Best cities for a mental health specialist
The best cities for mental health specialists are Stockton, CA, San Francisco, CA, and Oakland, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for mental health specialists vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for mental health specialists in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a mental health specialist or considering a move, this list of the best cities for mental health specialists to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for mental health specialists. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a mental health specialist. While the absolute best city for mental health specialists is Stockton, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for mental health specialists in 2024.
If you're looking for a mental health specialist job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for mental health specialists in 2026
1. Stockton, CA
Total mental health specialist jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $72,930 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $117,000 Location quotient: 2.75 2. San Francisco, CA
Total mental health specialist jobs: 41 Average annual salary: $73,831 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $118,000 Location quotient: 1.33 3. Oakland, CA
Total mental health specialist jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $73,688 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $118,000 Location quotient: 1.36 4. Long Beach, CA
Total mental health specialist jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $71,213 Lowest 10 percent warn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $114,000 Location quotient: 4.26 5. Riverside, CA
Total mental health specialist jobs: 14 Average annual salary: $70,640 Lowest 10 percent warn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $113,000 Location quotient: 7.62 6. San Jose, CA
Total mental health specialist jobs: 23 Average annual salary: $73,674 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $118,000 Location quotient: 1.06 7. Hempstead, NY
Total mental health specialist jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $57,458 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Location quotient: 9.79 8. Sacramento, CA
Total mental health specialist jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $72,617 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $116,000 Location quotient: 1.09 9. Los Angeles, CA
Total mental health specialist jobs: 31 Average annual salary: $71,460 Lowest 10 percent warn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $114,000 Location quotient: 1.18 10. San Diego, CA
Total mental health specialist jobs: 32 Average annual salary: $69,948 Lowest 10 percent warn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location quotient: 1.72
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Best cities for mental health specialists
- Stockton, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Long Beach, CA
- Riverside, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Hempstead, NY
- Sacramento, CA
- Los Angeles, CA
- San Diego, CA
- (3 mental health specialist jobs)
- (41 mental health specialist jobs)
- (4 mental health specialist jobs)
- (8 mental health specialist jobs)
- (14 mental health specialist jobs)
- (23 mental health specialist jobs)
- (1 mental health specialist jobs)
- (7 mental health specialist jobs)
- (31 mental health specialist jobs)
- (32 mental health specialist jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a mental health specialist
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stockton, CA | $72,930 | $45,000 | 307,072 | 3 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $73,831 | $45,000 | 870,887 | 41 |
| 3 | Oakland, CA | $73,688 | $45,000 | 420,005 | 4 |
| 4 | Long Beach, CA | $71,213 | $44,000 | 470,130 | 8 |
| 5 | Riverside, CA | $70,640 | $44,000 | 324,722 | 14 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $73,674 | $45,000 | 1,025,350 | 23 |
| 7 | Hempstead, NY | $57,458 | $36,000 | 759,757 | 1 |
| 8 | Sacramento, CA | $72,617 | $45,000 | 495,234 | 7 |
| 9 | Los Angeles, CA | $71,460 | $44,000 | 3,976,322 | 31 |
| 10 | San Diego, CA | $69,948 | $43,000 | 1,406,630 | 32 |
| 11 | Anchorage, AK | $65,373 | $56,000 | 298,192 | 1 |
| 12 | Fresno, CA | $72,503 | $45,000 | 522,053 | 1 |
| 13 | Minneapolis, MN | $50,193 | $34,000 | 413,651 | 28 |
| 14 | Seattle, WA | $57,905 | $38,000 | 704,352 | 31 |
| 15 | Irvine, CA | $70,860 | $44,000 | 266,122 | 4 |
| 16 | Fremont, CA | $73,632 | $45,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 17 | Las Vegas, NV | $58,986 | $36,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 18 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $62,838 | $52,000 | 351,792 | 9 |
| 19 | Reno, NV | $60,155 | $37,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 20 | Henderson, NV | $58,872 | $36,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 21 | Saint Paul, MN | $50,195 | $34,000 | 302,398 | 7 |
| 22 | North Las Vegas, NV | $58,860 | $36,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 23 | Portland, OR | $53,952 | $35,000 | 639,863 | 9 |
| 24 | Raleigh, NC | $52,768 | $34,000 | 458,880 | 2 |
| 25 | Buffalo, NY | $54,900 | $35,000 | 256,902 | 7 |
| 26 | Bakersfield, CA | $72,187 | $44,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 27 | Anaheim, CA | $71,030 | $44,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 28 | Santa Ana, CA | $70,964 | $44,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 29 | New York, NY | $57,291 | $36,000 | 8,537,673 | 37 |
| 30 | Phoenix, AZ | $50,243 | $31,000 | 1,615,017 | 11 |
| 31 | Wichita, KS | $43,929 | $28,000 | 389,902 | 6 |
| 32 | Winston-Salem, NC | $52,829 | $34,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 33 | Greensboro, NC | $52,821 | $34,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 34 | Charlotte, NC | $52,680 | $34,000 | 842,051 | 1 |
| 35 | Durham, NC | $52,816 | $34,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 36 | Chula Vista, CA | $69,808 | $43,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 37 | Brookhaven, NY | $57,720 | $36,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 38 | Islip, NY | $57,646 | $36,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 39 | Oyster Bay, NY | $57,473 | $36,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 40 | Glendale, AZ | $50,284 | $31,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 41 | San Antonio, TX | $46,734 | $29,000 | 1,492,510 | 2 |
| 42 | Colorado Springs, CO | $43,927 | $29,000 | 465,101 | 24 |
| 43 | Madison, WI | $40,307 | $27,000 | 252,551 | 21 |
| 44 | Columbus, OH | $39,241 | $26,000 | 860,090 | 27 |
| 45 | Toledo, OH | $39,246 | $26,000 | 278,508 | 2 |
| 46 | Scottsdale, AZ | $50,148 | $31,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 47 | Chandler, AZ | $50,087 | $31,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 48 | Mesa, AZ | $50,046 | $31,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 49 | Cincinnati, OH | $39,188 | $25,000 | 298,800 | 8 |
| 50 | Gilbert, AZ | $50,044 | $31,000 | 237,133 | - |
Highest paying cities for mental health specialists
| Rank | City | Avg. mental health specialist salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $73,831 |
| 2 | Anchorage, AK | $65,373 |
| 3 | Olympia, WA | $58,484 |
| 4 | Salt Lake City, UT | $58,369 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $58,085 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $57,291 |
| 7 | Eugene, OR | $54,922 |
| 8 | New Brunswick, NJ | $53,974 |
| 9 | Bloomington, MN | $50,266 |
| 10 | Conroe, TX | $45,920 |
| 11 | Colorado Springs, CO | $43,927 |
| 12 | Bloomington, IL | $43,717 |
| 13 | Brockton, MA | $42,772 |
| 14 | Madison, WI | $40,307 |
| 15 | Pittsburgh, PA | $39,690 |
| 16 | Norfolk, VA | $39,660 |
| 17 | Cleveland, OH | $39,569 |
| 18 | Lincoln, NE | $32,995 |
Mental health specialist best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025