Mental Health Counselors Pay Range in Iowa
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$44,450
- 25th Percentile — Junior$48,420
- 50th Percentile — Median$60,880
- 75th Percentile — Senior$77,220
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$102,890
Half of Mental Health Counselors in Iowa earn more than $60,880. The top 10% make $102,890 or more, while entry-level workers start around $44,450.
Mental Health Counselors in Iowa: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Iowa ranks 19th of 51 states for Mental Health Counselors pay, at $66,790 per year (3.6% above the U.S. average of $64,440).
- 3,530 people work as Mental Health Counselors in Iowa — 0.7% of all U.S. Mental Health Counselors jobs.
- Location quotient 0.72: Mental Health Counselors jobs are less concentrated in Iowa than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $44,450; the top 10% earn over $102,890.
- Hourly equivalent: $32.11 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Alaska at $86,500.
- Among social services jobs in Iowa, Marriage and Family Therapists pays the most ($72,120).
Mental Health Counselors Job Market in Iowa
Key factors affecting compensation
Iowa's key industries are Agriculture, Manufacturing, Finance, and its job market is rated moderate. Mental Health Counselors here earn $66,790 on average, placing the state 19th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.86 (U.S. = 1.00), a Iowa salary of $66,790 is roughly equivalent to $77,663 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Wisconsin ($68,280), Arizona ($68,120), North Dakota ($67,940) 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 Iowa
Related career salary benchmarks
- Marriage and Family Therapists $72,120/yr Iowa +8.0% vs this role
- Health Education Specialists $71,880/yr Iowa +7.6% vs this role
- Healthcare Social Workers $63,560/yr Iowa 4.8% vs this role
- Educational Guidance and Career Counselors $58,190/yr Iowa 12.9% vs this role
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers $57,330/yr Iowa 14.2% vs this role
- Child Family and School Social Workers $57,120/yr Iowa 14.5% vs this role
- Community Health Workers $50,290/yr Iowa 24.7% vs this role
- Social and Human Service Assistants $44,430/yr Iowa 33.5% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Mental Health Counselors salary in Iowa?
The average Mental Health Counselors salary in Iowa is $66,790 per year (median $60,880), which is 3.6% above the national average of $64,440.
How does Iowa rank for Mental Health Counselors pay?
Iowa ranks 19th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is Alaska ($86,500/yr).
How much do entry-level Mental Health Counselors make in Iowa?
The lowest-paid 10% of Mental Health Counselors in Iowa earn about $44,450 per year and the 25th percentile is $48,420.
How much do Mental Health Counselors make per hour in Iowa?
About $32.11 per hour, based on the $66,790 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Mental Health Counselors work in Iowa?
BLS counts 3,530 Mental Health Counselors jobs in Iowa (OEWS May 2025).
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