Mental Health Counselors Pay Range in California
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$44,640
- 25th Percentile — Junior$47,640
- 50th Percentile — Median$59,250
- 75th Percentile — Senior$80,570
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$111,080
Half of Mental Health Counselors in California earn more than $59,250. The top 10% make $111,080 or more, while entry-level workers start around $44,640.
Mental Health Counselors in California: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- California ranks 11th of 51 states for Mental Health Counselors pay, at $69,080 per year (7.2% above the U.S. average of $64,440).
- 75,610 people work as Mental Health Counselors in California — 15.4% of all U.S. Mental Health Counselors jobs.
- Location quotient 1.31: Mental Health Counselors jobs are more concentrated in California than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $44,640; the top 10% earn over $111,080.
- Hourly equivalent: $33.21 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Alaska at $86,500.
- Among social services jobs in California, Healthcare Social Workers pays the most ($93,840).
Mental Health Counselors Job Market in California
Key factors affecting compensation
California's key industries are Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture, and its job market is rated very strong. Mental Health Counselors here earn $69,080 on average, placing the state 11th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.42 (U.S. = 1.00), a California salary of $69,080 is roughly equivalent to $48,648 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Hawaii ($70,050), Colorado ($69,860), Utah ($69,370) are the closest alternatives for Mental Health Counselors weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Social Services Jobs in California
Related career salary benchmarks
- Healthcare Social Workers $93,840/yr California +35.8% vs this role
- Educational Guidance and Career Counselors $93,610/yr California +35.5% vs this role
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers $91,050/yr California +31.8% vs this role
- Marriage and Family Therapists $79,440/yr California +15.0% vs this role
- Health Education Specialists $74,720/yr California +8.2% vs this role
- Child Family and School Social Workers $71,940/yr California +4.1% vs this role
- Community Health Workers $63,740/yr California 7.7% vs this role
- Social and Human Service Assistants $55,100/yr California 20.2% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Mental Health Counselors salary in California?
The average Mental Health Counselors salary in California is $69,080 per year (median $59,250), which is 7.2% above the national average of $64,440.
How does California rank for Mental Health Counselors pay?
California ranks 11th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is Alaska ($86,500/yr).
How much do entry-level Mental Health Counselors make in California?
The lowest-paid 10% of Mental Health Counselors in California earn about $44,640 per year and the 25th percentile is $47,640.
How much do Mental Health Counselors make per hour in California?
About $33.21 per hour, based on the $69,080 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Mental Health Counselors work in California?
BLS counts 75,610 Mental Health Counselors jobs in California (OEWS May 2025).
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