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Job outlook for mental health workers in the United States
Mental health worker job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected mental health worker job growth rate is 9% from 2018-2028.
About 64,000 new jobs for mental health workers are projected over the next decade.
Mental health worker salaries have increased 14% for mental health workers in the last 5 years.
There are over 42,405 mental health workers currently employed in the United States.
There are 144,879 active mental health worker job openings in the US.
The average mental health worker salary is $41,081.
Are mental health worker jobs in demand?
Mental health worker job and salary trends over time
Mental health worker jobs over time
Mental health worker job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 42,405 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 40,383 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 38,469 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 36,223 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 34,300 | 0.01% |
Average mental health worker salary over time
Mental health worker salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $41,081 | $19.75 | +4.4% |
| 2024 | $39,336 | $18.91 | +4.0% |
| 2023 | $37,809 | $18.18 | +3.7% |
| 2022 | $36,469 | $17.53 | +1.3% |
| 2021 | $36,005 | $17.31 | +1.3% |
Mental health worker jobs by state
Most common states for mental health workers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 249 | 36% |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 2,419 | 35% |
| 3 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 269 | 31% |
| 4 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 407 | 30% |
| 5 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 546 | 28% |
| 6 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 1,628 | 27% |
| 7 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 450 | 26% |
| 8 | Delaware | 961,939 | 250 | 26% |
| 9 | Alaska | 739,795 | 193 | 26% |
| 10 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 2,541 | 25% |
| 11 | Vermont | 623,657 | 153 | 25% |
| 12 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 2,067 | 24% |
| 13 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,372 | 24% |
| 14 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,281 | 23% |
| 15 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 709 | 23% |
| 16 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,356 | 22% |
| 17 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,559 | 21% |
| 18 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 1,013 | 21% |
| 19 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 872 | 21% |
| 20 | Oklahoma | 3,930,864 | 808 | 21% |
Most common cities for mental health workers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tewksbury | 25 | 86% | $35,571 |
| 2 | Bangor | 6 | 19% | $38,412 |
| 3 | Muskegon | 5 | 13% | $34,688 |
| 4 | Taunton | 4 | 7% | $36,936 |
| 5 | Billings | 6 | 5% | $27,908 |
| 6 | Boston | 17 | 3% | $36,036 |
| 7 | Providence | 6 | 3% | $38,248 |
| 8 | Anaheim | 8 | 2% | $52,821 |
| 9 | Sacramento | 7 | 1% | $54,650 |
| 10 | Chula Vista | 4 | 1% | $51,436 |
| 11 | Minneapolis | 4 | 1% | $39,564 |
| 12 | Los Angeles | 7 | 0% | $53,257 |
| 13 | Philadelphia | 5 | 0% | $33,278 |
| 14 | San Diego | 5 | 0% | $51,592 |
| 15 | Chicago | 3 | 0% | $37,817 |
Mental Health Worker job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of mental health worker experts
Ohio State University
Ohio University
Baruch College of the City University of New York
Western Illinois University
Ramapo College of New Jersey
Ohio University
Colorado State University - Pueblo
Northeastern Illinois University
College of Saint Scholastica
Florida Institute of Technology
University of Alaska Anchorage
Metropolitan State University
Campbellsville University
Loyola University New Orleans
SUNY College at Oswego
Lindsey Nichols
Associate ProfessorWhat general advice would you give to a Mental Health Worker?
Lindsey Nichols: Your career path is a journey not typically a single destination. You will be exposed to professions, organizations, people etc. all the time and that networking and those relationships are so important. Unfortunately, social media, movies, etc. give a false impression to viewers about what counselors (of many specialty areas like school counseling, mental health, addictions, etc.) actually do. If you know licensed/certified counselors follow-up with them, ask them questions about their day-to-day activities, and volunteer or work so you can get more exposure to the helping professions, I think about the Boys-and-Girls Club, substituting in your local school district, organizations that provide helping services to people at all ages.
What will help Mental Health Workers increase their earning potential?
Emily McCave PhD, MSW, LCSW: For clinical positions, which is what most social workers do, daily tasks typically include conducting assessments and providing individual, family, and/or group therapy to children and/or adults, while collaborating with other providers working with the client. There is also daily clinical documentation that needs to be completed.
Deanna Wilkinson Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorOhio State University
Human Development, Family Studies, And Related Services
What general advice would you give to a Mental Health Worker?
Deanna Wilkinson Ph.D.: The best way to maximize your salary potential is to do your homework. Start with self-awareness. What can and will you be able to contribute to the organization that will help the organization achieve their goals. Be able to “sell” your strengths, fit with the position, and areas for future growth. It is important to have realistic salary expectations while also sharpen your negotiation skills. Research to find out what are people in similar positions making in your community.
What Mental Health Worker skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Deanna Wilkinson Ph.D.: My advice to HDFS graduates beginning their careers is to seek out opportunities that align with your passions and will allow you to utilize your academic knowledge and skills to help children and families in meaningful ways.
What will help Mental Health Workers increase their earning potential?
Deanna Wilkinson Ph.D.: In the next 3-5 years, technology, diversity and inclusion, and problem-solving skills will become more important in the field of HDFS. The helping professions will play an important role as technology continues to reshape human daily life and social interactions.
What general advice would you give to a Mental Health Worker?
L. Justin Wheeler: There are often salary discrepancies between settings – for example, hospital and government settings tend to have higher salaries than private nonprofit, community behavioral health, or education settings. Even so, within the same agency there can be higher earning potential in different programs, depending on many factors including demand and program funding source and type. Knowing your local market and opportunities is important, as is locating salary data for social workers and related fields. Pursuing skill development through training, supervised practice, and consultation in areas of interest can improve marketability.
What Mental Health Worker skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
L. Justin Wheeler: Technology including telehealth, electronic medical records systems, AI, practice evaluation data collection, and other areas will continue to grow and require ethical and proficient users. There will always be a need for social workers to help shape policies and legislation based on human needs and human rights, so leadership, advocacy, and facilitation skills are important. And as loneliness and behavioral health needs expand, the core relationship-building and problem-solving skills social workers learn will be in high demand.
What will help Mental Health Workers increase their earning potential?
L. Justin Wheeler: One of the best ways to improve skills, continue to learn, and access support is to work as part of a team – take advantage of opportunities for group supervision, peer consultation, and interprofessional collaboration.
What general advice would you give to a Mental Health Worker?
Dr. Vanessa Alleyne: It will be important to network and utilize professional organizations of which you are a member, such as the ACA (American Counseling Association), or the ASGW (Association for Specialists in Group Work), for example. Meet people, attend training for advanced skills in key areas, and present there when possible. Whether locally or nationally, these are valuable connections to make when starting out, and will also enhance your knowledge base as you begin and grow. Another valuable connection to be made can be found through your alma mater. Find professional affinity groups from your undergraduate program, and certainly maintain or build ties with your graduate program alumni. Finally, many people turn to social media such as Linkedin, which is fine, but can also be a bit overwhelming. Be deliberate in your choices about who to connect with, and don't get fomo! It's ok not to connect with everyone that pops up in your feed. Stay with one social media site at a time until you feel it's working the way you'd like, and then go on to another.
What general advice would you give to a Mental Health Worker?
Timothy Aubry: I don’t think people should try to maximize their salary potential. I think graduates should find a salary they can live on and prioritize finding a fulfilling job. If their primary concern is money, they are seeing the job as a means to something else, and the money itself is just a means to some other kind of satisfaction. They’ll be unhappy at work and try to make up for it by buying things they probably won’t have any time to enjoy—justifying the miserable job they have. I’d suggest finding a job that is not just a means to an end, but that allows you to feel happy while you are working, fulfilled in what you are doing. In that kind of situation, as long as you can pay the bills, you won’t care as much whether you’re making more than your neighbors and your friends, since you won’t be measuring the value of your life by how much money you make.
What Mental Health Worker skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Timothy Aubry: I can’t really predict which skills will be important in the next 3-5 years, but that’s exactly why a liberal arts degree is a good bet. The reason I say that is that the liberal arts teach you to be flexible and open-minded, to rethink your assumptions continuously, to read new situations, and to adjust your ideas in response to new evidence. In other words, studying the liberal arts will prepare you to navigate an ever-changing job landscape and adapt to whatever demands and requirements come to prevail in the future. Rather than tie yourself down to one particular field or skillset, why not develop your mind so you can be prepared for all variety of challenges and possibilities?
What will help Mental Health Workers increase their earning potential?
Timothy Aubry: Try to think about what kind of job would be fulfilling and would allow you to do meaningful work that helps other people and not just think about what job will make the most money. Once you’ve decided on a field, be tireless and relentless in your search. Keep sending out cover letters, keep following up, keep trying. Don’t take rejections personally. It’s a hard market, and you have to search exhaustively in order to find a job that will truly make you happy.
Dr. Tiffany Bainter PhD LCPC NCC
Associate ProfessorWestern Illinois University
Clinical, Counseling And Applied Psychology
What general advice would you give to a Mental Health Worker?
Dr. Tiffany Bainter PhD LCPC NCC: Starting a career in counseling is a fulfilling journey but comes with its own set of challenges. My advice to graduates stepping into this field would be to prioritize self-care. It's crucial to maintain a healthy balance between your professional and personal life, especially when dealing with emotionally taxing situations. Seek supervision and mentorship regularly; having guidance from experienced professionals can provide invaluable insights and support as you navigate your counseling career. Additionally, stay open to continuous learning. The field of counseling is dynamic, with new research and techniques emerging constantly. Pursue opportunities for further education, attend workshops, and stay updated with the latest developments in the field. Cultivate empathy and cultural competence to better understand and connect with clients from diverse backgrounds. Building strong therapeutic relationships based on trust and empathy is at the core of effective counseling practice. Lastly, remember to advocate for mental health awareness and the importance of access to quality mental health services. Being a counselor goes beyond individual sessions; it involves being an advocate for your clients' well-being within the larger societal context.
What Mental Health Worker skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Timmesha Butler-Davis PhD, LCSW: Perhaps the most rewarding aspect of social work is its capacity for significant impact. Whether it's guiding someone through coping mechanisms in therapy or fostering empathy within marginalized communities, social workers play a pivotal role in effecting positive change. However, it's worth noting that the extensive documentation and writing required in this field are often perceived as less favorable aspects.
What will help Mental Health Workers increase their earning potential?
Dr. Timmesha Butler-Davis PhD, LCSW: One of the greatest strengths of social work lies in its versatility. Given the continual evolution of social norms and societal shifts, the field offers remarkable longevity. Despite being a relatively young profession, social work is in a constant state of growth and adaptation, inherently tied to the needs of the communities it serves.
What general advice would you give to a Mental Health Worker?
Jennifer Shadik: Social work can be a challenging profession. We are often helping people who have experienced trauma or are going through extremely difficult situations. We are there to help them navigate these challenges, while building on their strengths and resources. Helping people through these challenging circumstances and seeing them grow and change is very rewarding. Building relationships with people, helping them learn new knowledge and skills, and advocating for social and economic justice are gratifying aspects of being a social worker.
What Mental Health Worker skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Jennifer Shadik: There is a great need for trained social workers. Social work is a vast profession and you will find social workers practicing with children in schools, providing care for behavioral health or substance use disorders, as well as working in hospitals and hospice care. There are many jobs for trained and licensed social workers; the social work degree is very flexible, allowing social workers to work with a variety of populations and problems.
What will help Mental Health Workers increase their earning potential?
Jennifer Shadik: Social workers are involved in helping individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities in a variety of ways. Depending on the specific job, they may provide education, mediate conflict, connect individuals and families to resources, provide therapeutic intervention, and/or develop policies to help at an individual or national level.
What general advice would you give to a Mental Health Worker?
Pamela Richmond Ph.D.: Challenges social workers can face are high caseloads, not enough resources to assist clients and exposure to horrific aspects of humanity. Social workers enjoy being a part of the change process by recognizing the strengths and resiliency of individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities. Workers advocate for individuals that are marginalized and oppressed, ensuring they have a voice. They enjoy looking at solutions to problems and empowering others to make changes beneficial for their lives.
What Mental Health Worker skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Pamela Richmond Ph.D.: Social workers are trained to understand and intervene on three levels—micro (individuals and families), mezzo (formal groups and organizations) and macro (community and the broader society). Given the challenges currently taking place nationally and internationally such as poverty, immigration, abortion controversy, societal racism/discrimination and the war in the middle east, social workers are trained to intervene and advocate for change on a variety of system levels.
What will help Mental Health Workers increase their earning potential?
Pamela Richmond Ph.D.: Social workers employed in a variety of diverse settings to include prisons, hospitals, child welfare, homeless shelters, nursing homes, substance abuse facilities, mental health facilities, community organizations and politics (and there are many, many more settings). The setting and the population of clients the social workers assist (children, youth, adults, etc.) will determine the specific day-to-day workload. However, general daily tasks completed regardless of the setting include interacting with clients/community constituents, responding to phone calls/e-mails, problem-solving, teamwork within the organization employed and/or with community constituents and documentation. Social workers entering the profession have fulfilled placement work during their educational training. Meaning, prior to graduation they have been placed in an agency working under the supervision of a social worker applying what they have learned in their coursework. As a result, when they begin their work as a social worker, they are ready to apply the knowledge, values and the skills they have learned to fulfill the tasks mentioned above.
What will help Mental Health Workers increase their earning potential?
Dr. Pamela Fullerton: I think having diverse experiences in the field will be helpful when trying to make yourself stand out from the crowd of other clinicians. I also think adding specialty training and certifications to your resume may help in maximizing salary potential.
What general advice would you give to a Mental Health Worker?
Nancy Kelley PhD: The next 3-5 years may see some changes that will require certain skills to be even more important and prevalent in social work practice than ever before. One of the most pressing challenges social workers are currently facing is the extremely contentious political environment of the United States and the direct impact that has on equity and justice issues that have always been at the root of all social work efforts. The divisiveness that has been exacerbated in this country over the past several years has stifled social welfare policy efforts and has threatened social work education to effectively address longstanding and emerging social issues. Social workers will need to be especially adept at negotiating conflict embedded in divisive concepts and highly skilled to effect legislative change. This, combined with other unprecedented demographic and cultural changes, such as the aging of our population, increased cultural diversity and intersectionality within the U.S. population, and health and mental health crises, including illicit drug and addiction epidemics, make for extremely complex cases of vulnerable populations social workers serve. The level of knowledge and skill social workers must acquire and activate simultaneously, including trauma-informed approaches to be used cross-culturally, is immense. Another major need for advanced social work skills is with regard to the environment, including the effects of climate change on human conditions, and environmental justice. Some of these significant changes to the landscape of social work practice will force social workers to beef up their interprofessional and macro-practice skills. Lastly, I think the great unknown is related to technology--how to manage the digital ethics at the speed of technological advances will be essential to the field of social work.
What Mental Health Worker skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Nancy Kelley PhD: Probably the first piece of advice I would give to graduates beginning their social work career is to keep an open mind-- one never knows what life might bring, so opportunities may arise that you weren't expecting. Every professional encounter provides an opportunity for experience and professional development that will inevitably advance one's career. Secondly, every professional experience, whether positive or negative, has take-aways and lessons learned so be prepared to find the silver lining in all you do. Third, don't give up; persistence and patience usually pays off in the long run when you are committed to a cause. Sometimes social workers undertake a lot of trial-and-error before successfully accomplishing our goals. Fourth, be sure to practice self-care; we cannot help other people if we do not care for ourselves first. We need to be able to 'practice what we preach,' so to speak, and give ourselves permission to prioritize self-care and seek support when needed. Lastly, remember that cultural competency is a life-long, career-long process. In order to expand our cultural competency, we need to continuously practice cultural humility when interfacing with diversity in all of its forms by embracing lifelong learning and self-reflection, mitigating power imbalances, and aspiring for institutional accountability.
What general advice would you give to a Mental Health Worker?
Dr. Michele Sneed DSW, LGSW: Social work is known for its versatility. The day-to-day activities can greatly vary depending on the work setting. Certain core responsibilities can be identified among social workers across various contexts. These include things such as; conducting assessments, advocating for clients' rights and needs, offering support and counseling, engaging in community outreach efforts, and documentation, among other duties. Although tasks may differ, the fundamental aspects of social work underscore the profession's commitment to promoting well-being, social justice, and empowerment for individuals and communities.
What Mental Health Worker skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Michele Sneed DSW, LGSW: The profession of social work is experiencing a remarkable surge in employment opportunities, with projections indicating above-average growth. This combined with the profession's flexibility, competitive wages, and sense of fulfillment makes social work a wonderful career path.
What will help Mental Health Workers increase their earning potential?
Dr. Michele Sneed DSW, LGSW: The concern frequently voiced by social workers is the documentation aspect of their work. While acknowledging its crucial role in accountability and transparency, social workers often find documentation to be time-consuming and tedious. This stems from the perception that excessive time spent on paperwork detracts from the meaningful interactions they could be having with the individuals and communities they serve.
What general advice would you give to a Mental Health Worker?
Mariana Juras Ph.D.: Be attuned to your values, passion, skills, and abilities, and also to what market values.
What Mental Health Worker skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Mariana Juras Ph.D.: I believe multiple language and cultural knowledges and experiences are great assets to have, and also to integrate human specific and technology integration with the mental health field, by also considering ethics, culture, and humane relevancy. Neuropsychology is also a developing field and integration with mental health treatment is increasing.
Matthew Cuellar
Associate Professor and BSW Program ChairUniversity of Alaska Anchorage
Social Work
What general advice would you give to a Mental Health Worker?
Matthew Cuellar: Understanding how to use AI, balancing ethics in a changing and increasingly diverse world, and incorporating fresh and new perspectives in to old and unchanged processes within rigid climates. Respect and understanding of all voices is and will continue to be key to effective social work practice, education, and scholarship.
What Mental Health Worker skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Matthew Cuellar: Pave a road that involves work you love to do. Maximizing salary potential is not just about making more money. It is about striking the optimal life/work balance for compensation that a given individual finds acceptable to meet their unique needs.
What will help Mental Health Workers increase their earning potential?
Matthew Cuellar: Be familiar with licensure and/or other professional requirements and keep your long-term goal in focus. Network as much as possible, and be open to different perspectives and ideas that you might not be familiar with. Choose a path that involves working within your passion, and be proud to be a change agent for the people you represent.
What general advice would you give to a Mental Health Worker?
Monica Bies: It can make sense to have a salary range in mind and do not hesitate to negotiate. Although it may feel uncomfortable, it is a regular and accepted practice. A new social worker might also ask about various roles and opportunities for growth and advancement within the agency.
What Mental Health Worker skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Monica Bies: I can’t emphasize enough the importance of consistent and supportive supervision that allows one to continue to expand knowledge and skills.
What will help Mental Health Workers increase their earning potential?
Monica Bies: An ability to incorporate anti-racist and anti-oppressive practices and policies that advance equity in all settings in which we live and work.
Dr. Kimberly Mudd-Fegett DSW, MSSW
Associate Professor of Social WorkCampbellsville University
Social Work
What Mental Health Worker skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Kimberly Mudd-Fegett DSW, MSSW: The best thing about being a Social Worker is the ability to serve, assist and empower other individuals who are facing challenges within their life. Although this can be very overwhelming, at times the rewards this can provide, and self-fulfillment is hard to put into words. One of the greatest challenges of Social Work is maintaining adequate self-care and knowing that you can impact or help all individuals. This can be extremely challenging and overwhelming, particularly for new workers. One must ensure that they have adequate supervision, education, and resources to protect their wellbeing or burnout is highly likely.
Kevin Foose
Professor of PracticeLoyola University New Orleans
Rehabilitation And Therapeutic Professions
What will help Mental Health Workers increase their earning potential?
Kevin Foose: Lastly, I encourage them to focus on developing capacities that can't be replicated by technology. AI and ubiquitous technology is here to stay, and that's okay. The more people interface with these technologies, the more essential the capacity to engage with actual humans will become. I guide them towards being relationally focused, culturally competent and emotionally regulated as opposed to emotionally reactive. We can't out-machine a machine. See John Henry for relevant reference. And I always leave them with a bit of wisdom from George Carlin, 'eat right, breathe deep'. And to that I add, get plenty of sleep and try and have a bit of fun along the way.
What will help Mental Health Workers increase their earning potential?
Dr. J. Lendrum PhD: Trust yourself and follow your passions. It is possible to find a meaningful career that aligns with your core interests and values.
What Mental Health Worker skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Jodi Mullen PhD LMHC RPT-S: The bulk of the work a mental health counselor does is clinical, meaning you meet with clients and provide counseling. There is also record keeping, preparation, and administrative responsibilities. New and seasoned counselors alike spend some time in supervision and consultation with other counselors. Supervision is a time to discuss cases with a more experienced professional where there are opportunities for growth professionally and personally. Consultation involves either meeting with others connected to your clients, like parents of children clients, or with professionals in mental health and other fields that can help the counselor sort out a challenge. In that case it may be an attorney or a trauma specialist.