Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2011

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)
114,180 1.5 % $20.48 $42,590 0.6 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median) 		75% 90%
Hourly Wage $11.94 $14.88 $18.84 $24.46 $31.57
Annual Wage (2) $24,840 $30,950 $39,190 $50,870 $65,660

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)
Outpatient Care Centers 22,520 3.68 $20.15 $41,920
Individual and Family Services 21,150 1.69 $20.27 $42,160
Residential Mental Retardation, Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities 20,140 3.52 $16.18 $33,640
Local Government (OES Designation) 9,580 0.17 $24.62 $51,200
Offices of Other Health Practitioners 7,920 1.15 $23.20 $48,260

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Outpatient Care Centers 22,520 3.68 $20.15 $41,920
Residential Mental Retardation, Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities 20,140 3.52 $16.18 $33,640
Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals 6,290 2.68 $21.25 $44,210
Other Residential Care Facilities 2,750 1.74 $17.63 $36,670
Individual and Family Services 21,150 1.69 $20.27 $42,160

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Insurance Carriers 40 (7) $29.85 $62,100
State Government (OES Designation) 2,460 0.11 $26.92 $55,990
Facilities Support Services 70 0.05 $25.28 $52,580
Local Government (OES Designation) 9,580 0.17 $24.62 $51,200
Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals 290 0.13 $23.92 $49,760

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 15,380 2.77 3.11 $18.92 $39,360
California 8,610 0.61 0.69 $23.42 $48,710
Virginia 7,390 2.08 2.34 $21.31 $44,330
Massachusetts 6,120 1.94 2.18 $20.99 $43,670
New York 6,070 0.72 0.81 $19.17 $39,860




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 15,380 2.77 3.11 $18.92 $39,360
Virginia 7,390 2.08 2.34 $21.31 $44,330
Vermont 600 2.08 2.33 $19.59 $40,750
Massachusetts 6,120 1.94 2.18 $20.99 $43,670
Montana 750 1.76 1.97 $15.47 $32,170




Top paying States for this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Alaska 510 1.61 1.81 $26.48 $55,080
Nevada 480 0.43 0.48 $24.83 $51,640
Arkansas 670 0.59 0.66 $24.59 $51,150
Wyoming 240 0.88 0.99 $24.06 $50,030
Oregon 2,350 1.48 1.66 $23.98 $49,880





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 6,460 3.56 4.00 $17.90 $37,220
Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL Metropolitan Division 4,380 1.22 1.37 $20.36 $42,350
New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division 3,860 0.76 0.86 $20.57 $42,790
Pittsburgh, PA 2,830 2.54 2.85 $19.91 $41,420
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division 2,470 1.07 1.20 $25.56 $53,160
Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA NECTA Division 2,240 1.33 1.50 $20.61 $42,870
Richmond, VA 1,950 3.32 3.73 $17.50 $36,410
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division 1,820 0.48 0.53 $23.59 $49,070
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 1,750 1.02 1.15 $21.93 $45,620
Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA Metropolitan Division 1,700 1.24 1.39 $21.57 $44,870




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 330 5.81 6.52 $18.72 $38,940
Waterbury, CT 280 4.47 5.02 $18.88 $39,280
Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA 330 3.70 4.15 $16.94 $35,240
New Bedford, MA 230 3.66 4.11 $26.07 $54,220
Pittsfield, MA 120 3.57 4.01 (8) (8)
Philadelphia, PA Metropolitan Division 6,460 3.56 4.00 $17.90 $37,220
Lynchburg, VA 340 3.44 3.87 $17.16 $35,700
Worcester, MA-CT 820 3.41 3.83 $22.67 $47,160
Richmond, VA 1,950 3.32 3.73 $17.50 $36,410
Asheville, NC 550 3.27 3.67 $19.40 $40,350