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The average salary for a youth mentor is approximately $32,750 annually, translating to about $16 per hour. This figure varies based on several factors, including geographical location, years of experience, and the specific organization you work for. For instance, youth mentors in urban areas often earn more due to the higher cost of living.
Entry-level youth mentors may start with salaries around $28,000, while those with several years of experience can earn upwards of $40,000 annually. Specializing in areas such as behavioral therapy or educational support can further enhance earning potential.
States like California, New York, and Texas typically offer higher salaries for youth mentors. In California, for example, the average salary can reach $36,000 due to the demand for youth services. Understanding the salary landscape in your state can help you negotiate better compensation.
With additional training and certifications, youth mentors can advance into supervisory or administrative roles, significantly increasing their earning potential. Consider pursuing further education or certifications to enhance your skills and marketability in this rewarding field.
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| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level youth mentor | $22,700 | $10.93 |
| Mid-level youth mentor | $32,300 | $15.51 |
| Senior-level youth mentor | $37,000 | $17.81 |
The highest-paying states for youth mentors are Maine, Hawaii, and Connecticut. The lowest average youth mentor salary states are Louisiana, Indiana, and Georgia.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | $39,123 | $18.81 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $35,920 | $17.27 |
| 3 | Maryland | $34,965 | $16.81 |
| 4 | Hawaii | $37,866 | $18.20 |
| 5 | Illinois | $34,632 | $16.65 |
| 6 | Michigan | $31,889 | $15.33 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $32,285 | $15.52 |
| 8 | California | $35,150 | $16.90 |
| 9 | North Dakota | $35,073 | $16.86 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $32,894 | $15.81 |
| 11 | Nevada | $32,860 | $15.80 |
| 12 | District of Columbia | $44,379 | $21.34 |
| 13 | New York | $32,531 | $15.64 |
| 14 | Delaware | $33,337 | $16.03 |
| 15 | Arkansas | $30,184 | $14.51 |
| 16 | Minnesota | $31,332 | $15.06 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | $29,888 | $14.37 |
| 18 | Vermont | $30,757 | $14.79 |
| 19 | Wisconsin | $31,437 | $15.11 |
| 20 | Washington | $30,180 | $14.51 |
| 21 | Nebraska | $28,857 | $13.87 |
| 22 | Mississippi | $29,182 | $14.03 |
| 23 | Idaho | $29,042 | $13.96 |
| 24 | Kansas | $30,084 | $14.46 |
| 25 | Ohio | $30,264 | $14.55 |
| 26 | Colorado | $29,828 | $14.34 |
| 27 | Oregon | $30,309 | $14.57 |
| 28 | Rhode Island | $28,476 | $13.69 |
| 29 | Texas | $29,330 | $14.10 |
| 30 | Alaska | $27,771 | $13.35 |
| 31 | Arizona | $27,429 | $13.19 |
| 32 | Missouri | $28,685 | $13.79 |
| 33 | North Carolina | $28,474 | $13.69 |
| 34 | Iowa | $27,055 | $13.01 |
| 35 | New Hampshire | $27,691 | $13.31 |
| 36 | Wyoming | $26,383 | $12.68 |
| 37 | Florida | $27,367 | $13.16 |
| 38 | Utah | $27,456 | $13.20 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $27,138 | $13.05 |
| 40 | New Mexico | $26,420 | $12.70 |
| 41 | West Virginia | $26,443 | $12.71 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $26,558 | $12.77 |
| 43 | Kentucky | $26,081 | $12.54 |
| 44 | Virginia | $27,380 | $13.16 |
| 45 | Montana | $23,617 | $11.35 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $26,079 | $12.54 |
| 47 | Indiana | $25,443 | $12.23 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $26,149 | $12.57 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $24,185 | $11.63 |
| 50 | Georgia | $24,491 | $11.77 |
| 51 | Alabama | $23,964 | $11.52 |
The highest-paying cities for youth mentors are Washington, DC, San Diego, CA, and Las Vegas, NV.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $44,338 | $21.32 |
| 2 | San Diego, CA | $34,879 | $16.77 |
| 3 | Las Vegas, NV | $32,916 | $15.82 |
| 4 | Newburgh, NY | $32,679 | $15.71 |
| 5 | Cherry Hill, NJ | $32,518 | $15.63 |
| 6 | New Bedford, MA | $32,312 | $15.53 |
| 7 | Saint Cloud, MN | $31,287 | $15.04 |
| 8 | La Crosse, WI | $30,979 | $14.89 |
| 9 | Lorain, OH | $30,808 | $14.81 |
| 10 | Warminster, PA | $30,160 | $14.50 |
| 11 | Hillsboro, OR | $30,128 | $14.48 |
| 12 | Denver, CO | $29,865 | $14.36 |
| 13 | Saint George, UT | $28,972 | $13.93 |
| 14 | Clearwater, FL | $27,364 | $13.16 |
| 15 | Cheyenne, WY | $26,481 | $12.73 |
| 16 | Atlanta, GA | $24,518 | $11.79 |
| 17 | Billings, MT | $23,696 | $11.39 |
A youth mentor's salary ranges from $26,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $41,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
| 75th Percentile | $36,000 | $3,000 | $17 |
| Average | $32,750 | $2,729 | $16 |
| 25th Percentile | $29,000 | $2,417 | $14 |
| 10th Percentile | $26,000 | $2,167 | $13 |
The highest paying types of youth mentors are treatment specialist, intensive in-home counselor, and counselor internship.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intensive In-Home Counselor | $51,428 | $4,286 | $24.73 | 122,300 |
| Residential Counselor | $34,117 | $2,843 | $16.40 | 81,287 |
| Residence Counselor | $34,931 | $2,911 | $16.79 | 78,872 |
| Program Counselor | $43,820 | $3,652 | $21.07 | 133,491 |
| Mental Health Worker | $41,081 | $3,423 | $19.75 | 144,879 |
| Counselor Internship | $45,500 | $3,792 | $21.88 | 132,694 |
Top companies hiring youth mentors now:
Youth mentor salaries at LifeWorks and Telos are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average youth mentor salary at companies like Catholic Charities Health and Human Services and Astor Services are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LifeWorks | $36,873 | $17.73 |
| 2 | Telos | $36,604 | $17.60 |
| 3 | Catholic Charities Health and Human Services | $34,346 | $16.51 |
| 4 | Astor Services | $32,428 | $15.59 |
| 5 | Pathways of Pennsylvania | $31,822 | $15.30 |
| 6 | Options Counseling and Family Services | $31,786 | $15.28 |
| 7 | Pediatric Partners, now a member of the Sevita family | $31,380 | $15.09 |
| 8 | Ontario City Library | $31,214 | $15.01 |
| 9 | The LCADA Way | $31,202 | $15.00 |
| 10 | LifeWorks NW | $30,873 | $14.84 |
| 11 | Metropolitan State University of Denver | $30,412 | $14.62 |
| 12 | Starfish Family Services | $30,246 | $14.54 |
| 13 | Diamond Ranch Academy | $30,174 | $14.51 |
| 14 | Consultants for Children | $29,936 | $14.39 |
| 15 | Universal Health Services | $29,651 | $14.26 |
| 16 | Merakey | $29,511 | $14.19 |
| 17 | Logan Co. Inc. | $29,233 | $14.05 |
| 18 | Westcare Health Corporation | $29,233 | $14.05 |
| 19 | Access International, Inc. | $29,233 | $14.05 |
| 20 | Aptiv | $29,233 | $14.05 |
The average youth mentor salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Professional | $32,145 | $15.45 |
| 2 | Government | $30,607 | $14.71 |
| 3 | Education | $30,224 | $14.53 |
| 4 | Finance | $30,193 | $14.52 |
| 5 | Non Profits | $29,957 | $14.40 |
| 6 | Health Care | $29,748 | $14.30 |
| 7 | Automotive | $29,289 | $14.08 |
The average youth mentor salary has risen by $6,575 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average youth mentor earned $26,175 annually, but today, they earn $32,750 a year. That works out to a 13% change in pay for youth mentors over the last decade.
Compare youth mentor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare youth mentor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $32,800 | $15.75 | +2.5% |
| 2024 | $31,900 | $15.35 | +3.7% |
| 2023 | $30,700 | $14.78 | +1.9% |
| 2022 | $30,200 | $14.50 | +4.0% |
| 2021 | $29,000 | $13.93 | +3.1% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rite of Passage Brand | Youth Mentor | Idaho Springs, CO | 06/28/2025 | $48,001 |
| Embark Behavioral Health | Youth Mentor | Springfield, MO | 06/27/2025 | $43,827 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts | Program Services-Youth and Mentor Enrollment | Boston, MA | 06/27/2025 | $44,000 |
| Society of St. Vincent de Paul Council of Seattle-King County | Latino Youth Mentor | Kent, WA | 06/27/2025 | $52,175 |
| Native American Rehabilitation Association of The Northwest, Inc. | Youth Outpatient Certified Recovery Mentor (CRM Bonus** | Gresham, OR | 06/22/2025 | $42,888 |
| Lincoln Child Center | Youth Program Mentor (Community-Based Program) | Hayward, CA | 06/20/2025 | $56,349 |
| Embark Behavioral Health | Youth Mentor | Washington, UT | 06/19/2025 | $35,479 |
| Rite of Passage Brand | Youth Mentor-Falcon Ridge Ranch | Virgin, UT | 06/15/2025 | $37,566 |
| Discovery Ranch South | Youth Mentor | Cedar City, UT | 06/15/2025 | $33,392 |
| Discovery Ranch | Youth Mentor | Mapleton, UT | 06/14/2025 | $29,218 |
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