Best cities for a mental health clinician
The best cities for mental health clinicians are Oakland, CA, Stockton, CA, and Fresno, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for mental health clinicians vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for mental health clinicians in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a mental health clinician or considering a move, this list of the best cities for mental health clinicians to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for mental health clinicians. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a mental health clinician. While the absolute best city for mental health clinicians is Oakland, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for mental health clinicians in 2024.
If you're looking for a mental health clinician job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for mental health clinicians in 2025
1. Oakland, CA
Total mental health clinician jobs: 32 Average annual salary: $80,013 Lowest 10 percent warn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location quotient: 2.92 2. Stockton, CA
Total mental health clinician jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $79,171 Lowest 10 percent warn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $125,000 Location quotient: 3.69 3. Fresno, CA
Total mental health clinician jobs: 39 Average annual salary: $79,024 Lowest 10 percent warn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $125,000 Location quotient: 6.09 4. Bakersfield, CA
Total mental health clinician jobs: 13 Average annual salary: $79,203 Lowest 10 percent warn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location quotient: 2.51 5. Anchorage, AK
Total mental health clinician jobs: 25 Average annual salary: $68,910 Lowest 10 percent warn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Location quotient: 4.31 6. Sacramento, CA
Total mental health clinician jobs: 40 Average annual salary: $78,793 Lowest 10 percent warn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $124,000 Location quotient: 1.68 7. Chula Vista, CA
Total mental health clinician jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $76,777 Lowest 10 percent warn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $122,000 Location quotient: 4.85 8. North Las Vegas, NV
Total mental health clinician jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $71,508 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location quotient: 0.80 9. Long Beach, CA
Total mental health clinician jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $78,195 Lowest 10 percent warn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $124,000 Location quotient: 1.29 10. Los Angeles, CA
Total mental health clinician jobs: 92 Average annual salary: $78,482 Lowest 10 percent warn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $125,000 Location quotient: 0.94
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Best cities for mental health clinicians
- Oakland, CA
- Stockton, CA
- Fresno, CA
- Bakersfield, CA
- Anchorage, AK
- Sacramento, CA
- Chula Vista, CA
- North Las Vegas, NV
- Long Beach, CA
- Los Angeles, CA
- (32 mental health clinician jobs)
- (15 mental health clinician jobs)
- (39 mental health clinician jobs)
- (13 mental health clinician jobs)
- (25 mental health clinician jobs)
- (40 mental health clinician jobs)
- (8 mental health clinician jobs)
- (1 mental health clinician jobs)
- (9 mental health clinician jobs)
- (92 mental health clinician jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a mental health clinician
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oakland, CA | $80,013 | $50,000 | 420,005 | 32 |
| 2 | Stockton, CA | $79,171 | $50,000 | 307,072 | 15 |
| 3 | Fresno, CA | $79,024 | $49,000 | 522,053 | 39 |
| 4 | Bakersfield, CA | $79,203 | $49,000 | 376,380 | 13 |
| 5 | Anchorage, AK | $68,910 | $58,000 | 298,192 | 25 |
| 6 | Sacramento, CA | $78,793 | $50,000 | 495,234 | 40 |
| 7 | Chula Vista, CA | $76,777 | $48,000 | 267,172 | 8 |
| 8 | North Las Vegas, NV | $71,508 | $45,000 | 238,702 | 1 |
| 9 | Long Beach, CA | $78,195 | $48,000 | 470,130 | 9 |
| 10 | Los Angeles, CA | $78,482 | $49,000 | 3,976,322 | 92 |
| 11 | Fremont, CA | $80,013 | $50,000 | 233,136 | 11 |
| 12 | Anaheim, CA | $78,011 | $48,000 | 351,043 | 5 |
| 13 | Mesa, AZ | $54,892 | $34,000 | 484,587 | 8 |
| 14 | San Francisco, CA | $80,166 | $50,000 | 870,887 | 37 |
| 15 | San Jose, CA | $80,129 | $50,000 | 1,025,350 | 27 |
| 16 | Gilbert, AZ | $54,891 | $34,000 | 237,133 | 4 |
| 17 | San Diego, CA | $76,896 | $48,000 | 1,406,630 | 50 |
| 18 | Glendale, AZ | $55,189 | $35,000 | 245,895 | 3 |
| 19 | Albuquerque, NM | $63,419 | $40,000 | 559,277 | 6 |
| 20 | Newark, NJ | $66,553 | $36,000 | 281,764 | 8 |
| 21 | Portland, OR | $59,752 | $39,000 | 639,863 | 29 |
| 22 | Riverside, CA | $77,598 | $48,000 | 324,722 | 2 |
| 23 | Greensboro, NC | $51,082 | $30,000 | 287,027 | 4 |
| 24 | Santa Ana, CA | $77,929 | $48,000 | 334,217 | 1 |
| 25 | Milwaukee, WI | $48,213 | $30,000 | 595,047 | 12 |
| 26 | Madison, WI | $48,569 | $30,000 | 252,551 | 8 |
| 27 | El Paso, TX | $48,453 | $30,000 | 683,080 | 3 |
| 28 | Norfolk, VA | $51,987 | $30,000 | 245,115 | 8 |
| 29 | Aurora, CO | $51,505 | $34,000 | 361,710 | 46 |
| 30 | Lubbock, TX | $46,894 | $29,000 | 252,506 | 3 |
| 31 | Indianapolis, IN | $47,202 | $29,000 | 855,164 | 19 |
| 32 | Las Vegas, NV | $71,668 | $45,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 33 | Reno, NV | $73,208 | $47,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 34 | Henderson, NV | $71,580 | $45,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 35 | Tucson, AZ | $54,248 | $34,000 | 530,706 | 3 |
| 36 | Denver, CO | $51,548 | $34,000 | 693,060 | 112 |
| 37 | Saint Paul, MN | $64,772 | $42,000 | 302,398 | 3 |
| 38 | Seattle, WA | $62,981 | $42,000 | 704,352 | 14 |
| 39 | Chesapeake, VA | $51,964 | $30,000 | 237,940 | 2 |
| 40 | Wichita, KS | $48,211 | $31,000 | 389,902 | 3 |
| 41 | Charlotte, NC | $50,772 | $30,000 | 842,051 | 10 |
| 42 | Irvine, CA | $77,812 | $48,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 43 | New Orleans, LA | $46,740 | $28,000 | 391,495 | 2 |
| 44 | Phoenix, AZ | $55,139 | $35,000 | 1,615,017 | 9 |
| 45 | Minneapolis, MN | $64,837 | $42,000 | 413,651 | 1 |
| 46 | Durham, NC | $51,121 | $30,000 | 263,016 | 1 |
| 47 | Toledo, OH | $44,551 | $26,000 | 278,508 | 1 |
| 48 | New York, NY | $54,374 | $29,000 | 8,537,673 | 104 |
| 49 | Jersey City, NJ | $66,541 | $36,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 50 | Washington, DC | $60,326 | $34,000 | 681,170 | 17 |
Highest paying cities for mental health clinicians
| Rank | City | Avg. mental health clinician salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $80,166 |
| 2 | New Brunswick, NJ | $67,223 |
| 3 | Eugene, OR | $59,856 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $54,374 |
| 5 | Meriden, CT | $51,898 |
| 6 | Denver, CO | $51,548 |
| 7 | Indianapolis, IN | $47,202 |
| 8 | Brockton, MA | $39,818 |
| 9 | Portland, ME | $38,782 |