Post job

How to hire a licensed professional counselor

Licensed professional counselor hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring licensed professional counselors in the United States:

  • HR departments typically spend 15% of their expenses on recruitment.
  • It usually takes about 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • It typically takes 36-42 days to fill a job opening.
  • The median cost to hire a licensed professional counselor is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend an average of $1,105 per licensed professional counselor on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • There are currently 32,941 licensed professional counselors in the US and 153,612 job openings.
  • New York, NY, has the highest demand for licensed professional counselors, with 15 job openings.
  • Dallas, TX has the highest concentration of licensed professional counselors.

How to hire a licensed professional counselor, step by step

To hire a licensed professional counselor, you should create an ideal candidate profile, determine a budget, and post and promote your job. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a licensed professional counselor:

Here's a step-by-step licensed professional 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 licensed professional counselor job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new licensed professional counselor
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a licensed professional counselor do?

A licensed professional counselor is a healthcare professional who specializes in providing therapy and counseling to patients with emotional and mental health issues. They listen to their patients and utilize various techniques to address concerns and help through the healing procedures. Their duties entail conducting interviews and evaluations, performing research and assessments, studying the patients' medical histories, providing consultations, and developing treatment plans that suit every patients' needs. Additionally, a licensed professional counselor monitors and records their patients' progress, adjusting treatments and medications as necessary.

Learn more about the specifics of what a licensed professional counselor does
jobs
Post a licensed professional counselor job for free, promote it for a fee
  1. Identify your hiring needs

    The licensed professional 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?

    A licensed professional counselor's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, licensed professional counselors from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

    The following list breaks down different types of licensed professional counselors and their corresponding salaries.

    Type of Licensed Professional CounselorDescriptionHourly rate
    Licensed Professional 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.$35-58
    ClinicianA clinician specializes in providing diagnosis, treatment, and direct care to patients with different illnesses. A clinician's duties mainly revolve around conducting extensive research and analysis, providing medical care through various therapies, and improving one's overall health condition... Show more$16-49
    Primary TherapistPrimary therapists are the main point of contact for patients concerning wellness and overall mental health. Those who choose this career path will be expected to supervise and manage efficient treatment according to plan, and to manage between six and eight patients at a time, keeping in constant communication with these patients and various specialists.$20-39
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Patients
    • Social Work
    • LPC
    • Real Estate
    • Individual Therapy
    • Crisis Intervention
    • Mental Health
    • Community Resources
    • Rehabilitation
    • Mental Illness
    • Discharge Planning
    • HIPAA
    • Therapeutic Services
    • Substance Abuse Issues
    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.
    • Provide clinical supervision to LPC candidates, contract clinicians and counseling psychology practicum/internship students.
    • Assign, direct, and provide supervision of screening assessment complete by LPC and LCSW.
    • Conduct intakes and assessments on new admissions and recommend placement into services base on ASAM criteria.
    • Coordinate with the patient's family, attending physician, other hospitals and agencies following HIPAA standards.
    • Specialize in OCD and animal assist psychotherapy.
    More licensed professional counselor duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in the licensed professional counselor job description is a good way to get more applicants. A licensed professional counselor salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

    For example, the average salary for a licensed professional counselor in South Carolina may be lower than in New York, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level licensed professional counselor. Additionally, a licensed professional counselor with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

    Average licensed professional counselor salary

    $94,675yearly

    $45.52 hourly rate

    Entry-level licensed professional counselor salary
    $73,000 yearly salary
    Updated January 19, 2026

    Average licensed professional counselor salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1New York$114,019$55
    2Washington$112,312$54
    3Oregon$111,071$53
    4Maine$110,508$53
    5Arizona$109,803$53
    6California$108,485$52
    7Missouri$104,068$50
    8Rhode Island$102,693$49
    9Massachusetts$101,584$49
    10Ohio$97,241$47
    11Virginia$96,640$46
    12West Virginia$95,601$46
    13New Jersey$93,356$45
    14Nebraska$92,887$45
    15New Hampshire$92,428$44
    16Pennsylvania$89,986$43
    17Alabama$88,491$43
    18Illinois$88,141$42
    19Delaware$87,324$42
    20Maryland$85,193$41

    Average licensed professional counselor salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Bloomberg$106,340$51.1311
    2Dolby Laboratories$100,939$48.53
    3Berkshire Hathaway$100,245$48.194
    4Guarantee Real Estate$99,931$48.04
    5Roberts Brothers$99,899$48.03
    6Cressy & Everett Real Estate$99,844$48.00
    7Your Castle Real Estate$99,833$48.00
    8RE/MAX Northwest$99,802$47.98
    9Lyon Real Estate$99,784$47.97
    10United Real Estate$99,747$47.96
    11HUNT Real Estate ERA$99,736$47.95
    12Randall Realtors$99,707$47.94
    13Coldwell Banker Real Estate Group$99,701$47.93
    14Berkshire Hathaway Homeservices Alliance Real Estate$99,677$47.92
    15PMZ Real Estate$99,673$47.92
    16Comey & Shepherd$99,662$47.91
    17Carpenter Realtors$99,657$47.91
    18Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors$99,656$47.91
    19Semonin Realtors$99,650$47.91
    20Intero Real Estate Services$99,648$47.91
  4. Writing a licensed professional counselor job description

    A licensed professional 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. Below, you can find an example of a licensed professional counselor job description:

    Licensed professional counselor job description example

    1. Interview and assess patients and family members to obtain information about home environment, family relationships, health history, and patient's personality traits.

    2. Evaluates data gathered in terms of the medical plan of treatment, available community resources, and creates a plan that will provide each patient with maximum benefit.

    3. Demonstrates competency to develop helping relationships with patients and their family members.

    4. Demonstrates the knowledge of and sensitivity to a variety of cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

    5. Demonstrates awareness of personal and professional limitations as well as the limitations of the institution and makes referrals accordingly.

    4. Assists patients and families to understand and follow medical recommendations.

    5. Utilizes resources to help patient resume life in the community following discharge.

    6. Communicates effectively with co-workers, medical staff and other departments for continuity of patient care, using verbal, nonverbal and written communication skills.

    7. Participates in planning conferences.

    8. Demonstrates an ability to set priorities in directing appropriate patient care, functions in an organized and time conscious manner and maintains complete accountability for actions taken.

    9. Assist in developing discharge and post hospital care plans.

    10. Collaborates with other hospital programs and community agencies with which patients and families are involved.

    11. Prepares and maintains required documentation on each case.

    12. Provides quality counseling and support to patients and families experiencing the crisis of injury and/or death.

    13. Participates, as directed, in the Quality Improvement program of the Social Services Department.

    14. Enhances professional growth and development through participation in education programs, current literature, inservice meetings, and workshops.

    15. Provides comprehensive social work and discharge planning services to patients, as referred to the Social Service Department.

    16. Attends meetings and performs other related duties as assigned or requested.

    17. Actively supports and promotes adherence to the policies and procedures of the Hospital and Social Services as outlined in policy and procedures.

    QUALIFICATIONS:

    EDUCATION: Bachelor of Social Work from an accredited school of Social Work required; MSW preferred.

    LICENSE: MO licensure as LPCC, LPC, LMHC, LMSW, LCSW, or equivalent level, OR licensed out of state and eligible for MO licensure.

    EXPERIENCE: Counseling/Social work experience required.

    CREDENTIALS: As above.

    SPECIAL:

    PATIENT CONTACT: Must have the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to patients and individuals of all ages and varied cultural and ethnic backgrounds on a daily basis.

    PHYSICAL:

    STANDING: Moderate daily.

    WALKING: Multiple times daily in all areas of the hospital and weekly about the community.

    LIFTING: Not required.

    VISUAL: Multiple times daily to read charts and documents, assist visually impaired individuals and research resource materials.

    HEARING: Multiple times daily to speak with patients and professionals, in person and by phone, and to assist hearing impaired individuals.

    SPEAKING: Required at all times by phone and in person to communicate with professionals and patients who may be hearing, sight, and speech impaired.


    Days, M-F, 8-5
  5. Post your job

    There are a few common ways to find licensed professional counselors for your business:

    • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your licensed professional counselor job on Zippia to find and recruit licensed professional counselor candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Recruiting licensed professional 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.

    Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to 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 licensed professional counselor

    Once you've found the licensed professional counselor candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

    You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

    After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new licensed professional 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.)
    Sign up to download full list

How much does it cost to hire a licensed professional counselor?

Recruiting licensed professional counselors involves both the one-time costs of hiring and the ongoing costs of adding a new employee to your team. Your spending during the hiring process will mostly be on things like promoting the job on job boards, reviewing and interviewing candidates, and onboarding the new hire. Ongoing costs will obviously involve the employee's salary, but also may include things like benefits.

Licensed professional counselors earn a median yearly salary is $94,675 a year in the US. However, if you're looking to find licensed professional counselors for hire on a contract or per-project basis, hourly rates typically range between $35 and $58.

Find better licensed professional counselors in less time
Post a job on Zippia and hire the best from over 7 million monthly job seekers.

Hiring licensed professional counselors FAQs

Search for licensed professional counselor jobs

Ready to start hiring?

Browse community and social services jobs