10 Best Jobs For Mental Health Counseling Major In 2023

Many people have a tough time finding a job right out of college. But for those with a mental health counseling major, career opportunities tend to be plentiful. By looking through millions of job listings and 18,218 mental health counseling major resumes, we were able to discover which are the preferred jobs for mental health counseling majors.

Find Mental Health Counseling Major Jobs

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Starting Salary
$19,000
Job openings
77,536
Job Description:
A Counselor helps people to explore feelings and emotions that are often related to past and present experiences. They work with individuals, groups, and communities to improve their mental health.
Starting Salary
$39,000
Job openings
159,770
Job Description:
Physical therapists, sometimes called PTs, help injured or ill people improve their movement and manage their pain. These therapists are often an important part of the rehabilitation, treatment, and prevention of patients with chronic conditions, illnesses, or injuries.
Starting Salary
$25,000
Job openings
103,710
Top Locations:
Tulsa, OK;  Dothan, AL;  Las Vegas, NV;  
Job Description:
Psychiatric technicians and aides care for people who have mental illness and developmental disabilities. Technicians typically provide therapeutic care and monitor their patients’ conditions. Aides help patients in their daily activities and ensure a safe, clean environment.
Starting Salary
$31,000
Job openings
132,694
Job Description:
Mental 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.
Starting Salary
$32,000
Job openings
79,459
Top Locations:
Baltimore, MD;  New York, NY;  Denver, CO;  
Job Description:
Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors advise people who suffer from alcoholism, drug addiction, eating disorders, or other behavioral problems. They provide treatment and support to help the client recover from addiction or modify problem behaviors.
Starting Salary
$30,000
Job openings
77,461
Top Locations:
Philadelphia, PA;  Minneapolis, MN;  Los Angeles, CA;  
Job Description:
Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors advise people who suffer from alcoholism, drug addiction, eating disorders, or other behavioral problems. They provide treatment and support to help the client recover from addiction or modify problem behaviors.
Starting Salary
$23,000
Job openings
113,667
Top Locations:
New York, NY;  Chicago, IL;  Washington, DC;  
Job Description:
Health educators teach people about behaviors that promote wellness. They develop and implement strategies to improve the health of individuals and communities. Community health workers collect data and discuss health concerns with members of specific populations or communities.
Starting Salary
$41,000
Job openings
66,130
Job Description:
Social workers help people solve and cope with problems in their everyday lives. One group of social workers—clinical social workers—also diagnose and treat mental, behavioral, and emotional issues.
Starting Salary
$36,000
Job openings
91,347
Top Locations:
New York, NY;  Oakland, CA;  Roanoke, VA;  
Job Description:
Social workers help people solve and cope with problems in their everyday lives. One group of social workers—clinical social workers—also diagnose and treat mental, behavioral, and emotional issues.
Starting Salary
$31,000
Job openings
131,449
Top Locations:
Ruston, LA;  Chicago, IL;  Baton Rouge, LA;  
Job Description:
Social workers help people solve and cope with problems in their everyday lives. One group of social workers—clinical social workers—also diagnose and treat mental, behavioral, and emotional issues.
Starting Salary
$35,000
Job openings
114,386
Job Description:
Social workers help people solve and cope with problems in their everyday lives. One group of social workers—clinical social workers—also diagnose and treat mental, behavioral, and emotional issues.
Starting Salary
$27,000
Job openings
78,643
Job Description:
Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors advise people who suffer from alcoholism, drug addiction, eating disorders, or other behavioral problems. They provide treatment and support to help the client recover from addiction or modify problem behaviors.
Starting Salary
$34,000
Job openings
127,233
Top Locations:
New York, NY;  Chicago, IL;  Washington, DC;  
Job Description:
Social workers help people solve and cope with problems in their everyday lives. One group of social workers—clinical social workers—also diagnose and treat mental, behavioral, and emotional issues.
Starting Salary
$32,000
Job openings
53,322
Job Description:
Human resources specialists recruit, screen, interview, and place workers. They often handle other human resources work, such as those related to employee relations, compensation and benefits, and training.
Starting Salary
$36,000
Job openings
50,511
Job Description:
Human resources specialists recruit, screen, interview, and place workers. They often handle other human resources work, such as those related to employee relations, compensation and benefits, and training.
Starting Salary
$42,000
Job openings
136,898
Top Locations:
Detroit, MI;  Chicago, IL;  Los Angeles, CA;  
Job Description:
Physical therapists, sometimes called PTs, help injured or ill people improve their movement and manage their pain. These therapists are often an important part of the rehabilitation, treatment, and prevention of patients with chronic conditions, illnesses, or injuries.
Starting Salary
$25,000
Job openings
122,947
Top Locations:
Atlanta, GA;  Lexington, KY;  San Marcos, TX;  
Job Description:
Social workers help people solve and cope with problems in their everyday lives. One group of social workers—clinical social workers—also diagnose and treat mental, behavioral, and emotional issues.
Starting Salary
$24,000
Job openings
225,834
Job Description:
Nursing assistants, sometimes called nursing aides, help provide basic care for patients in hospitals and residents of long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes. Orderlies transport patients and clean treatment areas.
Starting Salary
$24,000
Job openings
167,520
Job Description:
Psychiatric technicians and aides care for people who have mental illness and developmental disabilities. Technicians typically provide therapeutic care and monitor their patients’ conditions. Aides help patients in their daily activities and ensure a safe, clean environment.
Starting Salary
$27,000
Job openings
157,931
Top Locations:
Bangor, ME;  Portland, ME;  Westbrook, ME;  
Job Description:
Mental 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.
Starting Salary
$27,000
Job openings
142,426
Job Description:
Social and human service assistants provide client services, including support for families, in a wide variety of fields, such as psychology, rehabilitation, and social work. They assist other workers, such as social workers, and they help clients find benefits or community services.
Starting Salary
$25,000
Job openings
99,503
Top Locations:
Phoenix, AZ;  Delray Beach, FL;  Tucson, AZ;  
Job Description:
Psychiatric technicians and aides care for people who have mental illness and developmental disabilities. Technicians typically provide therapeutic care and monitor their patients’ conditions. Aides help patients in their daily activities and ensure a safe, clean environment.
Starting Salary
$43,000
Job openings
20,520
Top Locations:
New York, NY;  Philadelphia, PA;  Chicago, IL;  
Job Description:
Psychologists study cognitive, emotional, and social processes and behavior by observing, interpreting, and recording how people relate to one another and their environments.
Starting Salary
$28,000
Job openings
74,968
Top Locations:
Duluth, MN;  Philadelphia, PA;  Pittsburgh, PA;  
Job Description:
Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors advise people who suffer from alcoholism, drug addiction, eating disorders, or other behavioral problems. They provide treatment and support to help the client recover from addiction or modify problem behaviors.
Starting Salary
$27,000
Job openings
81,287
Job Description:
Mental 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.
Starting Salary
$40,000
Job openings
119,973
Job Description:
Physical therapists, sometimes called PTs, help injured or ill people improve their movement and manage their pain. These therapists are often an important part of the rehabilitation, treatment, and prevention of patients with chronic conditions, illnesses, or injuries.
Starting Salary
$26,000
Job openings
11,707
Job Description:
Phlebotomists draw blood for tests, transfusions, research, or blood donations. Some explain their work to patients and provide assistance when patients have adverse reactions after their blood is drawn.
Starting Salary
$29,000
Job openings
55,922
Job Description:
Social and human service assistants provide client services, including support for families, in a wide variety of fields, such as psychology, rehabilitation, and social work. They assist other workers, such as social workers, and they help clients find benefits or community services.
Starting Salary
$72,000
Job openings
69,762
Top Locations:
San Juan, PR;  New York, NY;  Caguas, PR;  
Job Description:
Psychologists study cognitive, emotional, and social processes and behavior by observing, interpreting, and recording how people relate to one another and their environments.
Starting Salary
$24,000
Job openings
133,248
Top Locations:
Canton, MA;  Tallahassee, FL;  Atlanta, GA;  
Job Description:
Social workers help people solve and cope with problems in their everyday lives. One group of social workers—clinical social workers—also diagnose and treat mental, behavioral, and emotional issues.
Starting Salary
$35,000
Job openings
37,954
Job Description:
Human resources specialists recruit, screen, interview, and place workers. They often handle other human resources work, such as those related to employee relations, compensation and benefits, and training.
Starting Salary
$34,000
Job openings
13,226
Top Locations:
New York, NY;  Los Angeles, CA;  Chicago, IL;  
Job Description:
Recreational therapists plan, direct, and coordinate recreation-based treatment programs for people with disabilities, injuries, or illnesses. Recreational therapists use a variety of modalities, including arts and crafts, drama, music, dance, sports, games, and community reintegration field trips to help maintain or improve a patient’s physical, social, and emotional well-being.
Starting Salary
$24,000
Job openings
16,883
Top Locations:
Tampa, FL;  Pittsburgh, PA;  Phoenix, AZ;  
Job Description:
School counselors help students develop academic and social skills and succeed in school. Career counselors assist people with the process of making career decisions by helping them develop skills or choose a career or educational program.
Starting Salary
$133,000
Job openings
29,979
Top Locations:
New York, NY;  Alpharetta, GA;  Andrews Air Force Base, MD;  
Job Description:
Physicians and surgeons diagnose and treat injuries or illnesses. Physicians examine patients; take medical histories; prescribe medications; and order, perform, and interpret diagnostic tests. They counsel patients on diet, hygiene, and preventive healthcare. Surgeons operate on patients to treat injuries, such as broken bones; diseases, such as cancerous tumors; and deformities, such as cleft palates.
Starting Salary
$33,000
Job openings
78,174
Top Locations:
New York, NY;  Houston, TX;  Jacksonville, FL;  
Job Description:
Rehabilitation counselors help people with physical, mental, developmental, and emotional disabilities live independently. They work with clients to overcome or manage the personal, social, or psychological effects of disabilities on employment or independent living.
Starting Salary
$56,000
Job openings
80,647
Top Locations:
New York, NY;  Chicago, IL;  Los Angeles, CA;  
Job Description:
Recreational therapists plan, direct, and coordinate recreation-based treatment programs for people with disabilities, injuries, or illnesses. Recreational therapists use a variety of modalities, including arts and crafts, drama, music, dance, sports, games, and community reintegration field trips to help maintain or improve a patient’s physical, social, and emotional well-being.
Starting Salary
$31,000
Job openings
102,464
Top Locations:
New York, NY;  Washington, DC;  Chicago, IL;  
Job Description:
Social and human service assistants provide client services, including support for families, in a wide variety of fields, such as psychology, rehabilitation, and social work. They assist other workers, such as social workers, and they help clients find benefits or community services.
Starting Salary
$43,000
Job openings
71,220
Top Locations:
New York, NY;  Los Angeles, CA;  Washington, DC;  
Job Description:
Social workers help people solve and cope with problems in their everyday lives. One group of social workers—clinical social workers—also diagnose and treat mental, behavioral, and emotional issues.
Starting Salary
$38,000
Job openings
52,054
Top Locations:
New York, NY;  Atlanta, GA;  Houston, TX;  
Job Description:
Training and development specialists plan, conduct, and administer programs that train employees and improve their skills and knowledge.
Starting Salary
$30,000
Job openings
42,622
Top Locations:
New York, NY;  Chicago, IL;  Houston, TX;  
Job Description:
School counselors help students develop academic and social skills and succeed in school. Career counselors assist people with the process of making career decisions by helping them develop skills or choose a career or educational program.
Starting Salary
$38,000
Job openings
27,215
Top Locations:
New York, NY;  San Francisco, CA;  Phoenix, AZ;  
Job Description:
Genetic counselors assess individual or family risk for a variety of inherited conditions, such as genetic disorders and birth defects. They provide information and support to other healthcare providers, or to individuals and families concerned with the risk of inherited conditions.
Starting Salary
$26,000
Job openings
40,663
Top Locations:
New York, NY;  Orlando, FL;  Chicago, IL;  
Job Description:
Social and human service assistants provide client services, including support for families, in a wide variety of fields, such as psychology, rehabilitation, and social work. They assist other workers, such as social workers, and they help clients find benefits or community services.
Starting Salary
$36,000
Job openings
83,671
Top Locations:
New York, NY;  Washington, DC;  Chicago, IL;  
Job Description:
Training and development specialists plan, conduct, and administer programs that train employees and improve their skills and knowledge.
Starting Salary
$40,000
Job openings
113,993
Top Locations:
Indianapolis, IN;  Charlotte, NC;  Fort Wayne, IN;  
Job Description:
Physical therapists, sometimes called PTs, help injured or ill people improve their movement and manage their pain. These therapists are often an important part of the rehabilitation, treatment, and prevention of patients with chronic conditions, illnesses, or injuries.
Starting Salary
$27,000
Job openings
110,277
Top Locations:
Phoenix, AZ;  Philadelphia, PA;  Pensacola, FL;  
Job Description:
Psychiatric technicians and aides care for people who have mental illness and developmental disabilities. Technicians typically provide therapeutic care and monitor their patients’ conditions. Aides help patients in their daily activities and ensure a safe, clean environment.
Starting Salary
$35,000
Job openings
9,571
Top Locations:
Fort Worth, TX;  Las Vegas, NV;  San Antonio, TX;  
Job Description:
A Hospice Chaplain provides care and comfort to patients nearing the end of life because of terminal illnesses. They collaborate with the community and the care team to ensure that care is in accord with the patient's faith.
Starting Salary
$43,000
Job openings
85,127
Top Locations:
Boynton Beach, FL;  West Palm Beach, FL;  Fort Lauderdale, FL;  
Job Description:
Social workers help people solve and cope with problems in their everyday lives. One group of social workers—clinical social workers—also diagnose and treat mental, behavioral, and emotional issues.
Starting Salary
$53,000
Job openings
170,514
Top Locations:
New York, NY;  Chicago, IL;  Houston, TX;  
Job Description:
A business analyst is someone who analyzes an organization or business domain (real or hypothetical) and documents its business or processes or systems, assessing the business model or its integration with technology.
Starting Salary
$29,000
Job openings
130,222
Top Locations:
Oklahoma City, OK;  Lemont, IL;  Flagstaff, AZ;  
Job Description:
Social workers help people solve and cope with problems in their everyday lives. One group of social workers—clinical social workers—also diagnose and treat mental, behavioral, and emotional issues.
Starting Salary
$34,000
Job openings
56,602
Top Locations:
New York, NY;  Chicago, IL;  Houston, TX;  
Job Description:
Human resources specialists recruit, screen, interview, and place workers. They often handle other human resources work, such as those related to employee relations, compensation and benefits, and training.

What can you do with a Mental Health Counseling Degree?

Mental Health Counseling Major Jobs

Average Salary For Mental Health Counseling Major Jobs

As a mental health counseling major, you might be surprised with how much your salary might vary depending on the industry you choose to work in. For example, if you were to work in the non profits industry, you might only make $40,294 annually, but you could make $50,614 in the insurance industry. If salary is the most important thing to you, then you should choose the industry you want to work in carefully.

Average Salary By Industry

RankIndustryAverage Mental Health Counseling Salary Mental Health Counseling Salary Range
1Insurance
$50,614
$35k
$59k
2Health Care
$48,079
$35k
$59k
3Finance
$47,088
$35k
$59k
4Government
$47,052
$35k
$59k
5Education
$43,867
$35k
$59k

Entry Level Jobs For Mental Health Counseling Majors

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