As of August 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Licensed Professional Counselor (LCPC) in the United States is $31, which translates to an annual salary of about $64,445.
However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:
Licensed Professional Counselor (LCPC) Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $72,482 | $6,040 | $1,394 | $35 |
| Average | $64,445 | $5,370 | $1,239 | $31 |
| 25th Percentile | $59,314 | $4,943 | $1,141 | $29 |
A Licensed Professional Counselor (LCPC)'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.
Experience is a primary driver of a Licensed Professional Counselor (LCPC)'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:
| Job Role | Years of Experience | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed Professional Counselor (LCPC) | 0-0 years | $64,445 |
| Psychologist - M.A. | 7+ years | $95,212 |
| Psychologist - Ph.D. | 7-10 years | $130,306 |
| Psychological Services Director | 10+ years | $126,391 |
Demanded Skills for the Role:
| Skills | Demand Percentage |
|---|---|
| Commitment | 6.26% |
| Support Services | 3.48% |
| CPR | 2.37% |
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Licensed Professional Counselor (LCPC)'s salary.
| Skill | Salary | Salary % Increase |
|---|---|---|
| Flexibility | $68,312 | |
| Leadership | $67,667 | |
| Scheduling | $67,667 |
Licensed Professional Counselor (LCPC) salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $68,714. While startup companies pay approximate $58,458.
| Company Size | Employees | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Startup | 1~50 | $58,458 |
| Growth Stage | 51~500 | $61,740 |
| Established | 501~5000 | $66,441 |
| Enterprise | 5000+ | $68,714 |
Understanding how a Licensed Professional Counselor (LCPC)'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.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $72,482 | $6,040 | $1,394 | $35 |
| Average | $64,445 | $5,370 | $1,239 | $31 |
| 25th Percentile | $59,314 | $4,943 | $1,141 | $29 |
Salaries for a Licensed Professional Counselor (LCPC) can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $85,734 in 2023 to around $84,503 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Licensed Professional Counselor (LCPC) salary trends, .
| Year | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 2022 | View More |
| 2023 | $85,734 |
| 2024 | $85,399 |
| 2025 | $84,503 |
| 2026 |
View More
|
| 2027 |
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|
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Provides individual, family, and group counseling services to patients to address various mental health and wellness-related issues. Conducts assessments and helps patients to problem-solve areas of need. Helps to develop coping strategies and action-based goals and objectives for patients. May specialize in a particular area of counseling. Requires a master's degree in psychology, counseling, social work, or related field. Requires Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC). Typically reports to a supervisor or manager. Years of experience may be unspecified. Certification and/or licensing in the position's specialty is the main requirement.
Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.
Commitment: An agreement or pledge to do something in the future a commitment to improve conditions at the prison especially : an engagement to assume a financial obligation at a future date.
Support Services: Support Services means those activities provided to or on behalf of a person in the areas of personal care and assistance and property maintenance in order to allow a person to live in the least restrictive environment.
CPR: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) combines rescue breathing (mouth-to-mouth) and chest compressions to temporarily pump enough blood to the brain until specialized treatment is available.
Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
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