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Family counselor salary
Average family counselor salary
$41,510
Understanding Family Counselor Salaries
As of October 2025, family counselors earn an average salary of $41,510 per year, translating to about $20 per hour. This figure can vary significantly based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and the specific industry of employment. For instance, family counselors in states like California and New York tend to have higher salaries due to the cost of living and demand for mental health services.
Salary by State
In states with a high demand for mental health services, such as Massachusetts and New Jersey, family counselors can earn salaries exceeding the national average. Additionally, urban areas often provide more opportunities, leading to competitive compensation. Here’s a brief overview of average family counselor salaries by state:
- California: $55,000
- New York: $53,000
- Texas: $40,000
- Florida: $39,000
Factors influencing these salaries include the level of education, certifications obtained, and the type of employer, such as private practices or public agencies. Overall, the field of family counseling is expanding, providing promising job prospects and the potential for career growth.
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Where can a Family Counselor earn more?
Family counselor salary estimates from across the web
Average family counselor salary by state
The average family counselor salary in New York, Pennsylvania, and Oregon are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average family counselor salary states are Tennessee, Montana, and Florida.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for family counselors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pennsylvania | $53,404 | $25.68 |
| 2 | Oregon | $51,611 | $24.81 |
| 3 | New York | $53,690 | $25.81 |
| 4 | Minnesota | $50,614 | $24.33 |
| 5 | Alaska | $49,027 | $23.57 |
| 6 | Texas | $50,112 | $24.09 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $48,858 | $23.49 |
| 8 | North Dakota | $44,701 | $21.49 |
| 9 | Wyoming | $46,842 | $22.52 |
| 10 | Colorado | $46,150 | $22.19 |
| 11 | Illinois | $45,112 | $21.69 |
| 12 | Iowa | $45,231 | $21.75 |
| 13 | Alabama | $47,448 | $22.81 |
| 14 | Maryland | $45,112 | $21.69 |
| 15 | Idaho | $43,705 | $21.01 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $44,990 | $21.63 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | $44,395 | $21.34 |
| 18 | Michigan | $41,447 | $19.93 |
| 19 | Washington | $41,265 | $19.84 |
| 20 | Arizona | $41,177 | $19.80 |
| 21 | Kentucky | $43,388 | $20.86 |
| 22 | Georgia | $41,563 | $19.98 |
| 23 | Kansas | $43,233 | $20.79 |
| 24 | Maine | $37,026 | $17.80 |
| 25 | Connecticut | $40,565 | $19.50 |
| 26 | Indiana | $39,655 | $19.06 |
| 27 | Wisconsin | $41,839 | $20.11 |
| 28 | Nebraska | $40,949 | $19.69 |
| 29 | Massachusetts | $37,245 | $17.91 |
| 30 | Utah | $42,276 | $20.32 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $38,954 | $18.73 |
| 32 | District of Columbia | $44,936 | $21.60 |
| 33 | Hawaii | $41,610 | $20.00 |
| 34 | Oklahoma | $40,773 | $19.60 |
| 35 | Virginia | $43,533 | $20.93 |
| 36 | Nevada | $40,259 | $19.36 |
| 37 | California | $39,565 | $19.02 |
| 38 | New Hampshire | $36,663 | $17.63 |
| 39 | Montana | $35,762 | $17.19 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $37,130 | $17.85 |
| 41 | Vermont | $36,496 | $17.55 |
| 42 | Mississippi | $39,112 | $18.80 |
| 43 | Delaware | $39,889 | $19.18 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $36,710 | $17.65 |
| 45 | Ohio | $37,269 | $17.92 |
| 46 | Florida | $35,452 | $17.04 |
| 47 | Tennessee | $36,257 | $17.43 |
| 48 | North Carolina | $37,269 | $17.92 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $34,322 | $16.50 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $30,770 | $14.79 |
| 51 | Missouri | $33,766 | $16.23 |
Highest paying cities for family counselors
The highest-paying cities for family counselors are New York, NY, Salem, OR, and Fort Hood, TX.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $53,890 | $25.91 |
| 2 | Salem, OR | $51,691 | $24.85 |
| 3 | Fort Hood, TX | $50,095 | $24.08 |
| 4 | Opelika, AL | $47,371 | $22.77 |
| 5 | Aurora, CO | $46,134 | $22.18 |
| 6 | Evanston, IL | $45,441 | $21.85 |
| 7 | Washington, DC | $44,947 | $21.61 |
| 8 | Charleston, WV | $44,130 | $21.22 |
| 9 | Portsmouth, VA | $43,376 | $20.85 |
| 10 | Columbus, GA | $41,713 | $20.05 |
| 11 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $41,638 | $20.02 |
| 12 | Carson City, NV | $41,469 | $19.94 |
| 13 | Lansing, MI | $41,413 | $19.91 |
| 14 | San Francisco, CA | $40,787 | $19.61 |
| 15 | Dover, DE | $39,882 | $19.17 |
| 16 | Jackson, MS | $39,183 | $18.84 |
| 17 | Clovis, NM | $38,380 | $18.45 |
| 18 | Greenville, NC | $37,950 | $18.25 |
| 19 | Worcester, MA | $37,550 | $18.05 |
| 20 | Columbus, OH | $36,823 | $17.70 |
Family counselor salary details
A family counselor's salary ranges from $27,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $62,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a family counselor's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $62,000 | $5,167 | $30 |
| 75th Percentile | $51,000 | $4,250 | $25 |
| Average | $41,510 | $3,459 | $20 |
| 25th Percentile | $33,000 | $2,750 | $16 |
| 10th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
Highest paying family counselor jobs
The highest paying types of family counselors are counselor/art therapist, clinical counselor, and intensive in-home counselor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Counselor/Art Therapist | $79,417 | $6,618 | $38.18 | 80,647 |
| 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 |
| Substance Abuse Counselor | $43,069 | $3,589 | $20.71 | 78,643 |
| Community Health Counselor | $43,304 | $3,609 | $20.82 | 131,804 |
Top companies hiring family counselors now:
Which companies pay family counselors the most?
Family counselor salaries at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab and Leidos are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average family counselor salary at companies like Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan and Broward County Public Schools are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shirley Ryan AbilityLab | $53,293 | $25.62 |
| 2 | Leidos | $50,691 | $24.37 |
| 3 | Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan | $47,163 | $22.67 |
| 4 | Broward County Public Schools | $45,372 | $21.81 |
| 5 | University of Rochester | $44,971 | $21.62 |
| 6 | Zeiders Enterprises | $44,111 | $21.21 |
| 7 | Children's Home & Aid | $42,902 | $20.63 |
| 8 | Seneca Resources | $41,896 | $20.14 |
| 9 | Youth Villages | $40,551 | $19.50 |
| 10 | Spectrum Health | $39,619 | $19.05 |
| 11 | The Children's Institute of Pittsburgh | $39,422 | $18.95 |
| 12 | The Cove School | $39,420 | $18.95 |
| 13 | SCO Family of Services | $39,164 | $18.83 |
| 14 | CHILDREN'S BUREAU INC | $38,747 | $18.63 |
| 15 | Seneca Companies | $38,246 | $18.39 |
| 16 | Sweetser | $37,751 | $18.15 |
| 17 | Chenega | $37,737 | $18.14 |
| 18 | Victor | $37,737 | $18.14 |
| 19 | Children's Home Society of Florida | $37,588 | $18.07 |
| 20 | Serco | $37,147 | $17.86 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Family Counselor salary by industry
The average family counselor salary varies across industries:
- The average family counselor salary in the professional industry is $40,967, the highest of any industry.
- The average family counselor salary in the finance industry is $40,422.
- Family counselors in the pharmaceutical industry earn an average salary of $33,192, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for family counselors
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Professional | $40,967 | $19.70 |
| 2 | Government | $40,422 | $19.43 |
| 3 | Health Care | $40,295 | $19.37 |
| 4 | Finance | $38,316 | $18.42 |
| 5 | Non Profits | $37,950 | $18.25 |
| 6 | Pharmaceutical | $33,192 | $15.96 |
High paying family counselor jobs
Family counselor salary trends
The average family counselor salary has risen by $4,124 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average family counselor earned $37,386 annually, but today, they earn $41,510 a year. That works out to a 4% change in pay for family counselors over the last decade.
Compare family counselor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average family counselor salary over time
Compare family counselor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Family counselor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $41,500 | $19.96 | +3.4% |
| 2024 | $40,100 | $19.28 | -1.0% |
| 2023 | $40,500 | $19.47 | +2.6% |
| 2022 | $39,400 | $18.97 | -0.8% |
| 2021 | $39,800 | $19.11 | +1.2% |
Recently added family counselor salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Magellan Health | Military and Family Life Counselor-Short Term Assignments or On Demand | Coraopolis, PA | 06/30/2025 | $59,922 |
| Leidos Holdings Inc. | Military Family Life Counselor (Child Development Center) | Oceanside, CA | 06/27/2025 | $57,850 |
| Magellan Federal | Military Family Life Counselor | Bethesda, MD | 06/27/2025 | $59,922 |
| Msccn | Military & Family Life Counselor-Fort | Fort Knox, KY | 06/26/2025 | $59,922 |
| Highfields Inc. | FPP Family Counselor-Lenawee County | Jackson, MI | 06/25/2025 | $43,000 |
| Brightpoint | Family Counselor | Granite City, IL | 06/24/2025 | $47,221 |
| Victor Careers | Family Support Counselor-Bilingual Preferred | Hemet, CA | 06/20/2025 | $44,891 |
| Leidos Holdings Inc. | School Military and Family Life Counselor-Jblm | Tacoma, WA | 06/19/2025 | $55,250 |
| Buckeye Ranch | Functional Family Counselor/Social Worker Bonus | Whitehall, OH | 06/19/2025 | $49,550 |
| Leidos Holdings Inc. | Military and Family Life Counselor-Fort | Leesville, LA | 06/18/2025 | $57,850 |
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