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Behavioral health professional salary
Average behavioral health professional salary
$43,223
Understanding Behavioral Health Professional Salaries
As of October 2025, the average annual salary for a Behavioral Health Professional stands at $43,223, which equates to about $21 per hour. This salary varies based on several factors, including geographic location, industry, and years of experience. For example, professionals in urban areas often earn more due to higher demand and cost of living.
State-by-State Salary Breakdown
In states like California and New York, salaries can exceed the national average significantly. Conversely, states with a lower cost of living may offer lower salaries. Individuals entering the field should consider these variations when evaluating job opportunities.
Top Industries for Behavioral Health Professionals
Behavioral health professionals work across various industries, including healthcare, education, and social services. The highest-paying positions are often found in specialized healthcare settings or management roles, reflecting the complex nature of the work involved. Understanding these dynamics will help you navigate your career path effectively.
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Where can a Behavioral Health Professional earn more?
Behavioral health professional salary estimates from across the web
Average behavioral health professional salary by state
The highest-paying states for behavioral health professionals are California, Arizona, and Washington. The lowest average behavioral health professional salary states are Vermont, New Jersey, and Massachusetts.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for behavioral health professionals
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona | $55,518 | $26.69 |
| 2 | Oklahoma | $50,167 | $24.12 |
| 3 | California | $58,869 | $28.30 |
| 4 | Colorado | $51,566 | $24.79 |
| 5 | Missouri | $49,593 | $23.84 |
| 6 | Washington | $53,014 | $25.49 |
| 7 | Texas | $52,009 | $25.00 |
| 8 | Indiana | $41,522 | $19.96 |
| 9 | Maryland | $46,385 | $22.30 |
| 10 | Kansas | $47,267 | $22.72 |
| 11 | North Dakota | $42,124 | $20.25 |
| 12 | Michigan | $41,866 | $20.13 |
| 13 | Oregon | $50,043 | $24.06 |
| 14 | Hawaii | $46,385 | $22.30 |
| 15 | Kentucky | $43,867 | $21.09 |
| 16 | South Dakota | $44,028 | $21.17 |
| 17 | Ohio | $40,322 | $19.39 |
| 18 | Alaska | $40,835 | $19.63 |
| 19 | Nevada | $44,209 | $21.25 |
| 20 | Alabama | $44,638 | $21.46 |
| 21 | Nebraska | $41,481 | $19.94 |
| 22 | West Virginia | $41,426 | $19.92 |
| 23 | Illinois | $43,774 | $21.05 |
| 24 | Tennessee | $38,306 | $18.42 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $38,176 | $18.35 |
| 26 | Utah | $40,624 | $19.53 |
| 27 | Wyoming | $37,769 | $18.16 |
| 28 | District of Columbia | $45,785 | $22.01 |
| 29 | Mississippi | $39,483 | $18.98 |
| 30 | Iowa | $38,335 | $18.43 |
| 31 | Idaho | $39,425 | $18.95 |
| 32 | Louisiana | $39,112 | $18.80 |
| 33 | Minnesota | $34,221 | $16.45 |
| 34 | Arkansas | $37,359 | $17.96 |
| 35 | New Mexico | $40,579 | $19.51 |
| 36 | Vermont | $32,662 | $15.70 |
| 37 | Rhode Island | $34,376 | $16.53 |
| 38 | Massachusetts | $31,178 | $14.99 |
| 39 | Montana | $37,770 | $18.16 |
| 40 | Wisconsin | $33,420 | $16.07 |
| 41 | North Carolina | $35,988 | $17.30 |
| 42 | Delaware | $34,222 | $16.45 |
| 43 | Florida | $37,620 | $18.09 |
| 44 | Maine | $27,171 | $13.06 |
| 45 | Georgia | $36,853 | $17.72 |
| 46 | Virginia | $36,285 | $17.44 |
| 47 | New York | $37,389 | $17.98 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $36,092 | $17.35 |
| 49 | Connecticut | $30,866 | $14.84 |
| 50 | New Hampshire | $30,711 | $14.76 |
| 51 | New Jersey | $31,315 | $15.06 |
Highest paying cities for behavioral health professionals
The highest-paying cities for behavioral health professionals are Livermore, CA, Phoenix, AZ, and Houston, TX.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Livermore, CA | $59,723 | $28.71 |
| 2 | Phoenix, AZ | $55,573 | $26.72 |
| 3 | Houston, TX | $52,183 | $25.09 |
| 4 | Pueblo, CO | $51,962 | $24.98 |
| 5 | Norman, OK | $50,341 | $24.20 |
| 6 | Bend, OR | $49,962 | $24.02 |
| 7 | Saint Louis, MO | $49,259 | $23.68 |
| 8 | Baltimore, MD | $46,046 | $22.14 |
| 9 | Washington, DC | $45,767 | $22.00 |
| 10 | Springfield, IL | $45,660 | $21.95 |
| 11 | Bismarck, ND | $43,040 | $20.69 |
| 12 | Jeffersonville, IN | $42,556 | $20.46 |
| 13 | Cincinnati, OH | $41,934 | $20.16 |
| 14 | Lincoln, NE | $41,625 | $20.01 |
| 15 | Albuquerque, NM | $40,632 | $19.53 |
| 16 | Salt Lake City, UT | $40,508 | $19.48 |
| 17 | Pittsburgh, PA | $40,340 | $19.39 |
| 18 | Jackson, MS | $39,719 | $19.10 |
| 19 | Des Moines, IA | $38,744 | $18.63 |
| 20 | Helena, MT | $38,025 | $18.28 |
Behavioral health professional salary details
A behavioral health professional's salary ranges from $27,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $67,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a behavioral health professional's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $67,000 | $5,583 | $32 |
| 75th Percentile | $54,000 | $4,500 | $26 |
| Average | $43,223 | $3,602 | $21 |
| 25th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
| 10th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
Highest paying behavioral health professional jobs
The highest paying types of behavioral health professionals are intensive in-home counselor, family therapist, and mental health professional.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intensive In-Home Counselor | $51,428 | $4,286 | $24.73 | 122,300 |
| Family Therapist | $50,774 | $4,231 | $24.41 | 106,982 |
| Program Counselor | $43,820 | $3,652 | $21.07 | 133,491 |
| Youth Mentor | $32,750 | $2,729 | $15.75 | 68,561 |
| Social Work Internship | $37,178 | $3,098 | $17.87 | 142,426 |
| Counselor Internship | $45,500 | $3,792 | $21.88 | 132,694 |
Top companies hiring behavioral health professionals now:
Which companies pay behavioral health professionals the most?
Behavioral health professional salaries at Brookhaven National Laboratory and Sandia National Labs are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average behavioral health professional salary at companies like BWX Technologies and Jacobs Engineering Group are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brookhaven National Laboratory | $71,284 | $34.27 |
| 2 | Sandia National Labs | $70,966 | $34.12 |
| 3 | BWX Technologies | $68,755 | $33.06 |
| 4 | Jacobs Engineering Group | $66,807 | $32.12 |
| 5 | Androscoggin Home Healthcare + Hospice | $65,018 | $31.26 |
| 6 | Wellpath | $58,884 | $28.31 |
| 7 | Baystate Health | $57,373 | $27.58 |
| 8 | Evolent Health | $55,927 | $26.89 |
| 9 | MAS Medical Staffing | $55,009 | $26.45 |
| 10 | Ozark Public Schools | $54,680 | $26.29 |
| 11 | Mission Regional Medical Center | $54,179 | $26.05 |
| 12 | LifePoint Health | $53,274 | $25.61 |
| 13 | Compliance | $53,260 | $25.61 |
| 14 | HealthTrust | $53,108 | $25.53 |
| 15 | Community Health Network | $50,671 | $24.36 |
| 16 | Universal Health Services | $50,353 | $24.21 |
| 17 | Texas | $50,242 | $24.15 |
| 18 | Community Youth Services | $50,002 | $24.04 |
| 19 | Telecare | $49,859 | $23.97 |
| 20 | UCLA | $49,733 | $23.91 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Behavioral Health Professional salary by industry
The average behavioral health professional salary varies across industries:
- The average behavioral health professional salary in the hospitality industry is $54,895, the highest of any industry.
- The average behavioral health professional salary in the finance industry is $42,150.
- Behavioral health professionals in the non profits industry earn an average salary of $34,762, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for behavioral health professionals
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hospitality | $54,895 | $26.39 |
| 2 | Professional | $42,150 | $20.26 |
| 3 | Health Care | $40,573 | $19.51 |
| 4 | Non Profits | $34,762 | $16.71 |
High paying behavioral health professional jobs
Behavioral health professional salary trends
The average behavioral health professional salary has risen by $7,412 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average behavioral health professional earned $35,811 annually, but today, they earn $43,223 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for behavioral health professionals over the last decade.
Compare behavioral health professional salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average behavioral health professional salary over time
Compare behavioral health professional salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Behavioral health professional salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $43,200 | $20.78 | +3.0% |
| 2025 | $41,900 | $20.15 | +2.4% |
| 2024 | $40,900 | $19.67 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $39,900 | $19.19 | +1.9% |
| 2022 | $39,100 | $18.82 | +2.2% |
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