upper level job

Hourly Wage for Licensed Professional Counselor (LCPC) Salary in the United States

What is the highest and lowest hourly pay for Licensed Professional Counselor (LCPC)?

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:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $38 per hour
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $29 to $35 per hour
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $26 per hour

Key Factors That Influence Licensed Professional Counselor (LCPC) Salaries

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.

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

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:

  • 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
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 Director10+ years$126,391

Top Paying Cities for Licensed Professional Counselor (LCPC)

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:

  • San Jose: $81,284
  • San Francisco: $80,394
  • Oakland: $78,700

What Skills Can Increase a Licensed Professional Counselor (LCPC)'s Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Commitment (Mentioned in 6.26% Job Postings): 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 (Mentioned in 3.48% Job Postings): 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 (Mentioned in 2.37% Job Postings): 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.
Skills Demand Percentage
Commitment 6.26%
Support Services 3.48%
CPR 2.37%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

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.

  • Flexibility: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Scheduling: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Flexibility $68,312
6%
Leadership $67,667
5%
Scheduling $67,667
5%

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

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.

Licensed Professional Counselor (LCPC) Salary by Company Size

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

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

For Licensed Professional Counselor (LCPC) 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, Business Services, offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely, Licensed Professional Counselor (LCPC) positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Licensed Professional Counselor (LCPC) as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

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

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Business Services$77,334$37.020%

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

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.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$59,314
Average $64,445/year
$72,482
$4,943
Average $5,370/month
$6,040
$1,141
Average $1,239/week
$1,394
$29
Average $31/hour
$35
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

Most common benefits for Licensed Professional Counselor (LCPC)

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Licensed Professional Counselor (LCPC)

Here are companies hiring for Licensed Professional Counselor (LCPC) and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Licensed Professional Counselor (LCPC) Job

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

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about Licensed Professional Counselor (LCPC)

1. What are the responsibilities of Licensed Professional Counselor (LCPC)?

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.

2. What are the skills of Licensed Professional Counselor (LCPC)

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.

1.)

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.

2.)

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.

3.)

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.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

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.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst