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Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) Salary in California

How much does a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) make in California?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in California is $74,216 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $36.

However, a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)'s salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $91,899
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $68,307 to $83,472
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $62,927
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View as table View as graph 25% $68,307 10% $62,927 90% $91,899 75% $83,472 $74,216 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $83,472 $6,956 $1,605 $40
Average $74,216 $6,185 $1,427 $36
25th Percentile $68,307 $5,692 $1,314 $33
Check out Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) Job Openings in California
Licensed Professional Counselor

CHE Behavioral - West Covina, CA

Licensed Professional Counselor

Rula Health - Carlsbad, CA

Licensed Professional Counselor

Rula Health - Stockton, CA

Licensed Professional Counselor

Rula Health - Fresno, CA

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Key Factors That Influence Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) Salaries

A Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)'s salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)'s salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $72,263
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $72,704
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $73,321
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $74,480
  • Expert (over 8 years): $77,243
Levels Salary
Entry Level Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)$72,263
Intermediate Level Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)$72,704
Senior Level Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)$73,321
Specialist Level Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)$74,480
Expert Level Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)$77,243
$72,263 0 yr
$72,704 < 2 yrs
$73,321 2-4 yrs
$74,480 5-8 yrs
$77,243 > 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)s

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • Los Angeles: $74,344
  • West Hollywood: $74,290
  • Dodgertown: $74,343

Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $78,722. While startup companies pay approximate $67,083.

Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup1~50$67,083
Growth Stage51~500$70,815
Established501~5000$76,148
Enterprise5000+$78,722

Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare, offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely, Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) positions in Edu., Government & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$89,059$43.020%

Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)'s annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

  • Yearly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Hourly
  • Table View
Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$68,307
Average $74,216/year
$83,472
$5,692
Average $6,185/month
$6,956
$1,314
Average $1,427/week
$1,605
$33
Average $36/hour
$40
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $83,472 $6,956 $1,605 $40
Average $74,216 $6,185 $1,427 $36
25th Percentile $68,307 $5,692 $1,314 $33

Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) Salary Growth & Career Path

Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
Clinical Licensed Psychologist M.A.
Director Mental Health Services

For a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Clinical Licensed Psychologist M.A. role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $105,100 - a projected growth of 42% over your current level.

Salaries of jobs related to Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

Find Your Next Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States

  • Rula Health

    Sacramento, CA

    Licensed Professional Counselor

    Rula Health | Sacramento, CA

    About Rula. At Rula, our mission is simple: help people get better. We partner with a nationwide network of licensed clinicians committed to delivering com... more

    20 Days Ago

  • Rula Health

    Santa Barbara, CA

    Licensed Professional Counselor

    Rula Health | Santa Barbara, CA

    About Rula. At Rula, our mission is simple: help people get better. We partner with a nationwide network of licensed clinicians committed to delivering com... more

    20 Days Ago

  • Rula Health

    Bakersfield, CA

    Licensed Professional Counselor

    Rula Health | Bakersfield, CA

    About Rula. At Rula, our mission is simple: help people get better. We partner with a nationwide network of licensed clinicians committed to delivering com... more

    20 Days Ago

  • Rula Health

    San Jose, CA

    Licensed Professional Counselor

    Rula Health | San Jose, CA

    About Rula. At Rula, our mission is simple: help people get better. We partner with a nationwide network of licensed clinicians committed to delivering com... more

    20 Days Ago

  • Rula Health

    Whittier, CA

    Licensed Professional Counselor

    Rula Health | Whittier, CA

    About Rula. At Rula, our mission is simple: help people get better. We partner with a nationwide network of licensed clinicians committed to delivering com... more

    20 Days Ago

  • Rula Health

    Clovis, CA

    Licensed Professional Counselor

    Rula Health | Clovis, CA

    About Rula. At Rula, our mission is simple: help people get better. We partner with a nationwide network of licensed clinicians committed to delivering com... more

    20 Days Ago

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