Mental Health Counselors

Mental Health Counselors has a Career Health Score of 80/100, rated "Excellent." Mental Health Counselors is an excellent career choice with strong growth and stability. Highly recommended. The median salary is $53,710 per year. Employment is projected to grow 22% from 2022 to 2032, which is much faster than average.

The median annual salary for Mental Health Counselors is $53,710 as of 2023. The bottom 10% earn around $34,240, while the top 10% earn over $90,930. The 75th percentile salary is $70,630.

The typical entry-level education for Mental Health Counselors is master's degree. New hires typically receive internship/residency of on-the-job training.

Mental Health Counselors are relatively safe from AI automation, with an AI exposure score of 18%. The overall impact is classified as "Augmented." Key tasks that remain difficult to automate include conducting therapy sessions using evidence-based modalities and providing crisis counseling for suicidal or at-risk clients.

Employment for Mental Health Counselors is projected to grow 22% from 2022 to 2032, which is much faster than average. The economy is expected to add approximately 42,500 openings per year, including replacements for workers who transfer or retire.

The most important skills for Mental Health Counselors include Active Listening, Empathy, Therapeutic Techniques (CBT, DBT, etc.), Clinical Assessment, Communication. Key technical skills include Clinical Assessment. Strong soft skills like Active Listening and Empathy and Communication are also essential.