Mental Health Counselors Pay Range in Illinois
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$43,010
- 25th Percentile — Junior$47,390
- 50th Percentile — Median$60,730
- 75th Percentile — Senior$80,070
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$109,100
Half of Mental Health Counselors in Illinois earn more than $60,730. The top 10% make $109,100 or more, while entry-level workers start around $43,010.
Mental Health Counselors in Illinois: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Illinois ranks 13th of 51 states for Mental Health Counselors pay, at $68,530 per year (6.3% above the U.S. average of $64,440).
- 20,250 people work as Mental Health Counselors in Illinois — 4.1% of all U.S. Mental Health Counselors jobs.
- Location quotient 1.05: Mental Health Counselors jobs are more concentrated in Illinois than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $43,010; the top 10% earn over $109,100.
- Hourly equivalent: $32.95 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Alaska at $86,500.
- Among social services jobs in Illinois, Child Family and School Social Workers pays the most ($70,670).
Mental Health Counselors Job Market in Illinois
Key factors affecting compensation
Illinois's key industries are Finance, Manufacturing, Agriculture, and its job market is rated strong. Mental Health Counselors here earn $68,530 on average, placing the state 13th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.05 (U.S. = 1.00), a Illinois salary of $68,530 is roughly equivalent to $65,267 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Utah ($69,370), District of Columbia ($69,180), California ($69,080) 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 Illinois
Related career salary benchmarks
- Child Family and School Social Workers $70,670/yr Illinois +3.1% vs this role
- Educational Guidance and Career Counselors $70,230/yr Illinois +2.5% vs this role
- Health Education Specialists $68,730/yr Illinois +0.3% vs this role
- Marriage and Family Therapists $68,510/yr Illinois +0.0% vs this role
- Healthcare Social Workers $68,190/yr Illinois 0.5% vs this role
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers $58,130/yr Illinois 15.2% vs this role
- Rehabilitation Counselors $54,300/yr Illinois 20.8% vs this role
- Community Health Workers $51,690/yr Illinois 24.6% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Mental Health Counselors salary in Illinois?
The average Mental Health Counselors salary in Illinois is $68,530 per year (median $60,730), which is 6.3% above the national average of $64,440.
How does Illinois rank for Mental Health Counselors pay?
Illinois ranks 13th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is Alaska ($86,500/yr).
How much do entry-level Mental Health Counselors make in Illinois?
The lowest-paid 10% of Mental Health Counselors in Illinois earn about $43,010 per year and the 25th percentile is $47,390.
How much do Mental Health Counselors make per hour in Illinois?
About $32.95 per hour, based on the $68,530 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Mental Health Counselors work in Illinois?
BLS counts 20,250 Mental Health Counselors jobs in Illinois (OEWS May 2025).
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