $11.89 |
| 41 | Louisiana | $22,507 | $10.82 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $22,744 | $10.93 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $22,114 | $10.63 |
| 44 | Arizona | $22,775 | $10.95 |
| 45 | Florida | $22,281 | $10.71 |
| 46 | Alabama | $21,638 | $10.40 |
| 47 | Pennsylvania | $21,580 | $10.38 |
| 48 | Georgia | $21,331 | $10.26 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $19,751 | $9.50 |
| 50 | Missouri | $19,342 | $9.30 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $16,607 | $7.98 |
The highest-paying cities for crisis workers are Portland, ME, Mansfield, CT, and New Brunswick, NJ.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portland, ME | $39,175 | $18.83 |
| 2 | Mansfield, CT | $38,290 | $18.41 |
| 3 | New Brunswick, NJ | $37,035 | $17.81 |
| 4 | Madison, WI | $30,873 | $14.84 |
| 5 | Chicago, IL | $30,273 | $14.55 |
| 6 | Oakton, VA | $27,567 | $13.25 |
| 7 | Cincinnati, OH | $25,685 | $12.35 |
| 8 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $24,726 | $11.89 |
| 9 | Salt Lake City, UT | $23,156 | $11.13 |
| 10 | Allentown, PA | $22,060 | $10.61 |
A crisis worker's salary ranges from $23,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $49,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $49,000 | $4,083 | $24 |
| 75th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
| Average | $33,805 | $2,817 | $16 |
| 25th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
| 10th Percentile | $23,000 | $1,917 | $11 |
The highest paying types of crisis workers are clinical social worker, clinical supervisor, and clinician.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mental Health Therapist | $50,259 | $4,188 | $24.16 | 114,386 |
| Mental Health Professional | $49,119 | $4,093 | $23.61 | 109,499 |
| Employment Counselor | $43,848 | $3,654 | $21.08 | 29,459 |
| Clinician | $60,150 | $5,012 | $28.92 | 105,023 |
| Clinical Externship | $35,831 | $2,986 | $17.23 | 63,061 |
| Clinical Supervisor | $61,616 | $5,135 | $29.62 | 71,220 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for crisis workers, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Sarah Christa Butts MSW
Director of Public Policy, National Association of Social Workers
Crisis worker salaries at Northwestern Medicine and Chautauqua Opportunities are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average crisis worker salary at companies like St Luke's Hospital & Health Network Inc and Grand View Health are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northwestern Medicine | $38,235 | $18.38 |
| 2 | Chautauqua Opportunities | $37,308 | $17.94 |
| 3 | St Luke's Hospital & Health Network Inc | $35,913 | $17.27 |
| 4 | Grand View Health | $35,737 | $17.18 |
| 5 | Community Treatment Alternatives, a program of Journey Mental Health Center | $35,541 | $17.09 |
| 6 | RWJBarnabas Health | $35,355 | $17.00 |
| 7 | Kenosha Human Development Services | $34,652 | $16.66 |
| 8 | Monadnock Community Hospital | $34,511 | $16.59 |
| 9 | St. Luke's Health System | $34,342 | $16.51 |
| 10 | Maine Health/maine Mental Health Partners | $34,321 | $16.50 |
| 11 | Eastern Connecticut Health Network (echn) | $34,305 | $16.49 |
| 12 | Hawaii Pacific Health | $34,159 | $16.42 |
| 13 | Sinai Chicago | $33,877 | $16.29 |
| 14 | Ellis Medicine | $33,672 | $16.19 |
| 15 | Sweetser | $33,526 | $16.12 |
| 16 | Children's Home & Aid | $33,329 | $16.02 |
| 17 | Canvas Health | $32,755 | $15.75 |
| 18 | G4S | $32,479 | $15.61 |
| 19 | Prs | $32,380 | $15.57 |
| 20 | Monster Products | $32,124 | $15.44 |
The average crisis worker salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hospitality | $36,537 | $17.57 |
| 2 | Professional | $33,122 | $15.92 |
| 3 | Health Care | $32,267 | $15.51 |
| 4 | Government | $29,973 | $14.41 |
| 5 | Non Profits | $29,615 | $14.24 |
The average crisis worker salary has risen by $6,585 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average crisis worker earned $27,220 annually, but today, they earn $33,805 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for crisis workers over the last decade.
Compare crisis worker salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare crisis worker salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $33,800 | $16.25 | +4.2% |
| 2024 | $32,400 | $15.56 | +3.9% |
| 2023 | $31,100 | $14.96 | +3.5% |
| 2022 | $30,000 | $14.43 | +1.3% |
| 2021 | $29,600 | $14.24 | +1.2% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Children's Village, Inc. | MST Psych Crisis Caseworker | New York, NY | 06/16/2025 | $57,330 |
| Thresholds | Crisis Worker-Mobile Crisis Response-3Rd Shift Sundays | Chicago, IL | 06/11/2025 | $54,784 |
| Northeast Counseling Services | Crisis Worker | Nanticoke, PA | 06/05/2025 | $33,000 |
| State of Maine | Crisis Team Worker | Caribou, ME | 05/29/2025 | $49,107 |
| PRS, Inc. | Crisis Hotline Worker | Oakton, VA | 05/24/2025 | $35,479 |
| Children's Home Society of South Dakota | Night Crisis Worker | Sioux Falls, SD | 05/22/2025 | $41,740 |
| Western Montana Mental Health Center | Crisis Stabilization Worker | Missoula, MT | 05/17/2025 | $35,479 |
| The Opportunity Alliance | Residential Crisis Worker-Overnight Shift | Portland, ME | 05/16/2025 | $45,914 |
| Prestera Health Services | Mobile Crisis Worker | Charleston, WV | 05/15/2025 | $54,992 |
| Access Services | Overdose Crisis Worker | Plymouth, PA | 05/13/2025 | $43,827 |
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