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Best states for a mental health therapist
Quoted expert
Ali Cunningham Abbott Ph.D.
- Rank 1 - 10
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It seems like mental health therapists are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for mental health therapists aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. In order to help you decide which state is the best for mental health therapists, we ranked all 50 states and the District of Columbia from best to worst for mental health therapist jobs.
To that end, we dove into our dataset of job and salary numbers to figure out which states have the best opportunities for mental health therapists. California is the best state for mental health therapists, where the median salary is $69,994.We found that the South is best for mental health therapists, and the West is the worst. San Francisco, CA is the best city in the country for mental health therapist jobs, where as California is the best state in the country.
10 best states for mental health therapists in 2025
1. California
Total mental health therapist jobs: 8,932 Average annual salary: $69,994 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location Quotient: 1.29
2. Washington
Total mental health therapist jobs: 2,376 Average annual salary: $63,894 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location Quotient: 1.37
3. North Dakota
Total mental health therapist jobs: 266 Average annual salary: $60,195 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Location Quotient: 1.2
4. Minnesota
Total mental health therapist jobs: 1,544 Average annual salary: $60,566 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location Quotient: 0.98
5. Nevada
Total mental health therapist jobs: 437 Average annual salary: $62,739 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Location Quotient: 0.88
6. Connecticut
Total mental health therapist jobs: 404 Average annual salary: $70,469 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location Quotient: 0.51
7. Delaware
Total mental health therapist jobs: 314 Average annual salary: $58,121 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Location Quotient: 1.05
8. Maine
Total mental health therapist jobs: 470 Average annual salary: $52,592 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Location Quotient: 1.49
9. Idaho
Total mental health therapist jobs: 491 Average annual salary: $52,455 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Location Quotient: 1.26
10. New Jersey
Total mental health therapist jobs: 1,632 Average annual salary: $62,417 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Location Quotient: 0.87
Mental health therapist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a mental health therapist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a mental health therapist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $69,994 | $47,000 | 39,536,653 | 8,932 |
| 2 | Washington | $63,894 | $46,000 | 7,405,743 | 2,376 |
| 3 | North Dakota | $60,195 | $43,000 | 755,393 | 266 |
| 4 | Minnesota | $60,566 | $42,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,544 |
| 5 | Nevada | $62,739 | $43,000 | 2,998,039 | 437 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $70,469 | $46,000 | 3,588,184 | 404 |
| 7 | Delaware | $58,121 | $37,000 | 961,939 | 314 |
| 8 | Maine | $52,592 | $35,000 | 1,335,907 | 470 |
| 9 | Idaho | $52,455 | $37,000 | 1,716,943 | 491 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $62,417 | $40,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,632 |
| 11 | North Carolina | $55,482 | $37,000 | 10,273,419 | 2,281 |
| 12 | Alaska | $62,862 | $53,000 | 739,795 | 168 |
| 13 | New York | $62,399 | $40,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,360 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $61,674 | $41,000 | 1,342,795 | 232 |
| 15 | Illinois | $54,081 | $37,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,571 |
| 16 | Michigan | $49,395 | $33,000 | 9,962,311 | 2,291 |
| 17 | Virginia | $55,919 | $36,000 | 8,470,020 | 2,190 |
| 18 | District of Columbia | $62,230 | $40,000 | 693,972 | 294 |
| 19 | South Dakota | $53,456 | $37,000 | 869,666 | 161 |
| 20 | Hawaii | $51,051 | $38,000 | 1,427,538 | 286 |
| 21 | Iowa | $47,514 | $33,000 | 3,145,711 | 1,075 |
| 22 | Colorado | $50,482 | $35,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,687 |
| 23 | Utah | $51,382 | $36,000 | 3,101,833 | 604 |
| 24 | Vermont | $54,304 | $36,000 | 623,657 | 100 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $48,622 | $33,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,453 |
| 26 | Massachusetts | $52,414 | $34,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,122 |
| 27 | Oregon | $51,742 | $37,000 | 4,142,776 | 781 |
| 28 | Indiana | $44,586 | $30,000 | 6,666,818 | 2,345 |
| 29 | Montana | $49,559 | $36,000 | 1,050,493 | 249 |
| 30 | Ohio | $46,878 | $31,000 | 11,658,609 | 2,534 |
| 31 | Rhode Island | $50,819 | $33,000 | 1,059,639 | 207 |
| 32 | Maryland | $47,885 | $31,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,693 |
| 33 | Arizona | $48,412 | $33,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,244 |
| 34 | New Mexico | $50,222 | $35,000 | 2,088,070 | 222 |
| 35 | Texas | $46,135 | $31,000 | 28,304,596 | 4,970 |
| 36 | Kansas | $44,012 | $30,000 | 2,913,123 | 795 |
| 37 | Wyoming | $47,562 | $34,000 | 579,315 | 108 |
| 38 | Missouri | $43,870 | $30,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,584 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $40,099 | $27,000 | 4,454,189 | 999 |
| 40 | Alabama | $41,202 | $28,000 | 4,874,747 | 1,111 |
| 41 | South Carolina | $37,806 | $25,000 | 5,024,369 | 1,372 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $38,649 | $26,000 | 3,930,864 | 838 |
| 43 | Pennsylvania | $38,768 | $25,000 | 12,805,537 | 2,439 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $30,834 | $21,000 | 3,004,279 | 781 |
| 45 | Nebraska | $36,505 | $25,000 | 1,920,076 | 585 |
| 46 | West Virginia | $40,169 | $26,000 | 1,815,857 | 127 |
| 47 | Tennessee | $38,893 | $26,000 | 6,715,984 | 991 |
| 48 | Georgia | $36,526 | $24,000 | 10,429,379 | 2,300 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $37,719 | $25,000 | 4,684,333 | 630 |
| 50 | Florida | $39,907 | $26,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,862 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $37,360 | $25,000 | 2,984,100 | 318 |
Highest paying states for mental health therapists
| Rank | State | Avg. Mental Health Therapist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $69,994 |
| 2 | Washington | $63,894 |
| 3 | North Dakota | $60,195 |
| 4 | Minnesota | $60,566 |
| 5 | Nevada | $62,739 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $70,469 |
| 7 | Delaware | $58,121 |
| 8 | Maine | $52,592 |
| 9 | Idaho | $52,455 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $62,417 |
| 11 | North Carolina | $55,482 |
| 12 | Alaska | $62,862 |
| 13 | New York | $62,399 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $61,674 |
| 15 | Illinois | $54,081 |
| 16 | Michigan | $49,395 |
| 17 | Virginia | $55,919 |
| 18 | District of Columbia | $62,230 |
| 19 | South Dakota | $53,456 |
| 20 | Hawaii | $51,051 |
| 21 | Iowa | $47,514 |
| 22 | Colorado | $50,482 |
| 23 | Utah | $51,382 |
| 24 | Vermont | $54,304 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $48,622 |
| 26 | Massachusetts | $52,414 |
| 27 | Oregon | $51,742 |
| 28 | Indiana | $44,586 |
| 29 | Montana | $49,559 |
| 30 | Ohio | $46,878 |
| 31 | Rhode Island | $50,819 |
| 32 | Maryland | $47,885 |
| 33 | Arizona | $48,412 |
| 34 | New Mexico | $50,222 |
| 35 | Texas | $46,135 |
| 36 | Kansas | $44,012 |
| 37 | Wyoming | $47,562 |
| 38 | Missouri | $43,870 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $40,099 |
| 40 | Alabama | $41,202 |
| 41 | South Carolina | $37,806 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $38,649 |
| 43 | Pennsylvania | $38,768 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $30,834 |
| 45 | Nebraska | $36,505 |
| 46 | West Virginia | $40,169 |
| 47 | Tennessee | $38,893 |
| 48 | Georgia | $36,526 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $37,719 |
| 50 | Florida | $39,907 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $37,360 |
Expert opinions on the best states for mental health therapists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for mental health therapists 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 therapist best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025