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Mental health assistant salary
Average mental health assistant salary
$16.51
Average Mental Health Assistant Salary
The average salary for a mental health assistant in the United States is approximately $34,333 annually or around $17 per hour. This figure can vary significantly based on geographical location, years of experience, and specific job responsibilities.
How Much Does a Mental Health Assistant Make?
Entry-level positions typically start at around $28,000 per year, while those with more experience can earn upwards of $45,000. Factors such as state and facility type can greatly influence these numbers.
Where Can a Mental Health Assistant Earn More?
States like California and New York often offer higher salaries due to the cost of living and demand for mental health services. Additionally, specialized roles, such as those in psychiatric hospitals or rehabilitation centers, may provide enhanced compensation compared to general practice.
Conclusion
Understanding the salary range and factors influencing pay for mental health assistants is crucial for prospective candidates. By reviewing salary estimates and job opportunities across various states, you can better navigate your career path in this rewarding field.
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Where can a Mental Health Assistant earn more?
Mental health assistant salaries by experience level
Mental health assistant salary estimates from across the web
Average mental health assistant salary by state
The average mental health assistant salary in New York, California, and New Jersey are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average mental health assistant salary states are South Carolina, Nebraska, and Mississippi.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for mental health assistants
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $45,316 | $21.79 |
| 2 | New York | $45,934 | $22.08 |
| 3 | Minnesota | $40,983 | $19.70 |
| 4 | California | $45,572 | $21.91 |
| 5 | Maine | $36,029 | $17.32 |
| 6 | Vermont | $37,426 | $17.99 |
| 7 | Alaska | $36,616 | $17.60 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $40,847 | $19.64 |
| 9 | Washington | $39,165 | $18.83 |
| 10 | Michigan | $32,851 | $15.79 |
| 11 | Nevada | $40,534 | $19.49 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $37,482 | $18.02 |
| 13 | North Dakota | $38,610 | $18.56 |
| 14 | Delaware | $36,429 | $17.51 |
| 15 | New Mexico | $34,608 | $16.64 |
| 16 | Illinois | $35,767 | $17.20 |
| 17 | Idaho | $32,441 | $15.60 |
| 18 | Colorado | $34,818 | $16.74 |
| 19 | Maryland | $33,819 | $16.26 |
| 20 | Montana | $31,734 | $15.26 |
| 21 | Indiana | $29,608 | $14.23 |
| 22 | Oregon | $33,622 | $16.16 |
| 23 | Kentucky | $31,903 | $15.34 |
| 24 | Utah | $33,326 | $16.02 |
| 25 | District of Columbia | $38,894 | $18.70 |
| 26 | Pennsylvania | $28,700 | $13.80 |
| 27 | Wisconsin | $31,276 | $15.04 |
| 28 | Rhode Island | $32,428 | $15.59 |
| 29 | Arizona | $29,648 | $14.25 |
| 30 | South Dakota | $31,983 | $15.38 |
| 31 | Wyoming | $31,188 | $14.99 |
| 32 | Ohio | $28,007 | $13.46 |
| 33 | North Carolina | $29,834 | $14.34 |
| 34 | Massachusetts | $28,209 | $13.56 |
| 35 | Iowa | $29,156 | $14.02 |
| 36 | Oklahoma | $28,341 | $13.63 |
| 37 | Missouri | $29,395 | $14.13 |
| 38 | Virginia | $31,094 | $14.95 |
| 39 | Hawaii | $27,627 | $13.28 |
| 40 | Kansas | $28,945 | $13.92 |
| 41 | Louisiana | $24,631 | $11.84 |
| 42 | Texas | $27,628 | $13.28 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $24,158 | $11.61 |
| 44 | Alabama | $24,353 | $11.71 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $19,551 | $9.40 |
| 46 | West Virginia | $25,276 | $12.15 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $24,261 | $11.66 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $22,772 | $10.95 |
| 49 | Tennessee | $24,620 | $11.84 |
| 50 | Georgia | $22,495 | $10.81 |
| 51 | Florida | $19,601 | $9.42 |
Highest paying cities for mental health assistants
The highest-paying cities for mental health assistants are Oakland, CA, New York, NY, and Paramus, NJ.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oakland, CA | $48,163 | $23.16 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $45,979 | $22.11 |
| 3 | Paramus, NJ | $45,334 | $21.80 |
| 4 | Minneapolis, MN | $40,978 | $19.70 |
| 5 | Lakewood, WA | $39,415 | $18.95 |
| 6 | Bridgeport, CT | $37,614 | $18.08 |
| 7 | Anchorage, AK | $36,668 | $17.63 |
| 8 | Farmington, NM | $35,992 | $17.30 |
| 9 | Aurora, CO | $34,863 | $16.76 |
| 10 | Medford, OR | $33,959 | $16.33 |
| 11 | Norfolk, VA | $30,796 | $14.81 |
| 12 | Fort Wayne, IN | $30,217 | $14.53 |
| 13 | Philadelphia, PA | $28,800 | $13.85 |
| 14 | Salem, MA | $28,181 | $13.55 |
| 15 | Dallas, TX | $27,932 | $13.43 |
| 16 | Columbus, OH | $27,669 | $13.30 |
| 17 | Charleston, SC | $23,948 | $11.51 |
| 18 | Atlanta, GA | $22,686 | $10.91 |
| 19 | Tallahassee, FL | $20,180 | $9.70 |
| 20 | Jonesboro, AR | $19,751 | $9.50 |
Mental health assistant salary details
A mental health assistant's salary ranges from $24,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $48,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a mental health assistant's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $48,000 | $4,000 | $23 |
| 75th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
| Average | $34,333 | $2,861 | $17 |
| 25th Percentile | $28,000 | $2,333 | $13 |
| 10th Percentile | $24,000 | $2,000 | $12 |
Highest paying mental health assistant jobs
The highest paying types of mental health assistants are mental health nurse, mental health clinician, and mental health consultant.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residence Counselor | $34,931 | $2,911 | $16.79 | 78,872 |
| Residential Counselor | $34,117 | $2,843 | $16.40 | 81,287 |
| Community Health Counselor | $43,304 | $3,609 | $20.82 | 131,804 |
| Health Aide | $30,434 | $2,536 | $14.63 | 121,842 |
| Mental Health Worker | $41,081 | $3,423 | $19.75 | 144,879 |
| Mental Health Counselor | $49,471 | $4,123 | $23.78 | 110,752 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for mental health assistants, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Logan Lamprecht Ph.D.
Clinical Assistant Professor, Counseling Clinic Director, Idaho State University
Top companies hiring mental health assistants now:
Which companies pay mental health assistants the most?
Mental health assistant salaries at Medical University of South Carolina and Grand View University are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average mental health assistant salary at companies like Washington State University and Univ Of Colorado-Colorado Spgs are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Medical University of South Carolina | $49,410 | $23.75 |
| 2 | Grand View University | $46,530 | $22.37 |
| 3 | Washington State University | $43,022 | $20.68 |
| 4 | Univ Of Colorado-Colorado Spgs | $42,627 | $20.49 |
| 5 | State of Connecticut | $41,143 | $19.78 |
| 6 | Minnesota State Fair | $39,633 | $19.05 |
| 7 | Park Nicollet Medical Center Inc | $39,570 | $19.02 |
| 8 | North Shore Community Health | $39,141 | $18.82 |
| 9 | Favorite Healthcare Staffing | $38,449 | $18.49 |
| 10 | State Of South Dakota | $37,722 | $18.14 |
| 11 | Livingston Community Health | $37,274 | $17.92 |
| 12 | Health Alliance | $36,663 | $17.63 |
| 13 | Lane County Engineer | $36,594 | $17.59 |
| 14 | Maricopa County | $36,474 | $17.54 |
| 15 | Catholic Community Services of Utah | $35,275 | $16.96 |
| 16 | North Memorial Health | $34,455 | $16.56 |
| 17 | St. Luke's Health System | $34,240 | $16.46 |
| 18 | Lowell General Hospital | $33,992 | $16.34 |
| 19 | Wexford Health Sources | $33,431 | $16.07 |
| 20 | Arnot Health | $33,366 | $16.04 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Mental Health Assistant salary by industry
The average mental health assistant salary varies across industries:
- The average mental health assistant salary in the government industry is $38,610, the highest of any industry.
- The average mental health assistant salary in the finance industry is $33,470.
- Mental health assistants in the health care industry earn an average salary of $31,312, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for mental health assistants
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Government | $38,610 | $18.56 |
| 2 | Non Profits | $33,470 | $16.09 |
| 3 | Education | $33,012 | $15.87 |
| 4 | Health Care | $31,312 | $15.05 |
High paying mental health assistant jobs
Mental health assistant salary trends
The average mental health assistant salary has risen by $6,688 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average mental health assistant earned $27,645 annually, but today, they earn $34,333 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for mental health assistants over the last decade.
Compare mental health assistant salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average mental health assistant salary over time
Compare mental health assistant salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Mental health assistant salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $34,300 | $16.51 | +4.2% |
| 2024 | $32,900 | $15.80 | +3.9% |
| 2023 | $31,600 | $15.19 | +3.5% |
| 2022 | $30,500 | $14.65 | +1.3% |
| 2021 | $30,100 | $14.47 | +1.2% |
Recently added mental health assistant salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Comprehensive Healthcare | Mental Health Assistant | Kennewick, WA | 06/27/2025 | $42,825 |
| State of Connecticut | Mental Health Assistant Hour) | Bridgeport, CT | 06/26/2025 | $50,382 |
| Ellis Medicine | Mental Health Assistant-Adult Unit | Schenectady, NY | 06/26/2025 | $34,707 |
| Crestwood Behavioral Health | Mental Health Activities Assistant (Recreation Assistant) | Vallejo, CA | 06/21/2025 | $43,827 |
| Steuben Churchpeople Against Arbor Housing & Dev | Mental Health Residential Assistant | Corning, NY | 06/21/2025 | $35,479 |
| Community Mental Health Services of Livingston County | Mental Health Assistant-Pers | Howell, MI | 06/20/2025 | $38,739 |
| Livingston County Community Mental Health | Mental Health Assistant-Pers | Howell, MI | 06/20/2025 | $38,739 |
| State of South Dakota | CNA Lead/Mental Health Assistant | Yankton, SD | 06/14/2025 | $41,677 |
| University of Rochester | Mental Health Assistant | Rochester, NY | 06/10/2025 | $49,086 |
| Touchstone Mental Health | Mental Health Assistants-Minneapolis (Rising Cedar) | Minneapolis, MN | 06/10/2025 | $38,088 |
Mental health assistant salary FAQs
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