How to Become a Mental Health Counselor
Counsel individuals and groups toward better mental and emotional health, with a strong emphasis on prevention and coping skills. It typically requires a master's degree, with a median salary of $59,350 per year and much faster than average projected job growth.
Median pay
$59,350/yr
Middle half
$47,100 to $76,530
Job growth
Much faster than average
Openings / yr
48,300
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Active Listening
- Counseling Techniques
- Treatment Planning
- Empathy
- Crisis Intervention
Helpful certifications
- LPC/LMHC (state professional counselor licensure)
- NCC (National Certified Counselor)
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
12/100
Work-life balance
68/100
Stress level
67/100
Related careers
- Community Services Manager$80,390 median
- Marriage and Family Therapist$66,940 median
- Rehabilitation Counselor$46,850 median
- Human Services Assistant$45,930 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Mental Health Counselor make?
The median pay for a Mental Health Counselor is $59,350 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $47,100 and $76,530 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Mental Health Counselor?
The usual entry point is a master's degree. Common majors are Psychology, Counseling, Social Work, and Human Services.
Is Mental Health Counselor a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is much faster than average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 48,300 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Mental Health Counselor use most?
Common skills for this role are Active Listening, Counseling Techniques, Treatment Planning, Empathy, and Crisis Intervention.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).