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Best states for a mental health clinician
Quoted expert
Ali Cunningham Abbott Ph.D.
- Rank 1 - 10
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Do you wonder which states in the U.S. are the best for mental health clinicians? If so, we have the full list of best to worst states for mental health clinician jobs for you to check out and see if you think it's time to move and start anew. Not all states fare the same when it come to job opportunity and pay.Although there are abundant mental health clinician jobs in the United States, a large number of them are in the South. California is the best state in the country for mental health clinician jobs.
California is the best state for jobs for mental health clinicians, and Georgia is the worst. The most common pay in California is $78,601, while the median pay in Georgia is $39,999.We found that the South is best for mental health clinicians, and the West is the worst. San Francisco, CA is the best city in the country for mental health clinician jobs, where as California is the best state in the country.
10 best states for mental health clinicians in 2025
1. California
Total mental health clinician jobs: 5,412 Average annual salary: $78,601 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $124,000 Location Quotient: 1.18
2. Minnesota
Total mental health clinician jobs: 1,329 Average annual salary: $64,817 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location Quotient: 1.28
3. Hawaii
Total mental health clinician jobs: 165 Average annual salary: $68,963 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Location Quotient: 1.26
4. North Dakota
Total mental health clinician jobs: 146 Average annual salary: $64,953 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Location Quotient: 1
5. Alaska
Total mental health clinician jobs: 148 Average annual salary: $69,032 Lowest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Location Quotient: 1.13
6. Nevada
Total mental health clinician jobs: 286 Average annual salary: $71,888 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location Quotient: 0.87
7. Idaho
Total mental health clinician jobs: 327 Average annual salary: $56,580 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Location Quotient: 1.27
8. Arizona
Total mental health clinician jobs: 1,161 Average annual salary: $54,948 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Location Quotient: 1.27
9. New Mexico
Total mental health clinician jobs: 216 Average annual salary: $63,253 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location Quotient: 0.7
10. New Jersey
Total mental health clinician jobs: 909 Average annual salary: $67,003 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000 Location Quotient: 0.73
Mental health clinician jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a mental health clinician
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a mental health clinician
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $78,601 | $49,000 | 39,536,653 | 5,412 |
| 2 | Minnesota | $64,817 | $42,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,329 |
| 3 | Hawaii | $68,963 | $49,000 | 1,427,538 | 165 |
| 4 | North Dakota | $64,953 | $44,000 | 755,393 | 146 |
| 5 | Alaska | $69,032 | $58,000 | 739,795 | 148 |
| 6 | Nevada | $71,888 | $46,000 | 2,998,039 | 286 |
| 7 | Idaho | $56,580 | $38,000 | 1,716,943 | 327 |
| 8 | Arizona | $54,948 | $35,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,161 |
| 9 | New Mexico | $63,253 | $40,000 | 2,088,070 | 216 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $67,003 | $37,000 | 9,005,644 | 909 |
| 11 | Washington | $62,669 | $42,000 | 7,405,743 | 945 |
| 12 | Utah | $57,768 | $38,000 | 3,101,833 | 439 |
| 13 | Michigan | $49,399 | $29,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,771 |
| 14 | Wyoming | $53,308 | $36,000 | 579,315 | 95 |
| 15 | North Carolina | $51,016 | $30,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,597 |
| 16 | Delaware | $55,290 | $31,000 | 961,939 | 177 |
| 17 | Oregon | $59,703 | $39,000 | 4,142,776 | 453 |
| 18 | District of Columbia | $60,242 | $35,000 | 693,972 | 220 |
| 19 | Indiana | $47,228 | $29,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,379 |
| 20 | Montana | $55,266 | $38,000 | 1,050,493 | 131 |
| 21 | Maryland | $52,121 | $30,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,121 |
| 22 | South Dakota | $52,513 | $35,000 | 869,666 | 137 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | $48,377 | $30,000 | 5,795,483 | 868 |
| 24 | New York | $54,038 | $30,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,558 |
| 25 | Louisiana | $46,762 | $28,000 | 4,684,333 | 609 |
| 26 | Virginia | $51,883 | $30,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,333 |
| 27 | Iowa | $46,415 | $30,000 | 3,145,711 | 614 |
| 28 | Connecticut | $52,627 | $28,000 | 3,588,184 | 392 |
| 29 | Colorado | $51,468 | $34,000 | 5,607,154 | 940 |
| 30 | Missouri | $47,543 | $30,000 | 6,113,532 | 990 |
| 31 | New Hampshire | $48,415 | $24,000 | 1,342,795 | 245 |
| 32 | Ohio | $44,635 | $27,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,841 |
| 33 | Kansas | $48,025 | $31,000 | 2,913,123 | 404 |
| 34 | Vermont | $43,031 | $22,000 | 623,657 | 157 |
| 35 | Illinois | $50,040 | $31,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,095 |
| 36 | Maine | $38,480 | $18,000 | 1,335,907 | 319 |
| 37 | Texas | $46,367 | $28,000 | 28,304,596 | 2,887 |
| 38 | Oklahoma | $43,871 | $28,000 | 3,930,864 | 538 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $42,176 | $26,000 | 6,715,984 | 1,070 |
| 40 | Massachusetts | $39,516 | $20,000 | 6,859,819 | 3,040 |
| 41 | Rhode Island | $42,633 | $22,000 | 1,059,639 | 184 |
| 42 | Alabama | $43,898 | $27,000 | 4,874,747 | 623 |
| 43 | Kentucky | $42,186 | $26,000 | 4,454,189 | 586 |
| 44 | Florida | $46,765 | $28,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,647 |
| 45 | Pennsylvania | $43,150 | $24,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,617 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $41,531 | $25,000 | 2,984,100 | 315 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $39,404 | $26,000 | 1,920,076 | 331 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $33,963 | $21,000 | 3,004,279 | 474 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $42,718 | $26,000 | 5,024,369 | 443 |
| 50 | West Virginia | $40,273 | $24,000 | 1,815,857 | 75 |
| 51 | Georgia | $39,999 | $24,000 | 10,429,379 | 935 |
Highest paying states for mental health clinicians
| Rank | State | Avg. Mental Health Clinician Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $78,601 |
| 2 | Minnesota | $64,817 |
| 3 | Hawaii | $68,963 |
| 4 | North Dakota | $64,953 |
| 5 | Alaska | $69,032 |
| 6 | Nevada | $71,888 |
| 7 | Idaho | $56,580 |
| 8 | Arizona | $54,948 |
| 9 | New Mexico | $63,253 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $67,003 |
| 11 | Washington | $62,669 |
| 12 | Utah | $57,768 |
| 13 | Michigan | $49,399 |
| 14 | Wyoming | $53,308 |
| 15 | North Carolina | $51,016 |
| 16 | Delaware | $55,290 |
| 17 | Oregon | $59,703 |
| 18 | District of Columbia | $60,242 |
| 19 | Indiana | $47,228 |
| 20 | Montana | $55,266 |
| 21 | Maryland | $52,121 |
| 22 | South Dakota | $52,513 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | $48,377 |
| 24 | New York | $54,038 |
| 25 | Louisiana | $46,762 |
| 26 | Virginia | $51,883 |
| 27 | Iowa | $46,415 |
| 28 | Connecticut | $52,627 |
| 29 | Colorado | $51,468 |
| 30 | Missouri | $47,543 |
| 31 | New Hampshire | $48,415 |
| 32 | Ohio | $44,635 |
| 33 | Kansas | $48,025 |
| 34 | Vermont | $43,031 |
| 35 | Illinois | $50,040 |
| 36 | Maine | $38,480 |
| 37 | Texas | $46,367 |
| 38 | Oklahoma | $43,871 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $42,176 |
| 40 | Massachusetts | $39,516 |
| 41 | Rhode Island | $42,633 |
| 42 | Alabama | $43,898 |
| 43 | Kentucky | $42,186 |
| 44 | Florida | $46,765 |
| 45 | Pennsylvania | $43,150 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $41,531 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $39,404 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $33,963 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $42,718 |
| 50 | West Virginia | $40,273 |
| 51 | Georgia | $39,999 |
Expert opinions on the best states for mental health clinicians
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for mental health clinicians to find work opportunities?
Ali Cunningham Abbott Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Lynn University
The expected growth for mental health professionals (of all kinds) is promising in the United States. As national certifications and licensing rules continue to expand, with more legislative support and movement, one of the hopes of this profession is that counseling will no longer be location bound. Therefore, no matter where you are in the country, there will likely be good work opportunities upon graduation. Historically, of course, those living in more metropolitan or urban areas have more opportunities for employment in this field.
But many people who choose or must work in rural areas can be offered positions that sometimes involve stipends or higher salaries to help recruit and retain people in areas where counseling resources are less available. Another consideration, outside of population density, for future counselors to consider, is which state(s) they plan to seek licensure in. Some states have stronger licensing laws that make them better to practice in over others, including legislation that protects professional rights and client access to services.
Our program encourages counselors to do in-depth research on the places they intend to seek licensure to ensure a smooth transition to prosperous work opportunities in the field.
Mental health clinician best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025