Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Mental health specialist salary
Average mental health specialist salary
$47,321
Understanding Mental Health Specialist Salaries
The average salary for a Mental Health Specialist is approximately $47,321 per year. This figure can fluctuate based on several factors, such as geographic location, years of experience, and workplace environment. For instance, specialists in urban areas often earn more compared to their rural counterparts due to increased demand and living costs.
Experience also plays a significant role in determining salary. Entry-level specialists might start around $35,000, while those with several years in the field can earn upwards of $60,000 annually. Additionally, mental health specialists working in hospitals or specialized clinics may command higher salaries than those in community health settings.
Specific states like California and New York typically offer some of the highest salaries for these professionals. Understanding the salary landscape can aid current and prospective specialists in negotiating their pay and assessing job offers effectively. Overall, the demand for mental health services continues to grow, presenting numerous opportunities for career advancement and stable employment.
Let Zippi find your next mental health specialist job
Let Zippi find your next mental health specialist job
Where can a Mental Health Specialist earn more?
Mental health specialist salaries by experience level
Mental health specialist salary estimates from across the web
Average mental health specialist salary by state
The average mental health specialist salary in California, Alaska, and Hawaii are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average mental health specialist salary states are Tennessee, Kentucky, and South Carolina.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for mental health specialists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $71,693 | $34.47 |
| 2 | Alaska | $64,875 | $31.19 |
| 3 | Iowa | $53,330 | $25.64 |
| 4 | Hawaii | $62,867 | $30.22 |
| 5 | Nevada | $59,048 | $28.39 |
| 6 | Utah | $58,584 | $28.17 |
| 7 | Washington | $57,591 | $27.69 |
| 8 | North Carolina | $52,722 | $25.35 |
| 9 | Arizona | $50,121 | $24.10 |
| 10 | New York | $57,146 | $27.47 |
| 11 | North Dakota | $51,876 | $24.94 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $56,304 | $27.07 |
| 13 | Minnesota | $50,120 | $24.10 |
| 14 | Idaho | $48,865 | $23.49 |
| 15 | Maine | $47,539 | $22.86 |
| 16 | Connecticut | $57,600 | $27.69 |
| 17 | District of Columbia | $58,093 | $27.93 |
| 18 | Vermont | $49,011 | $23.56 |
| 19 | Oregon | $54,287 | $26.10 |
| 20 | Delaware | $51,851 | $24.93 |
| 21 | South Dakota | $49,073 | $23.59 |
| 22 | New Jersey | $54,011 | $25.97 |
| 23 | Wyoming | $45,636 | $21.94 |
| 24 | Rhode Island | $46,897 | $22.55 |
| 25 | Mississippi | $45,143 | $21.70 |
| 26 | Michigan | $42,804 | $20.58 |
| 27 | New Mexico | $47,645 | $22.91 |
| 28 | Texas | $46,116 | $22.17 |
| 29 | Massachusetts | $42,337 | $20.35 |
| 30 | Indiana | $40,547 | $19.49 |
| 31 | Kansas | $43,571 | $20.95 |
| 32 | Montana | $45,416 | $21.83 |
| 33 | Colorado | $43,749 | $21.03 |
| 34 | Ohio | $39,312 | $18.90 |
| 35 | Florida | $45,002 | $21.64 |
| 36 | Alabama | $41,782 | $20.09 |
| 37 | Pennsylvania | $40,843 | $19.64 |
| 38 | Maryland | $39,577 | $19.03 |
| 39 | Wisconsin | $40,290 | $19.37 |
| 40 | Missouri | $39,796 | $19.13 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $38,624 | $18.57 |
| 42 | Illinois | $43,520 | $20.92 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $38,873 | $18.69 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $38,259 | $18.39 |
| 45 | West Virginia | $40,940 | $19.68 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $31,074 | $14.94 |
| 47 | Virginia | $39,737 | $19.10 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $32,967 | $15.85 |
| 49 | Tennessee | $38,520 | $18.52 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $37,170 | $17.87 |
| 51 | Georgia | $36,553 | $17.57 |
Highest paying cities for mental health specialists
The highest-paying cities for mental health specialists are San Francisco, CA, Anchorage, AK, and Olympia, WA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $73,831 | $35.50 |
| 2 | Anchorage, AK | $65,373 | $31.43 |
| 3 | Olympia, WA | $58,484 | $28.12 |
| 4 | Salt Lake City, UT | $58,369 | $28.06 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $58,085 | $27.93 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $57,291 | $27.54 |
| 7 | Eugene, OR | $54,922 | $26.40 |
| 8 | New Brunswick, NJ | $53,974 | $25.95 |
| 9 | Bloomington, MN | $50,266 | $24.17 |
| 10 | Conroe, TX | $45,920 | $22.08 |
| 11 | Colorado Springs, CO | $43,927 | $21.12 |
| 12 | Bloomington, IL | $43,717 | $21.02 |
| 13 | Brockton, MA | $42,772 | $20.56 |
| 14 | Madison, WI | $40,307 | $19.38 |
| 15 | Pittsburgh, PA | $39,690 | $19.08 |
| 16 | Norfolk, VA | $39,660 | $19.07 |
| 17 | Cleveland, OH | $39,569 | $19.02 |
| 18 | Lincoln, NE | $32,995 | $15.86 |
Mental health specialist salary details
A mental health specialist's salary ranges from $31,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $71,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a mental health specialist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $71,000 | $5,917 | $34 |
| 75th Percentile | $58,000 | $4,833 | $28 |
| Average | $47,321 | $3,943 | $23 |
| 25th Percentile | $38,000 | $3,167 | $18 |
| 10th Percentile | $31,000 | $2,583 | $15 |
Highest paying mental health specialist jobs
The highest paying types of mental health specialists are mental health clinician, treatment specialist, and mental health practitioner.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community Health Counselor | $43,304 | $3,609 | $20.82 | 131,804 |
| Mental Health Practitioner | $50,628 | $4,219 | $24.34 | 140,365 |
| Mental Health Counselor | $49,471 | $4,123 | $23.78 | 110,752 |
| Mental Health Worker | $41,081 | $3,423 | $19.75 | 144,879 |
| Mental Health Professional | $49,119 | $4,093 | $23.61 | 109,499 |
| Mental Health Clinician | $54,359 | $4,530 | $26.13 | 91,347 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for mental health specialists, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Logan Lamprecht Ph.D.
Clinical Assistant Professor, Counseling Clinic Director, Idaho State University
Top companies hiring mental health specialists now:
Which companies pay mental health specialists the most?
Mental health specialist salaries at Research Foundation For Mental Hygiene Inc and Highland General Hospital are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average mental health specialist salary at companies like New York University and Alameda Health System are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Research Foundation For Mental Hygiene Inc | $66,726 | $32.08 |
| 2 | Highland General Hospital | $66,087 | $31.77 |
| 3 | New York University | $64,491 | $31.01 |
| 4 | Alameda Health System | $63,543 | $30.55 |
| 5 | Community Health Network | $63,345 | $30.45 |
| 6 | Jefferson County Sheriffs Dept | $62,468 | $30.03 |
| 7 | CFG Health Systems | $62,102 | $29.86 |
| 8 | Wellpath | $59,452 | $28.58 |
| 9 | Chicago Public Schools | $59,164 | $28.44 |
| 10 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | $57,634 | $27.71 |
| 11 | Indian Health Service | $57,447 | $27.62 |
| 12 | Catapult Learning | $57,357 | $27.58 |
| 13 | Crossover Health | $57,326 | $27.56 |
| 14 | Orange County | $56,773 | $27.29 |
| 15 | Texas | $56,712 | $27.27 |
| 16 | Florida Department of Transportation | $56,443 | $27.14 |
| 17 | EducareWashingtonDC | $56,112 | $26.98 |
| 18 | Boston Medical Center | $55,914 | $26.88 |
| 19 | International Rescue Committee | $55,422 | $26.65 |
| 20 | Overlake Medical Center & Clinics | $55,324 | $26.60 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Mental Health Specialist salary by industry
The average mental health specialist salary varies across industries:
- The average mental health specialist salary in the government industry is $47,531, the highest of any industry.
- The average mental health specialist salary in the finance industry is $43,784.
- Mental health specialists in the pharmaceutical industry earn an average salary of $38,916, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for mental health specialists
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Government | $47,531 | $22.85 |
| 2 | Non Profits | $43,784 | $21.05 |
| 3 | Professional | $43,748 | $21.03 |
| 4 | Health Care | $40,927 | $19.68 |
| 5 | Pharmaceutical | $38,916 | $18.71 |
High paying mental health specialist jobs
Mental health specialist salary trends
The average mental health specialist salary has risen by $9,217 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average mental health specialist earned $38,104 annually, but today, they earn $47,321 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for mental health specialists over the last decade.
Compare mental health specialist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average mental health specialist salary over time
Compare mental health specialist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Mental health specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $47,300 | $22.75 | +4.2% |
| 2024 | $45,300 | $21.78 | +3.9% |
| 2023 | $43,600 | $20.94 | +3.5% |
| 2022 | $42,000 | $20.20 | +1.3% |
| 2021 | $41,500 | $19.94 | +1.2% |
Recently added mental health specialist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acelero Learning | Mental Health and Wellness Specialist | Milwaukee, WI | 06/30/2025 | $82,739 |
| Wounded Warrior Project | Adventure Based Mental Health Specialist | San Diego, CA | 06/30/2025 | $65,945 |
| South Dakota Board of Regents | Statewide Mental Health Field Specialist I | Conde, SD | 06/29/2025 | $56,000 |
| Summitstone Health Partners | School Based Mental Health Specialist | Loveland, CO | 06/28/2025 | $50,171 |
| Community Counseling Solutions | Mental Health Specialist II/III-Community Based Team | Hermiston, OR | 06/28/2025 | $67,500 |
| Lane County, or | Mental Health Specialist 1 or 2 | Ione, OR | 06/27/2025 | $64,447 |
| Bristol Myers Squibb | Senior Institutional Mental Health Account Specialist, Neuroscience-Cobenfy | Lancaster, PA | 06/26/2025 | $143,291 |
| Metropolitan Family Services | Bilingual Early Learning Mental Health Specialist | Chicago, IL | 06/26/2025 | $50,000 |
| Rosecrance | Mental Health Recovery Specialist (3RD Shift) | Rockford, IL | 06/26/2025 | $37,566 |
| Area Cooperative Educational Services | Mental Health Specialist | Hamden, CT | 06/26/2025 | $58,512 |
Mental health specialist salary FAQs
Search for mental health specialist jobs