Youth And Family Counselor Salary in the United States

How much does a Youth And Family Counselor make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Youth And Family Counselor in the United States is $81,257 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $39.

However, a Youth And Family Counselor's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $97,717
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $71,672 to $89,873
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $62,946
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View as table View as graph 25% $71,672 10% $62,946 90% $97,717 75% $89,873 $81,257 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Youth And Family Counselor Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $89,873 $7,489 $1,728 $43
Average $81,257 $6,771 $1,563 $39
25th Percentile $71,672 $5,973 $1,378 $34
Check out Youth And Family Counselor Job Openings in the United States
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Key Factors That Influence Youth And Family Counselor Salaries

A Youth And Family Counselor'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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Youth And Family Counselor Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Youth And Family Counselor'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): $79,260
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $79,926
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $83,929
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $87,712
  • Expert (over 8 years): $88,387
Levels Salary
Entry Level Youth And Family Counselor$79,260
Intermediate Level Youth And Family Counselor$79,926
Senior Level Youth And Family Counselor$83,929
Specialist Level Youth And Family Counselor$87,712
Expert Level Youth And Family Counselor$88,387
$79,260 0 yr
$79,926 < 2 yrs
$83,929 2-4 yrs
$87,712 5-8 yrs
$88,387 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Youth And Family Counselor Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Youth And Family Counselors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $89,968.
  • California: $89,627.
  • Massachusetts: $88,432.

Top Paying Cities for Youth And Family Counselors

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: $102,490
  • San Francisco: $101,482
  • Oakland: $99,231

What Skills Can Increase a Youth And Family Counselor's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 9.21% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Psychotherapy (Mentioned in 2.34% Job Postings): Psychotherapy can help eliminate or control troubling symptoms so a person can function better and can increase well-being and healing.
  • Integrated Care (Mentioned in 1.6% Job Postings): It is care that is planned with people who work together to understand the service user and their carer(s), puts them in control and coordinates and delivers services to achieve the best outcomes.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 9.21%
Psychotherapy 2.34%
Integrated Care 1.6%
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 Youth And Family Counselor's salary.
  • Clinical Care: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Psychiatric: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Organizational Skills: Can increase your salary by up to 2%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Clinical Care
$84,508
4%
Psychiatric
$84,508
4%
Organizational Skills
$82,882
2%
Presentation
$82,882
2%
Pediatric
$82,882
2%
Psychotherapy
$82,882
2%
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How Education impacts a Youth And Family Counselor's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Youth And Family Counselors enter the field with a Master's Degree or MBA degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Youth And Family Counselor with a Master's Degree or MBA is between $79,956 and $83,861).

Youth And Family Counselor Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Youth And Family Counselor
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.5%
High School 0.5%
Associates 1.6%
Bachelors 1.9%
Masters 94.5%
Doctorate 1.4%
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Youth And Family Counselor Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Youth And Family Counselor'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 January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Youth And Family Counselor

Salaries for a Youth And Family Counselor can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $87,071 in 2023 to around $85,853 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Youth And Family Counselor salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Youth And Family Counselor Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$87,071
2024
$87,230
2025
$85,853
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $87,071
2024 $87,230
2025 $85,853
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Youth And Family Counselor

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Youth And Family Counselor

Here are companies hiring for Youth And Family Counselor and their salaries, click below for more details.

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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