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Primary therapist salary
Average primary therapist salary
$59,826
Understanding Primary Therapist Salaries
The average salary for a Primary Therapist is approximately $59,826 annually, translating to about $29 per hour. Factors influencing this salary include geographic location, years of experience, and the specific setting of employment. For instance, therapists in urban areas generally earn more due to higher demand and cost of living. Entry-level positions may start lower, while experienced professionals can earn significantly more, especially in specialized fields.
Salary by Experience Level
- Entry-Level: $45,000 - $50,000
- Mid-Level: $55,000 - $65,000
- Senior-Level: $70,000+
Moreover, states like California and New York often offer the highest salaries for Primary Therapists, reflecting the competitive market and increased cost of living. As you consider a career in this field, it’s valuable to research specific opportunities and salary ranges in your desired location to make informed career decisions.
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Where can a Primary Therapist earn more?
Primary therapist salaries by experience level
Primary therapist salary estimates from across the web
Average primary therapist salary by state
The average primary therapist salary in California, Nevada, and Alaska are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average primary therapist salary states are New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and Vermont.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for primary therapists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $80,266 | $38.59 |
| 2 | North Dakota | $61,344 | $29.49 |
| 3 | Washington | $65,734 | $31.60 |
| 4 | Nevada | $76,865 | $36.95 |
| 5 | Oregon | $66,177 | $31.82 |
| 6 | Montana | $55,001 | $26.44 |
| 7 | Colorado | $57,992 | $27.88 |
| 8 | Idaho | $57,550 | $27.67 |
| 9 | New Mexico | $66,219 | $31.84 |
| 10 | Illinois | $55,648 | $26.75 |
| 11 | Alaska | $68,818 | $33.09 |
| 12 | Minnesota | $55,873 | $26.86 |
| 13 | Kentucky | $54,328 | $26.12 |
| 14 | Texas | $53,610 | $25.77 |
| 15 | Indiana | $47,671 | $22.92 |
| 16 | North Carolina | $51,269 | $24.65 |
| 17 | Missouri | $50,566 | $24.31 |
| 18 | New Jersey | $47,986 | $23.07 |
| 19 | Kansas | $49,715 | $23.90 |
| 20 | Utah | $52,964 | $25.46 |
| 21 | South Dakota | $52,742 | $25.36 |
| 22 | Oklahoma | $49,143 | $23.63 |
| 23 | Wyoming | $53,193 | $25.57 |
| 24 | Iowa | $47,780 | $22.97 |
| 25 | Nebraska | $45,298 | $21.78 |
| 26 | Virginia | $49,767 | $23.93 |
| 27 | Michigan | $43,333 | $20.83 |
| 28 | Delaware | $44,496 | $21.39 |
| 29 | New York | $40,266 | $19.36 |
| 30 | District of Columbia | $53,283 | $25.62 |
| 31 | Hawaii | $58,978 | $28.35 |
| 32 | Maryland | $41,782 | $20.09 |
| 33 | Wisconsin | $45,625 | $21.94 |
| 34 | Louisiana | $48,701 | $23.41 |
| 35 | South Carolina | $43,719 | $21.02 |
| 36 | Alabama | $45,656 | $21.95 |
| 37 | Arizona | $47,578 | $22.87 |
| 38 | Tennessee | $43,799 | $21.06 |
| 39 | Maine | $29,861 | $14.36 |
| 40 | Georgia | $41,416 | $19.91 |
| 41 | Ohio | $41,331 | $19.87 |
| 42 | Connecticut | $35,307 | $16.97 |
| 43 | Pennsylvania | $33,188 | $15.96 |
| 44 | Massachusetts | $24,240 | $11.65 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $43,298 | $20.82 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $35,385 | $17.01 |
| 47 | New Hampshire | $34,700 | $16.68 |
| 48 | Florida | $43,187 | $20.76 |
| 49 | West Virginia | $39,030 | $18.76 |
| 50 | Vermont | $31,801 | $15.29 |
| 51 | Rhode Island | $28,566 | $13.73 |
Highest paying cities for primary therapists
The highest-paying cities for primary therapists are Thousand Oaks, CA, Seattle, WA, and Bend, OR.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thousand Oaks, CA | $80,719 | $38.81 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $66,078 | $31.77 |
| 3 | Bend, OR | $65,877 | $31.67 |
| 4 | Wheat Ridge, CO | $58,037 | $27.90 |
| 5 | Chicago, IL | $55,261 | $26.57 |
| 6 | Houston, TX | $53,387 | $25.67 |
| 7 | North Brunswick, NJ | $48,515 | $23.32 |
| 8 | Leesburg, VA | $47,396 | $22.79 |
| 9 | Atlanta, GA | $41,477 | $19.94 |
| 10 | Rochester, NY | $37,653 | $18.10 |
| 11 | Norwich, CT | $33,487 | $16.10 |
Primary therapist salary details
A primary therapist's salary ranges from $43,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $83,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a primary therapist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $83,000 | $6,917 | $40 |
| 75th Percentile | $71,000 | $5,917 | $34 |
| Average | $59,826 | $4,986 | $29 |
| 25th Percentile | $50,000 | $4,167 | $24 |
| 10th Percentile | $43,000 | $3,583 | $21 |
Highest paying primary therapist jobs
The highest paying types of primary therapists are licensed professional counselor, counselor/art therapist, and lead therapist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Addictions Counselor | $47,226 | $3,936 | $22.70 | 79,459 |
| Clinical Counselor | $54,191 | $4,516 | $26.05 | 146,133 |
| Alcohol And Drug Counselor | $45,758 | $3,813 | $22.00 | 77,461 |
| Substance Abuse Counselor | $43,069 | $3,589 | $20.71 | 78,643 |
| Mental Health Clinician | $54,359 | $4,530 | $26.13 | 91,347 |
| Clinician | $60,150 | $5,012 | $28.92 | 105,023 |
Top companies hiring primary therapists now:
Which companies pay primary therapists the most?
Primary therapist salaries at Appalachian Regional Healthcare and Finger Lakes Community Health are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average primary therapist salary at companies like UMR and Polaris are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Appalachian Regional Healthcare | $74,947 | $36.03 |
| 2 | Finger Lakes Community Health | $72,975 | $35.08 |
| 3 | UMR | $72,859 | $35.03 |
| 4 | Polaris | $69,144 | $33.24 |
| 5 | Valley View Hospital | $66,633 | $32.04 |
| 6 | Children's of Alabama | $64,915 | $31.21 |
| 7 | Atrium Health Floyd | $63,076 | $30.32 |
| 8 | J. Morrissey & Company | $62,405 | $30.00 |
| 9 | Emory Healthcare | $61,369 | $29.50 |
| 10 | Mission | $61,268 | $29.46 |
| 11 | BayMark Health Services | $61,146 | $29.40 |
| 12 | SHODAIR CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL | $60,829 | $29.24 |
| 13 | Pathways | $60,759 | $29.21 |
| 14 | Seasoned | $60,558 | $29.11 |
| 15 | Clinical Management Consultants | $60,498 | $29.09 |
| 16 | Penn Medicine Princeton Health | $59,682 | $28.69 |
| 17 | Pacific Quest | $59,238 | $28.48 |
| 18 | Hackensack Meridian Health | $58,813 | $28.28 |
| 19 | Children's Hospital of Philadelphia | $58,802 | $28.27 |
| 20 | Universal Health Services | $57,835 | $27.81 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Primary therapist salary trends
The average primary therapist salary has risen by $11,654 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average primary therapist earned $48,172 annually, but today, they earn $59,826 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for primary therapists over the last decade.
Compare primary therapist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average primary therapist salary over time
Compare primary therapist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Primary therapist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $59,800 | $28.76 | +4.2% |
| 2024 | $57,300 | $27.54 | +3.9% |
| 2023 | $55,100 | $26.47 | +3.5% |
| 2022 | $53,100 | $25.53 | +1.3% |
| 2021 | $52,400 | $25.21 | +1.2% |
Recently added primary therapist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Staffosaurus | Primary Therapist | Brick, NJ | 06/28/2025 | $60,000 |
| ERC Pathlight | Primary Therapist | Denver, CO | 06/27/2025 | $71,000 |
| A Better Life Recovery LLC | Primary Therapist-Adult Mental Healthcare | Stillwater, MN | 06/25/2025 | $78,000 |
| A Better Life Recovery LLC | *Bonus* Primary Therapist-Residential Adolescent Program | Bonsall, CA | 06/25/2025 | $70,000 |
| Alsana | Primary Therapist | Birmingham, AL | 06/24/2025 | $50,000 |
| Compass Health Center | Young Adult Primary Therapist | Northbrook, IL | 06/21/2025 | $55,000 |
| Alsana | Primary Therapist | Pacific Grove, CA | 06/21/2025 | $75,000 |
| Compass Health Center | Adult Primary Therapist | Golden Valley, MN | 06/20/2025 | $55,000 |
| Pinelands Recovery Center of Medford | Primary Therapist | Medford, NJ | 06/19/2025 | $63,000 |
| Eating Recovery Center | Primary Therapist | Fine, NY | 06/18/2025 | $71,229 |
Primary therapist salary FAQs
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