Licensed Counselor Salary in the United States

How much does a Licensed Counselor make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Licensed Counselor in the United States is $62,498 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $30.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $79,723
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $55,132 to $71,514
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $48,426
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
AI-Powered Talent
AI-Powered HR
View as table View as graph 25% $55,132 10% $48,426 90% $79,723 75% $71,514 $62,498 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Licensed Counselor Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $71,514 $5,959 $1,375 $34
Average $62,498 $5,208 $1,202 $30
25th Percentile $55,132 $4,594 $1,060 $27
Check out Licensed Counselor Job Openings in the United States
LICENSED PROFESSIONAL CLINICAL COUNSELOR

FARRELL NELSON SERVICES INC - Columbus, OH

Licensed Social Worker Therapist or Counselor

divvyDOSE - Columbus, OH

Physician Oncology Ohio Permanent Associate Medical Director

eviCore healthcare - Columbus, OH

Search More Licensed Counselor Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Licensed Counselor Salaries

A Licensed 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.

Top Paying Cities for Licensed 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: $78,828
  • San Francisco: $77,965
  • Oakland: $76,322

What Skills Can Increase a Licensed Counselor's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Planning (Mentioned in 6.84% Job Postings): An act or process of making or carrying out plans. Establishment of goals, policies, and procedures for a social or economic unit city planning business planning.
  • Group Therapy (Mentioned in 2.71% Job Postings): Group psychotherapy or group therapy is a form of psychotherapy in which one or more therapists treat a small group of clients together as a group. The term can legitimately refer to any form of psychotherapy when delivered in a group format, including cognitive behavioural therapy or interpersonal therapy, but it is usually applied to psychodynamic group therapy where the group context and group process is explicitly utilised as a mechanism of change by developing, exploring and examining interpersonal relationships within the group. The broader concept of group therapy can be taken to include any helping process that takes place in a group, including support groups, skills training groups (such as anger management, mindfulness, relaxation training or social skills training), and psychoeducation groups. The differences between psychodynamic groups, activity groups, support groups, problem-solving and psycoeducational groups have been discussed by psychiatrist Charles Montgomery. Other, more specialised forms of group therapy would include non-verbal expressive therapies such as art therapy, dance therapy, or music therapy.
  • Psychiatric (Mentioned in 2.08% Job Postings): Periodically and systematically assessing the client's dietary intake and nutritional status to ensure the effectiveness of nutrition intervention.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Planning 6.84%
Group Therapy 2.71%
Psychiatric 2.08%
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 Counselor's salary.
  • Patient Care: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Psychiatric: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Integrity: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Patient Care
$66,248
6%
Psychiatric
$66,248
6%
Integrity
$66,248
6%
Clinical Supervision
$65,623
5%
Interviewing
$64,998
4%
Clinical Services
$64,998
4%
Get Latest Data

Licensed Counselor Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Licensed Counselor roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 30% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Government, offers compensation 12% above the average. Conversely, Licensed Counselor positions in Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Licensed Counselor as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Licensed Counselor

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Government$70,310$34.012%
Education$65,623$32.05%

How Education impacts a Licensed Counselor's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Licensed 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 Licensed Counselor with a Master's Degree or MBA is between $61,499 and $66,526).

Licensed Counselor Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Licensed Counselor
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.3%
High School 1.0%
Associates 0.3%
Bachelors 11.9%
Masters 82.5%
Doctorate 3.8%
view as graph

Licensed Counselor Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Licensed 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 August 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Licensed Counselor

Salaries for a Licensed Counselor can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $62,778 in 2023 to around $62,689 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Licensed Counselor salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Licensed Counselor Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$62,778
2024
$63,098
2025
$62,689
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $62,778
2024 $63,098
2025 $62,689
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Licensed Counselor

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

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.

Compensation Planning

Common company salaries for Licensed Counselor

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

Find Your Next Licensed Counselor Job

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

United States
  • MD Staff, LLC

    Columbus, OH

    MD Staff, LLC | Columbus, OH

    Neurologist Locum Tenens Opportunity Near Columbus, OH. We are excited to offer a rewarding locum tenens opportunity for a Board Certified or Board Eligibl... more

    5 Days Ago

  • C.R. England

    Columbus, OH

    C.R. England | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. C.R. England is Now Urgently Hiring Local Dedicated CDL-A Truck Drivers. Dedicated Local Fleet - Home Daily - Competitive Pay* - Full Bene... more

    11 Days Ago

  • Maxim Healthcare

    Columbus, OH

    Maxim Healthcare | Columbus, OH

    Private duty nursing (PDN) allows medically fragile patients to receive quality, skilled nursing care in the comfort of their home: a setting preferred by ... more

    13 Days Ago

  • Schneider

    Columbus, OH

    Schneider | Columbus, OH

    CDL-A - Dedicated Reefer truck driver - Kroger. Dedicated Reefer truck driver - Kroger. Average pay. $1,200-$1,450 weekly. Home time. Daily. Experience. Al... more

    14 Days Ago

  • Family Dollar

    Columbus, OH

    Family Dollar | Columbus, OH

    Customer Service Associate. We're seeking a Customer Service Associate to join our team and deliver a great shopping experience for every customer. Duties ... more

    16 Days Ago

  • GO Staffing

    Columbus, OH

    GO Staffing | Columbus, OH

    Locums - A well respected group has a Trauma Surgery APP opportunity available in Columbus, Ohio. Certified Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant. 1/1/... more

    16 Days Ago

For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

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

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

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

Price My Industry Jobs

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

FAQ about Licensed Counselor

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Licensed Counselor?

The Government industry offers the highest average compensation for Licensed Counselor roles, with salaries approximately 12% above the market median.

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.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint 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