Mental health nurse demographics and statistics in the US
Mental health nurse demographics research summary. Zippia estimates mental health nurse demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our mental health nurse estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about mental health nurses after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 27,693 mental health nurses currently employed in the United States.
- 83.1% of all mental health nurses are women, while 16.9% are men.
- The average mental health nurse age is 43 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of mental health nurses is White (65.2%), followed by Black or African American (12.2%), Asian (9.1%) and Hispanic or Latino (8.8%).
- Mental health nurses are most in-demand in Louisville, KY.
- The government industry is the highest-paying for mental health nurses.
- San Francisco, CA pays an annual average wage of $117,376, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women mental health nurses earned 93% of what men earned.
- 9% of all mental health nurses are LGBT.
- Vermont is the best state for mental health nurses to live.
- Mental health nurses are 78% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to government companies.
On this page
Mental health nurse demographics by:
Mental health nurse gender statistics
83.1% of mental health nurses are women and 16.9% of mental health nurses are men.
- Female, 83.1%
- Male, 16.9%
Mental health nurse gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Female | 83.1% |
| Male | 16.9% |
Mental health nurse gender pay gap
Women earn 93¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$116,258
Female income
$108,668
Mental health nurse gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in mental health nurse positions over time. Currently, 83.1% of mental health nurses are female.
Mental health nurse gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 12.88% | 87.12% |
| 2011 | 13.38% | 86.62% |
| 2012 | 13.54% | 86.46% |
| 2013 | 14.08% | 85.92% |
| 2014 | 15.30% | 84.70% |
| 2015 | 14.82% | 85.18% |
| 2016 | 15.34% | 84.66% |
| 2017 | 16.09% | 83.91% |
| 2018 | 16.54% | 83.46% |
| 2019 | 16.62% | 83.38% |
| 2020 | 16.93% | 83.07% |
| 2021 | 16.91% | 83.09% |
Mental health nurse related jobs gender ratio
We compared mental health nurses with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, flight surgeon and optometrist, owner have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Staff Nurse Midwife | 2% | 98% |
| Perinatal Nurse | 3% | 97% |
| Therapeutic Dietitian | 3% | 97% |
| Mental Health Nurse | 17% | 83% |
| Radiology Resident | 75% | 25% |
| Optometrist, Owner | 76% | 24% |
| Flight Surgeon | 82% | 18% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Mental health nurse demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among mental health nurses is White, which makes up 65.2% of all mental health nurses. Comparatively, 12.2% of mental health nurses are Black or African American and 9.1% of mental health nurses are Asian.
- White, 65.2%
- Black or African American, 12.2%
- Asian, 9.1%
- Hispanic or Latino, 8.8%
- Unknown, 4.2%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
Mental health nurse race
| Mental health nurse race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 65.2% |
| Black or African American | 12.2% |
| Asian | 9.1% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 8.8% |
| Unknown | 4.2% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.5% |
Mental health nurse race and ethnicity over time
See how mental health nurse racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Mental health nurse race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 72.20% | 12.38% | 7.27% | 6.30% |
| 2011 | 71.79% | 12.75% | 7.18% | 6.37% |
| 2012 | 71.39% | 12.88% | 7.28% | 6.59% |
| 2013 | 71.23% | 12.81% | 7.38% | 6.55% |
| 2014 | 70.04% | 12.95% | 7.91% | 7.07% |
| 2015 | 70.23% | 13.07% | 7.43% | 7.20% |
| 2016 | 70.03% | 12.59% | 7.87% | 7.46% |
| 2017 | 69.67% | 12.10% | 8.05% | 7.81% |
| 2018 | 69.47% | 12.76% | 7.79% | 7.71% |
| 2019 | 69.49% | 12.11% | 8.09% | 8.06% |
| 2020 | 67.35% | 11.72% | 8.11% | 8.53% |
| 2021 | 65.21% | 12.19% | 9.08% | 8.84% |
Mental health nurse wage gap by race
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $112,567 |
| White | $110,990 |
| Black or African American | $111,358 |
| Asian | $133,878 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $114,024 |
Average mental health nurse age
See how the average age of mental health nurses varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Mental health nurse age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 45 | 45 |
| Unknown | 39 | 40.5 |
| Asian | 39 | 44 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 39 | 38 |
| White | 42 | 44 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 42 |
Mental health nurse age breakdown
The average age of mental health nurses is 40+ years years old, representing 59% of the mental health nurse population.
Mental health nurse age breakdown
| Mental Health Nurse Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 59% |
| 30-40 years | 28% |
| 20-30 years | 14% |
Mental health nurse educational attainment
The most common degree for mental health nurses is bachelor's degree, with 43% of mental health nurses earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 28% and associate degree degree at 18%.
- Bachelor's, 43%
- Associate, 28%
- Master's, 18%
- Diploma, 5%
- Other Degrees, 6%
Mental health nurses by degree level
| Mental health nurse degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 43% |
| Associate | 28% |
| Master's | 18% |
| Diploma | 5% |
| Other Degrees | 6% |
Mental health nurse jobs you might like
Mental health nurse wage gap by degree level
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $140,278 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $121,602 |
| Doctorate Degree | $127,746 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $101,320 |
Mental health nurse employment statistics
Most mental health nurses work for a private in the health care industry.
Company size where mental health nurses work
Below, you can see the size of companies where mental health nurses work.
Mental health nurse jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 5% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 22% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 27% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 8% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 26% |
| > 10,000 employees | 11% |
Mental health nurse jobs by company type
Employees with the mental health nurse job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most mental health nurses prefer to work at private companies over government companies.
Mental health nurse jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 7% |
| Public | 5% |
| Private | 78% |
| Government | 10% |
Mental health nurse jobs by industry
The most common industries for mental health nurses are health care, government and professional.
Mental health nurse industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Health Care | 66% |
| Government | 7% |
| Professional | 6% |
| Education | 4% |
| Non Profits | 3% |
| Pharmaceutical | 2% |
| Hospitality | 2% |
| Manufacturing | 1% |
| Finance | 1% |
| Start-up | 1% |
| Fortune 500 | 1% |
| Retail | 1% |
| Technology | 1% |
| Insurance | 1% |
Mental health nurse turnover and employment statistics
Mental health nurse unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for mental health nurses between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Mental health nurse unemployment rate by year
| Year | Mental health nurse unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 1.90% |
| 2011 | 1.97% |
| 2012 | 1.94% |
| 2013 | 1.69% |
| 2014 | 1.75% |
| 2015 | 1.37% |
| 2016 | 1.10% |
| 2017 | 1.04% |
| 2018 | 1.07% |
| 2019 | 1.04% |
| 2020 | 1.45% |
| 2021 | 1.37% |
Average mental health nurse tenure
The average mental health nurse stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 2,606 mental health nurses resumes in Zippia's database.
Mental health nurse tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 26% |
| 1-2 years | 29% |
| 3-4 years | 12% |
| 5-7 years | 18% |
| 8-10 years | 7% |
| 11+ years | 8% |
Mental health nurse LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of mental health nurses that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Mental Health Nurse | 8.72% | - |
| Paediatrician | 9.88% | 1,177 |
| Physician Assistant Student | 11.62% | 58,769 |
| Kinesiotherapist | 13.00% | 35,895 |
| Pulmonologist/Intensivist | 13.05% | 438 |
| Eye Specialist | 17.57% | 5,904 |
| Senior Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist | 31.64% | 166,113 |
Similar mental health nurse jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Paediatrician | 9.88% | 1,177 |
| Physician Assistant Student | 11.62% | 58,769 |
| Kinesiotherapist | 13.00% | 35,895 |
| Pulmonologist/Intensivist | 13.05% | 438 |
| Eye Specialist | 17.57% | 5,904 |
| Senior Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist | 31.64% | 166,113 |
Foreign languages spoken by mental health nurses
The most common foreign language among mental health nurses is Spanish at 57.6%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 7.6% and German is the third-most popular at 4.5%.
- Spanish, 57.6%
- French, 7.6%
- German, 4.5%
- Tagalog, 4.5%
- Swahili, 3.0%
- Other, 22.8%
Mental health nurse languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 57.6% |
| French | 7.6% |
| German | 4.5% |
| Tagalog | 4.5% |
| Swahili | 3.0% |
| Other | 22.8% |
