The average salary for counselors with masters degrees ranges from $50,000 to $70,000. The counseling field does vary state to state and city to city. In some cases it might be more in one area compared to another.
The average salary for a counselor with a masters is $48,000.
Average salary for counselor with masters
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) lists three top counseling jobs in America: rehabilitation counselors, school and career counselors (like those who work in middle or high school), and mental health counselors. As with most careers, the average salary for a counselor can vary depending on location, experience level and credentialing.
Average Salary for Counselors
The average salary for counselors with a master’s degree is $53,000. The median annual wage for all mental health counselors was $57,000 in 2016.
Counselors who work in management and public relations positions earn a significantly higher salary than their counterparts who work as therapists or specialists. Counselors with advanced degrees also earn more than those with bachelor’s degrees alone.
Addiction, Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors
If you’re working in addiction, substance abuse and behavioral disorder counseling, your average salary is $40,000.
If your salary is $50,000, that’s 20% above the average for this professional field.
If you earn $60,000 per year as a counselor specializing in addiction, substance abuse and behavioral disorder counseling then that’s 40% above the national average.
The highest paid counselors working in this area make an average of $70,000 each year—that’s 60% more than someone with a similar job who doesn’t have a masters degree! If you earn $80k or more as an addiction specialist then congratulations—you’re part of the top 10 percent nationally. Just keep doing what you’re doing!
Mental Health Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists
To help you decide whether you’d like to go for a masters of mental health counseling (M.Ed.), or for a masters in marriage and family therapy (M.S.) we’ll look at the differences between these two degrees and how they affect your salary potential.
The average salary for counselors with an M.Ed., or master’s degree, ranges from $71,000 to $80,000 per year depending on where they’re working. The Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn’t have specific data on this type of career path because it covers so many different occupations, but they do list some major categories in their database:
- Social Workers: $48,620
- Marriage & Family Therapists: $43,930
Rehabilitation Counselors
Rehabilitation Counselors
- Average salary: $39,000 – $50,000 per year
- Education required: Master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling or a related field, plus a license.
- Job duties: Helping people with disabilities overcome barriers to employment. This might include physical and mental health problems, substance abuse issues and even lack of education or training for the job market. It could also involve helping people with traumatic brain injuries or other issues resulting from war injuries or motor vehicle accidents. You’d be working one-on-one with patients to help them learn life skills that will allow them to get back on their feet and into jobs where they can support themselves independently (or if they’re retired). Rehabilitation counselors often work at hospital clinics or outpatient centers where they can treat patients on an outpatient basis while also helping coordinate services like transportation home after treatment sessions have ended so clients don’t have trouble getting around town as they go through their recovery process.”
Clinical, Counseling and School Psychologists
If you want to work with people who need mental health help, a Master’s degree in psychology will be your ticket. The average income for this type of psychologist is $48,000 per year.
The education requirements for becoming a clinical psychologist are typically higher than those of other types of psychologists. You’ll need at least a master’s degree in psychology or a related subject and often have to do an internship as well as take additional coursework on psychological theories and therapy methods.
Clinical, counseling and school psychologists work in many different environments such as hospitals, schools and mental health centers; they also work in government agencies (such as state psychiatric hospitals), social service agencies (like homeless shelters) or private practice offices where they see clients one-on-one or groups at their own private offices or at their places of employment during lunch breaks if they’re employed full time by another organization like the hospital where they might have been asked by management due to shortage etc…
All Other Counselors
Now that we’ve covered the basic range of salaries for counselors, let’s take a look at some specific categories of counselors who might have different pay structures.
- All Other Counselors: Average starting salary: $61,000. Average mid-career salary: $63,000.
- Family Therapist – Average starting salary: $62,000. Average mid-career salary: $64,000
These two categories include many different types of counseling jobs that don’t fit into any other category (e.g., marriage and family therapist).
Elementary, Middle and High School Counselors
If you’re interested in becoming a counselor, consider pursuing a degree in the field. The average salary for counselors with masters is $53,000, but it varies depending on your level of education and work environment. For example, elementary school counselors can expect to earn around $48,000 annually compared to college advisors who make approximately $66,000 per year on average.
How do you become an elementary school counselor? If you’re interested in pursuing this career path as part of your life goals and career objectives now or later on down the road then read more below! We’ll walk through some things like: What does it take to become an elementary school counselor? What kind of training do I need? What kind of job opportunities exist after finishing my training program? And finally how much does one make after graduating from such programs?
A Masters in counseling can lead to a rewarding career.
A Master’s in Counseling can lead to a rewarding career. You’ll be able to offer your clients not only the benefit of your counseling skills, but also the knowledge you have gained during your graduate studies. Here are some other benefits of getting a Master’s degree:
- Higher salary and higher level of responsibility.
- More job opportunities (and more options for advancement).
- Opportunities for specialized training in areas such as psychology or marriage and family therapy (MFT).
Conclusion
If you are seeking a career in counseling, there are many different options for you to consider. You can help people with addiction issues, guide students and their families with educational goals or provide guidance to people who have been disabled. Counselors assist people in many ways, helping them lead better lives. In addition to the personal satisfaction that comes from assisting others, counselors also enjoy competitive salaries.