Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2010

21-1014 Mental Health Counselors

Counsel with emphasis on prevention. Work with individuals and groups to promote optimum mental and emotional health. May help individuals deal with issues associated with addictions and substance abuse; family, parenting, and marital problems; stress management; self-esteem; and aging. Excludes "Social Workers" (21-1021 through 21-1029), "Psychiatrists" (29-1066), and "Psychologists" (19-3031 through 19-3039).

National estimates for this occupation
Industry profile for this occupation
Geographic profile for this occupation

National estimates for this occupation: Top

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3) 		Mean hourly
wage		 Mean annual
wage (2) 		Wage RSE (3)
110,300 1.6 % $19.88 $41,360 0.6 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median) 		75% 90%
Hourly Wage $11.63 $14.43 $18.34 $23.94 $30.59
Annual Wage (2) $24,180 $30,010 $38,150 $49,800 $63,630

Industry profile for this occupation: Top

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Individual and Family Services 21,410 1.76 $19.36 $40,260
Outpatient Care Centers 20,980 3.54 $19.85 $41,300
Residential Mental Retardation, Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities 20,000 3.54 $15.90 $33,060
Local Government (OES Designation) 10,050 0.18 $23.79 $49,480
Offices of Other Health Practitioners 7,140 1.07 $22.42 $46,630

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Residential Mental Retardation, Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities 20,000 3.54 $15.90 $33,060
Outpatient Care Centers 20,980 3.54 $19.85 $41,300
Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals 6,720 2.78 $19.93 $41,460
Other Residential Care Facilities 2,970 1.83 $17.78 $36,980
Individual and Family Services 21,410 1.76 $19.36 $40,260

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Insurance Carriers 40 (7) $30.41 $63,260
State Government (OES Designation) 2,460 0.11 $25.38 $52,800
Junior Colleges 80 0.01 $23.84 $49,590
Local Government (OES Designation) 10,050 0.18 $23.79 $49,480
Facilities Support Services 100 0.07 $23.64 $49,180

Geographic profile for this occupation: Top

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.

States with the highest employment level in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Pennsylvania 15,740 2.87 3.31 $18.23 $37,920
California 8,450 0.60 0.70 $22.63 $47,070
New York 6,480 0.78 0.89 $17.73 $36,890
Illinois 5,850 1.06 1.22 $19.40 $40,350
Virginia 5,640 1.60 1.84 $21.73 $45,210




States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Pennsylvania 15,740 2.87 3.31 $18.23 $37,920
Massachusetts 5,140 1.65 1.90 $21.01 $43,700
Virginia 5,640 1.60 1.84 $21.73 $45,210
Colorado 3,190 1.48 1.71 $19.55 $40,650
Alaska 420 1.38 1.59 $26.70 $55,540




Top paying States for this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Alaska 420 1.38 1.59 $26.70 $55,540
Nevada 490 0.44 0.51 $25.43 $52,890
Idaho 500 0.85 0.98 $25.14 $52,290
Arkansas 540 0.48 0.55 $24.16 $50,260
Maine 460 0.79 0.91 $23.33 $48,520

Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Philadelphia, PA Metropolitan Division 6,760 3.74 4.31 $17.46 $36,310
New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division 4,460 0.90 1.03 $18.74 $38,970
Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, IL Metropolitan Division 4,250 1.20 1.38 $19.96 $41,510
Pittsburgh, PA 2,800 2.56 2.95 $18.90 $39,310
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division 1,920 0.50 0.58 $22.88 $47,600
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division 1,820 0.80 0.92 $25.66 $53,360
Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA NECTA Division 1,770 1.07 1.23 $21.12 $43,920
Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA Metropolitan Division 1,680 1.25 1.44 $21.23 $44,150
Denver-Aurora, CO 1,530 1.29 1.49 $20.58 $42,800
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 1,430 0.85 0.98 $21.48 $44,690




Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Johnstown, PA 350 6.28 7.23 $16.81 $34,960
Alexandria, LA 350 5.69 6.56 $14.59 $30,340
Taunton-Norton-Raynham, MA NECTA Division 210 4.77 5.50 $17.46 $36,310
Waterbury, CT 270 4.21 4.86 $17.23 $35,830
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA 990 4.00 4.61 $15.96 $33,190
Philadelphia, PA Metropolitan Division 6,760 3.74 4.31 $17.46 $36,310
Altoona, PA 210 3.71 4.28 $14.06 $29,250
Lynchburg, VA 310 3.16 3.64 $17.27 $35,920
Worcester, MA-CT 660 2.81 3.23 $23.26 $48,380
Fort Collins-Loveland, CO 340 2.75 3.17 $14.45 $30,060