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Mental health practitioner salary
Average mental health practitioner salary
$50,628
Understanding Mental Health Practitioner Salaries
The role of a mental health practitioner is vital in providing support and care for individuals facing psychological challenges. As of October 2025, the average salary is estimated at $50,628 per year, which equates to about $24 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and specific job responsibilities.
Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level positions typically start at lower salaries, while those with advanced experience can expect significantly higher earnings. For instance, practitioners with over ten years of experience may earn upwards of $70,000 annually, reflecting their expertise and contributions.
Top-Paying States
States such as California, New York, and Massachusetts often offer the highest salaries for mental health practitioners. For example, in California, the average salary can exceed $70,000, indicating strong demand for mental health services in the region.
Career Opportunities
With a growing focus on mental health, numerous job opportunities are available across various settings, including hospitals, private practices, and community health organizations. By understanding salary trends and regional differences, mental health professionals can make informed career choices that align with their financial goals.
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Where can a Mental Health Practitioner earn more?
Mental health practitioner salaries by experience level
Mental health practitioner salary estimates from across the web
Average mental health practitioner salary by state
The highest-paying states for mental health practitioners are New York, Washington, and California. The lowest average mental health practitioner salary states are South Carolina, Alabama, and Georgia.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for mental health practitioners
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $67,265 | $32.34 |
| 2 | California | $67,000 | $32.21 |
| 3 | Maine | $56,710 | $27.26 |
| 4 | New York | $76,605 | $36.83 |
| 5 | Hawaii | $63,907 | $30.72 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $60,227 | $28.96 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $63,489 | $30.52 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $58,098 | $27.93 |
| 9 | Nevada | $58,830 | $28.28 |
| 10 | Minnesota | $53,306 | $25.63 |
| 11 | Michigan | $49,404 | $23.75 |
| 12 | Idaho | $51,407 | $24.71 |
| 13 | New Jersey | $64,092 | $30.81 |
| 14 | Massachusetts | $51,980 | $24.99 |
| 15 | Alaska | $51,766 | $24.89 |
| 16 | Oregon | $58,573 | $28.16 |
| 17 | Wyoming | $48,706 | $23.42 |
| 18 | North Dakota | $51,855 | $24.93 |
| 19 | Utah | $51,404 | $24.71 |
| 20 | District of Columbia | $58,898 | $28.32 |
| 21 | North Carolina | $48,814 | $23.47 |
| 22 | Delaware | $51,382 | $24.70 |
| 23 | Texas | $49,553 | $23.82 |
| 24 | Iowa | $46,439 | $22.33 |
| 25 | Arizona | $47,179 | $22.68 |
| 26 | Ohio | $46,133 | $22.18 |
| 27 | Illinois | $52,146 | $25.07 |
| 28 | Vermont | $50,388 | $24.23 |
| 29 | Maryland | $48,828 | $23.48 |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $45,235 | $21.75 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $49,129 | $23.62 |
| 32 | Indiana | $43,162 | $20.75 |
| 33 | Louisiana | $42,857 | $20.60 |
| 34 | Kentucky | $43,630 | $20.98 |
| 35 | Virginia | $48,176 | $23.16 |
| 36 | Kansas | $45,884 | $22.06 |
| 37 | South Dakota | $45,190 | $21.73 |
| 38 | Colorado | $45,326 | $21.79 |
| 39 | Oklahoma | $41,875 | $20.13 |
| 40 | Mississippi | $43,245 | $20.79 |
| 41 | Montana | $44,195 | $21.25 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $39,476 | $18.98 |
| 43 | West Virginia | $42,546 | $20.45 |
| 44 | Pennsylvania | $39,781 | $19.13 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $30,308 | $14.57 |
| 46 | Alabama | $39,444 | $18.96 |
| 47 | Tennessee | $42,215 | $20.30 |
| 48 | Missouri | $34,063 | $16.38 |
| 49 | Florida | $42,054 | $20.22 |
| 50 | Nebraska | $34,972 | $16.81 |
| 51 | Georgia | $38,395 | $18.46 |
Highest paying cities for mental health practitioners
The highest-paying cities for mental health practitioners are New York, NY, Bakersfield, CA, and Seattle, WA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $76,809 | $36.93 |
| 2 | Bakersfield, CA | $68,120 | $32.75 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $67,786 | $32.59 |
| 4 | Portland, OR | $58,366 | $28.06 |
| 5 | Duluth, MN | $54,043 | $25.98 |
| 6 | Fall River, MA | $52,791 | $25.38 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $52,320 | $25.15 |
| 8 | San Antonio, TX | $50,290 | $24.18 |
| 9 | Fort Pierce, FL | $41,919 | $20.15 |
| 10 | Kearney, NE | $35,030 | $16.84 |
Mental health practitioner salary details
A mental health practitioner's salary ranges from $35,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $71,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a mental health practitioner's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $71,000 | $5,917 | $34 |
| 75th Percentile | $60,000 | $5,000 | $29 |
| Average | $50,628 | $4,219 | $24 |
| 25th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
| 10th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
Highest paying mental health practitioner jobs
The highest paying types of mental health practitioners are licensed professional counselor, practitioner, and assessment specialist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clinician | $60,150 | $5,012 | $28.92 | 105,023 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor | $45,871 | $3,823 | $22.05 | 78,174 |
| School Social Worker | $54,856 | $4,571 | $26.37 | 122,376 |
| Licensed Professional Counselor | $94,675 | $7,890 | $45.52 | 153,612 |
| Addictions Counselor | $47,226 | $3,936 | $22.70 | 79,459 |
| Clinical Counselor | $54,191 | $4,516 | $26.05 | 146,133 |
Top companies hiring mental health practitioners now:
Which companies pay mental health practitioners the most?
Mental health practitioner salaries at Dignity Health and Ramsey County are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average mental health practitioner salary at companies like Wilder Foundation and Catholic Charities are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dignity Health | $72,304 | $34.76 |
| 2 | Ramsey County | $67,311 | $32.36 |
| 3 | Wilder Foundation | $60,650 | $29.16 |
| 4 | Catholic Charities | $59,266 | $28.49 |
| 5 | St. Charles Health System | $59,066 | $28.40 |
| 6 | Boone Health | $57,451 | $27.62 |
| 7 | Oregon Health & Science University | $56,863 | $27.34 |
| 8 | Yale University | $56,190 | $27.01 |
| 9 | University of Washington | $56,091 | $26.97 |
| 10 | Family Service Rochester | $54,937 | $26.41 |
| 11 | Park Nicollet Medical Center Inc | $54,931 | $26.41 |
| 12 | Powell Valley Care Ctr | $54,665 | $26.28 |
| 13 | Minnesota State Fair | $54,651 | $26.27 |
| 14 | STG International | $54,598 | $26.25 |
| 15 | University of Nebraska System | $54,584 | $26.24 |
| 16 | Telecare | $54,346 | $26.13 |
| 17 | Liberty Healthcare | $54,206 | $26.06 |
| 18 | NHTC | $53,364 | $25.66 |
| 19 | Minnesota Autism Center | $53,112 | $25.53 |
| 20 | SANG | $53,038 | $25.50 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Mental Health Practitioner salary by industry
The average mental health practitioner salary varies across industries:
- The average mental health practitioner salary in the non profits industry is $55,825, the highest of any industry.
- The average mental health practitioner salary in the finance industry is $54,714.
- Mental health practitioners in the education industry earn an average salary of $49,791, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for mental health practitioners
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Non Profits | $55,825 | $26.84 |
| 2 | Government | $54,714 | $26.30 |
| 3 | Professional | $51,516 | $24.77 |
| 4 | Health Care | $50,692 | $24.37 |
| 5 | Education | $49,791 | $23.94 |
High paying mental health practitioner jobs
Mental health practitioner salary trends
The average mental health practitioner salary has risen by $9,862 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average mental health practitioner earned $40,766 annually, but today, they earn $50,628 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for mental health practitioners over the last decade.
Compare mental health practitioner salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average mental health practitioner salary over time
Compare mental health practitioner salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Mental health practitioner salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $50,600 | $24.34 | +4.2% |
| 2025 | $48,500 | $23.31 | +3.9% |
| 2024 | $46,600 | $22.40 | +3.5% |
| 2023 | $44,900 | $21.61 | +1.3% |
| 2022 | $44,400 | $21.33 | +1.2% |
Recently added mental health practitioner salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Secure Base Counseling Center LLC | Mental Health Practitioner | Northfield, MN | 06/29/2025 | $41,740 |
| Brightspring Health Services | Mental Health Practitioner-Float Signing Bonus | Minneapolis, MN | 06/29/2025 | $55,000 |
| State of Minnesota | Mental Health Practitioner/Clinical Program Therapist 2 | Willmar, MN | 06/28/2025 | $58,129 |
| Range Mental Health Center | School-Based Mental Health Practitioner and Targeted Case Management | Virginia, MN | 06/27/2025 | $41,740 |
| Residential Transitions | Armhs Mental Health Practitioner Hennepin & Dakota County Bonus | Nore, MN | 06/26/2025 | $44,000 |
| North Homes Children & Family Services | School Based Mental Health Practitioner-Walker & Bemidji | Walker, MN | 06/26/2025 | $45,000 |
| Fraser | Children's Mental Health Practitioner | Minneapolis, MN | 06/25/2025 | $49,170 |
| Minneapolis | Children's Mental Health Practitioner | Minneapolis, MN | 06/24/2025 | $49,170 |
| Neheadstart | Licensed Mental Health Practitioner-Yrtc | Lincoln, NE | 06/24/2025 | $50,359 |
| Access: Supports for Living | Mobile Mental Health Practitioner-Per Diem | Kingston, NY | 06/23/2025 | $48,001 |
Mental health practitioner salary FAQs
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