Salary Outlook for Mental Health Psychologist
Mental health psychology is a form of counseling psychology, according to the American Psychological Association (APA). Mental health psychology focuses on how people function personally and in their relationships across the lifespan. Mental health psychology deals with the social, work, emotional, school, and physical health problems that people have. (APA.org)
Mental health psychologists help patients better deal with common life stresses and more severe mental and emotional health issues. Mental health psychologists assist patients to enhance their feeling of well being and to reduce feelings of upset and resolve major personal problems.
The skills and procedures you may use as a mental health psychologist include:
- Family, group and individual psychotherapy and counseling
- Trauma management and crisis intervention
- Assessment methods for diagnosing psychological disorders
- Workshops and programs that inform and educate the public about school, family, mental health, and workplace issues so problems can be mitigated as soon as possible.
- Clinical supervision
- Psychological test construction and validation
- Program evaluation and treatment outcomes
To become a mental health psychologist, you will need to earn at least a master’s degree. You need a Ph.D. if you want to work in private practice as a mental health psychologist.
Deciding to become a mental health psychologist is a big decision. Learn below about your salary potential before you decide to embark on a master’s or Ph.D. program in psychology.
Mental Health Psychologist Salary Information
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports the median wage for all psychologists is $92,740. Salaries of the top 10% earners start at $151,880. If you earn your PhD in psychology or mental health counseling, you can probably earn towards the top of the wage scale.
The BLS doesn’t track specific salary data for mental health psychologists, but it does for the following two career categories:
- Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors
- Clinical and counseling psychologists
The nature of work, sector, and level of education are all important factors that affect salary. These two categories reflect these aspects of salary, so we’ll use them to set the low and high-end benchmarks. Clinical and counseling psychologist jobs require a doctoral degree, so this category will serve as the high-end salary estimate.
Thus we can estimate mental health psychologist salaries as falling somewhere between these two career categories:
| Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors | Clinical and counseling psychologists | |
| Bottom 25% salary | $44,600 | $66,050 |
| Median salary | $53,710 | $96,100 |
| Top 25% salary | $70,130 | $129,020 |
| Top 10% salary | $89,920 | $168,870 |
The same holds true for estimating the range for mental health psychologist salary by job type. It’s likely a range between the two career categories, listed here by relevant sector with average salaries:
| Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors | Clinical and counseling psychologists | |
| Outpatient care centers | $58,480 | $107,500 |
| Individual and family services | $58,210 | $91,160 |
| Offices of other health practitioners | $66,500 | $114,900 |
| Residential intellectual and developmental disability, mental health, and substance abuse facilities | $49,250 | $87,910 |
| Local government, excluding schools and hospitals | $68,830 | $101,440 |
| Offices of physicians | $65,280 | $113,970 |
| General hospitals | $64,250 | $101,450 |
If you earn your PhD, you may wish to be employed as a college psychology professor. The BLS reports the average salary for these professionals is $93,990.
At colleges, universities, and professional schools psychology professors earn an average of $94,610, while junior colleges offer an average salary of $90,870.
Average Mental Health Psychologist Salary by State
The average salaries for the career category of substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors, and the career category for clinical and counseling psychologists, are listed below. The average salary for a mental health psychologist likely falls between these.
| State | Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors | Clinical and counseling psychologists |
| New Jersey | $67,250 | $148,370 |
| California | $66,970 | $132,410 |
| Oregon | $66,260 | $129,470 |
| Rhode Island | $50,110 | $120,720 |
| Maine | $57,610 | $117,710 |
| Maryland | $61,860 | $116,560 |
| New York | $67,240 | $113,230 |
| Illinois | $63,450 | $111,300 |
| Utah | $70,310 | $110,630 |
| Wisconsin | $66,230 | $109,890 |
| Tennessee | $49,280 | $109,670 |
| Arizona | $60,640 | $109,550 |
| Alaska | $77,430 | $109,300 |
| Ohio | $57,300 | $108,690 |
| Washington | $63,490 | $108,650 |
| Virginia | $58,610 | $108,130 |
| Nevada | $59,820 | $106,830 |
| Arkansas | $66,180 | $106,330 |
| Kentucky | $53,690 | $105,140 |
| Massachusetts | $58,720 | $102,630 |
| Colorado | $62,380 | $99,690 |
| Vermont | $58,880 | $95,950 |
| Minnesota | $54,420 | $95,100 |
| Hawaii | $61,530 | $92,780 |
| Indiana | $49,750 | $92,700 |
| New Mexico | $66,190 | $92,530 |
| Alabama | $47,900 | $92,470 |
| North Carolina | $56,510 | $91,390 |
| Florida | $56,980 | $89,450 |
| Oklahoma | $61,760 | $89,380 |
| North Dakota | $66,200 | $88,500 |
| Missouri | $55,910 | $87,730 |
| Iowa | $61,770 | $87,360 |
| South Dakota | $50,960 | $86,160 |
| Georgia | $53,760 | $85,800 |
| Michigan | $57,560 | $82,770 |
| Texas | $55,780 | $82,420 |
| Pennsylvania | $56,090 | $80,400 |
| Montana | $53,690 | $80,310 |
| West Virginia | $47,520 | $75,810 |
| Idaho | $58,990 | $75,330 |
| Wyoming | $66,430 | $72,860 |
| Kansas | $54,170 | $72,570 |
| South Carolina | $49,310 | $64,990 |
| New Hampshire | $57,110 | $64,390 |
Job Outlook for Mental Health Psychologists
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the job outlook for all psychologists is promising. A rise of 7% in psychologist jobs is forecast between 2023 and 2033, which is nearly double the average general rate of 4%. As the US population is aging and living healthier lives, more people want to address their mental health issues to live happier for all their years.
Also, more psychologists are needed because the link between mental and physical health is better understood than a few decades ago. More psychologists are employed in hospitals to help people with illnesses and diseases.
Between 2023 and 2033 the job outlook for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors is 11.6%, and 13.3% for clinical and counseling psychologists. The outlook for mental health psychologists should be right around these rates.
Summary
A career in mental health psychology is a fine choice. With a PhD in counseling psychology or a related discipline, you can eye counseling psychologist top 10% salary starting at $168,870. As a mental health counselor, you will probably not earn as much, with this career category’s top 10% salary starting at $89,920.
More mental health psychologists are needed in all parts of society as more people want to deal with their mental health problems.
May 2023 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics salary for Psychologists, Clinical and Counseling Psychologists, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors, and Post-Secondary Psychology Teachers. National labor market information and state labor market information also sourced from the U.S. Department of Labor. Information based on national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed February 2025.