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Job outlook for therapeutic support staff in the United States
Are therapeutic support staff jobs in demand?
Therapeutic support staff job and salary trends over time
Therapeutic support staff jobs over time
Therapeutic support staff job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,183 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 2,192 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 2,216 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 2,150 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 2,105 | 0.00% |
Average therapeutic support staff salary over time
Therapeutic support staff salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $34,086 | $16.39 | +2.6% |
| 2025 | $33,233 | $15.98 | +3.9% |
| 2024 | $31,992 | $15.38 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | $31,394 | $15.09 | +4.1% |
| 2022 | $30,153 | $14.50 | +3.2% |
Therapeutic support staff jobs by state
Most common states for therapeutic support staff
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 3,499 | 51% |
| 2 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 276 | 40% |
| 3 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 394 | 29% |
| 4 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 243 | 28% |
| 5 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 1,647 | 27% |
| 6 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 558 | 27% |
| 7 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 268 | 25% |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 3,095 | 24% |
| 9 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,458 | 24% |
| 10 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 734 | 24% |
| 11 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 247 | 24% |
| 12 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 2,297 | 23% |
| 13 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,296 | 23% |
| 14 | South Carolina | 5,024,369 | 1,144 | 23% |
| 15 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,611 | 22% |
| 16 | Nevada | 2,998,039 | 655 | 22% |
| 17 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 296 | 22% |
| 18 | Alaska | 739,795 | 160 | 22% |
| 19 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 953 | 20% |
| 20 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 832 | 20% |
Most common cities for therapeutic support staff
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Framingham | 2 | 3% | $36,726 |
| 2 | Durham | 2 | 1% | $31,921 |
| 3 | Fall River | 1 | 1% | $36,766 |
Therapeutic Support Staff job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of therapeutic support staff experts
East Tennessee State University
Carolina Christian College
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Kent State University
Angelo State University
What will help Therapeutic Support Staff increase their earning potential?
Emily Yowell Ph.D.: Psychologists should be aware of what others in their field are making for similar positions. It is important to ask for what your work is worth in an initial position to assure raises are based on a solid starting salary. Newer psychologists may also consider asking for an early review that prompts an early conversation around potential raises, bonus, or other job benefits.
Jamie Brown Ph.D.
ProfessorEast Tennessee State University
Department of Counseling and Human Services
What experience really stands out on Therapeutic Support Staff resumes?
Jamie Brown Ph.D.: Community involvement and activism can set a potential candidate apart from other applicants.
What type of skills will young Therapeutic Support Staff need?
Dr. Andrew Wood: For Biblical Studies, it is vital that graduates have a genuine relationship with Jesus, that they are people of humility and integrity, desire to be lifelong learners, and have open minds to new things they learn that may challenge their original assumptions. They need to have a strong work ethic, organizational, and time management skills to work on their own productively and with integrity.
What type of skills will young Therapeutic Support Staff need?
Dr. Thomas Dearden Ph.D.: Indeed, the way we work is changing. The skills that young graduates will need are diverse. Transferable skills and soft skills will certainly be marketable. These include traditional crafts such as communication, but I also think the world expects more empathy from its employees. Young graduates with an understanding of racism, sexism, and environmental responsibility will become increasingly important.
Dr. Janice Byrd Ph.D.
ProfessorKent State University
School of Lifespan Development and Educational Sciences
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Therapeutic Support Staff to find work opportunities?
Dr. Janice Byrd Ph.D.: COVID-19 and racial violence are global phenomena that cause many mental health challenges for students globally. Schools are scrambling to identify solutions to address the social/emotional needs of their students. Some are investing in curriculum related to Social Emotional Learning, Trauma-Informed Schools, or seeking anti-racism experts to join their staff in conversations.
This emphasis is also illustrated in funding opportunities that have been advertised for schools and school-based researchers to consider innovative ways to address the increased stress our students are under, given the ongoing issues mentioned. While COVID-19 will hopefully, one day, decrease, the impact will be present for decades. As for racial violence against Black and Brown people, this oppression has/continues to harm communities across generations.
I implore schools to lean on school counselors as trained leaders to guide responses to these crises and support students. Due to budget constraints at the moment, we may see a decrease in job postings, but once the economy begins to heal, we will need more school counselors - not less. School counseling graduates awaiting employment should extend their knowledge about instructional based technology that may aid in their facilitation of counseling tasks, examine their bias/stereotypical thinking so they do not harm their BIPOC students, and create toolkits of information that may inform how they foster the development of anti-racist cultures in K-12 settings.
We all must remember that students do not perform well academically if they are not mentally/emotionally healthy or do not feel safe. Because COVID, the mental health challenges that have arisen due to the pandemic, and race-based violence, which causes mental health challenges for many, are global pandemics, school counselors face similar barriers to finding jobs across the nation. In time, given proper professional advocacy by school counselors, we will be acknowledged as leaders in the plight to heal students, schools, and communities.
Lesley Casarez Ph.D.
Director, Quality Enhancement Plan Program Coordinator, M.S. Professional School Counseling Associate Professor, Curriculum and InstructionAngelo State University
Department of Curriculum and Instruction
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Therapeutic Support Staff in the next 3-5 years?
Lesley Casarez Ph.D.: Graduates will need to learn to use technology in which virtual platforms are taking place and web conferencing platforms. Numerous platforms are being used, so the particular platform itself is not as crucial as being well-versed in how virtual education differs from face-to-face environments. Typically, the instructional role in online learning is more of a facilitator, as the educator guides the students to think critically, integrate, and apply new knowledge. This may be difficult for educators who would rather stand in front of a classroom and pass on their knowledge through lecture-based formats. Additionally, being well-versed in various web conferencing platforms will benefit graduates, as they move into a career that is currently requiring communication in virtual environments.