Salary Outlook for Master’s in Counseling Psychology

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Master’s in Counseling Psychology Career Paths

Among psychology specialty areas, counseling is one of the broadest, but ideal job titles for professionals with this degree will lean toward work that involves helping others cope with day-to-day stresses.

Counseling psychology is similar to clinical psychology, but counseling psychologists are less likely to deal with individuals who are suffering from major mental and behavioral disorders. Clinical psychologists, on the other hand, are usually highly trained in abnormal psychology. Other focus areas within psychology include child and adolescent, family, forensic, health and community, and those with counseling psychology degrees may find a great deal of overlap in possible job titles with one or more psychology specialty areas.

A Master’s in Counseling Psychology could be the highest degree a professional earns, or it could serve as a stepping stone to higher academic achievement, such as a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) or Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (Ph.D.). Many people with a counseling psychology background may also consider pursuing a Doctor of Social Work degree, or DSW.

There’s no single job title and no one educational path for those considering a Master’s in Counseling Psychology. The route will probably depend on the individual’s passions and budget, but here’s a look at some potential educational paths for a selection of jobs in counseling psychology.

Counseling psychology degree options by desired occupation

Psychologist	Life Coach	Social Worker	Marriage and Family Counselor
Bachelor’s in Psychology	Bachelor’s in Sociology	Bachelor’s in Social Work	Bachelor’s in Psychology
Master’s in Counseling Psychology	Master’s in Counseling Psychology	Master’s in Counseling Psychology	Master’s in Counseling Psychology
PhD or PsyD in Counseling Psychology		Doctor of Social Work

Some jobs in psychology will require candidates to earn state licensure, which generally requires a doctoral degree. This could come in the form of a Psy.D., Ph.D. or, sometimes, a DSW. Be sure to check out what’s required in your state before making an investment in a Master’s in Counseling Psychology.

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Salary Outlook for Master’s in Counseling Psychology

33,661 people completed their master’s degrees in psychology in the 2022 school year. This makes psychology one of the hottest subjects for graduate studies in the United States, federal education officials reported, with psychology ranking seventh out of all subjects for graduate degree programs that year.

Psychology master’s degrees have grown in popularity over the past decade, and given the range of possible focus areas, it’s not hard to understand why. Whether it’s their final educational stop or a steppingstone to even higher levels of academic achievement, a master’s in counseling psychology can be a crucial career building block.

Let’s take a look at what professionals with a master’s in counseling psychology can expect to earn and how salary figures vary across the country.

Master’s in Counseling Psychology Salary Overview

Completing higher levels of education beyond a high school diploma or bachelor’s degree is often a wise investment, and this is definitely true for those who want to work in jobs involving counseling psychology.

Few bachelor’s degree programs offer the robust training in this area, particularly the direct, hands-on counseling work that sets this area of psychology apart from others, such as forensic psychology or industrial-organizational psychology, which are more often administrative in nature.

But in addition to opening up new avenues of occupational opportunities, getting a master’s in counseling psychology can provide a salary boost. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that for people whose highest degree is a master’s, their median salary is nearly double that of those whose highest level of education is a high school diploma. And comparing master’s to bachelor’s holders, those with a master’s earn a median salary that’s 16% more.

The BLS tracks national and state-level statistics for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors. We’ll use this career category as a representation for what master’s in counseling graduates can earn. The salary breakdown for these professionals nationally is:

Bottom 25% salary – $44,600 and lower
Median salary – $53,710
Top 25% salary – $70,130 and higher
Top 10% salary – $89,920 and higher

Analyzing salary by state, Alaska, Utah, New Jersey, New York, and California offer the highest average salaries for master’s-level counseling psychologists. 20 states offered salaries above $60,000. The difference between the highest and lowest average salaries is $35,150.

Average annual counseling psychology master’s degree salary by state

Alaska	$77,430
Utah	$70,310
District of Columbia	$67,750
New Jersey	$67,250
New York	$67,240
California	$66,970
Wyoming	$66,430
Oregon	$66,260
Wisconsin	$66,230
North Dakota	$66,200
New Mexico	$66,190
Arkansas	$66,180
Washington	$63,490
Illinois	$63,450
Colorado	$62,380
Maryland	$61,860
Iowa	$61,770
Oklahoma	$61,760
Hawaii	$61,530
Connecticut	$61,100
Arizona	$60,640
Nevada	$59,820
Idaho	$58,990
Vermont	$58,880
Massachusetts	$58,720
Nebraska	$58,720
Virginia	$58,610
Maine	$57,610
Michigan	$57,560
Ohio	$57,300
New Hampshire	$57,110
Florida	$56,980
North Carolina	$56,510
Pennsylvania	$56,090
Missouri	$55,910
Texas	$55,780
Minnesota	$54,420
Kansas	$54,170
Georgia	$53,760
Kentucky	$53,690
Montana	$53,690
Delaware	$51,220
South Dakota	$50,960
Rhode Island	$50,110
Indiana	$49,750
South Carolina	$49,310
Tennessee	$49,280
Alabama	$47,900
West Virginia	$47,520
Mississippi	$47,500
Louisiana	$42,280

The sectors offering the highest average annual salaries for master’s-level counseling psychologists are:

Business, professional, labor, political, and similar organizations – $94,050
Religious organizations – $78,220
Insurance carriers – $77,900
Childcare services – $76,790
Junior colleges – $72,930

Considering future prospects, the BLS reports that between 2023 and 2033 the number of master’s-level counseling psychologist jobs should increase by 18.8%, a rate that’s far higher than the general national rate for all jobs of 4%. The BLS also breaks down projection statistics by state.

Projected growth in counseling psychology master’s degree job openings by state, 2022-2032

Utah	56.1%
Arizona	39.1%
New Mexico	34.3%
Idaho	33.7%
Tennessee	32.5%
Iowa	31%
Montana	29.6%
Florida	29%
Colorado	27.9%
Oregon	27.4%
Texas	27.2%
North Carolina	27%
New York	25.2%
New Hampshire	23.9%
Wyoming	23.9%
West Virginia	23.6%
Virginia	22.5%
California	22.3%
Maryland	22.1%
Nevada	22%
Georgia	21.7%
Arkansas	21.5%
Kentucky	21.4%
Nebraska	21.3%
Indiana	21.2%
Connecticut	20.5%
Vermont	20.5%
South Carolina	20.4%
Louisiana	20%
Oklahoma	19.7%
Rhode Island	19.6%
Massachusetts	19.4%
Delaware	18.8%
Kansas	18.8%
New Jersey	18.5%
Missouri	18.2%
Minnesota	18%
Michigan	17.8%
District of Columbia	17.6%
Illinois	17.4%
Wisconsin	16%
North Dakota	15.5%
Pennsylvania	15.2%
Ohio	14.7%
South Dakota	14.5%
Alabama	13.3%
Mississippi	12.1%
Alaska	10.1%
Maine	5.3%

All states but one have double-digit growth, which means all states but one have growth that’s more than double the general national job growth rate. It’s hard to find a silver lining for America’s mental health crisis, but job prospects for master’s-prepared counseling psychologists is one.

May 2023 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics salary for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors. 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.

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Conclusion

We could all use someone to help give us advice from time to time, and for those who are trained in counseling psychology, both the present and future look bright indeed.