Mental Health Counselors Pay Range in Kentucky
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$35,150
- 25th Percentile — Junior$41,730
- 50th Percentile — Median$54,190
- 75th Percentile — Senior$72,590
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$83,070
Half of Mental Health Counselors in Kentucky earn more than $54,190. The top 10% make $83,070 or more, while entry-level workers start around $35,150.
Mental Health Counselors in Kentucky: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Kentucky ranks 42nd of 51 states for Mental Health Counselors pay, at $57,560 per year (10.7% below the U.S. average of $64,440).
- 7,690 people work as Mental Health Counselors in Kentucky — 1.6% of all U.S. Mental Health Counselors jobs.
- Location quotient 1.22: Mental Health Counselors jobs are more concentrated in Kentucky than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $35,150; the top 10% earn over $83,070.
- Hourly equivalent: $27.67 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Alaska at $86,500.
- Among social services jobs in Kentucky, Health Education Specialists pays the most ($68,360).
Mental Health Counselors Job Market in Kentucky
Key factors affecting compensation
Kentucky's key industries are Manufacturing, Healthcare, Agriculture, and its job market is rated moderate. Mental Health Counselors here earn $57,560 on average, placing the state 42nd nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.83 (U.S. = 1.00), a Kentucky salary of $57,560 is roughly equivalent to $69,349 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, North Carolina ($59,160), New Hampshire ($58,790), Arkansas ($58,480) 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 Kentucky
Related career salary benchmarks
- Health Education Specialists $68,360/yr Kentucky +18.8% vs this role
- Educational Guidance and Career Counselors $65,740/yr Kentucky +14.2% vs this role
- Healthcare Social Workers $64,960/yr Kentucky +12.9% vs this role
- Child Family and School Social Workers $59,270/yr Kentucky +3.0% vs this role
- Marriage and Family Therapists $56,560/yr Kentucky 1.7% vs this role
- Rehabilitation Counselors $56,550/yr Kentucky 1.8% vs this role
- Community Health Workers $51,300/yr Kentucky 10.9% vs this role
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers $45,280/yr Kentucky 21.3% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Mental Health Counselors salary in Kentucky?
The average Mental Health Counselors salary in Kentucky is $57,560 per year (median $54,190), which is 10.7% below the national average of $64,440.
How does Kentucky rank for Mental Health Counselors pay?
Kentucky ranks 42nd out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is Alaska ($86,500/yr).
How much do entry-level Mental Health Counselors make in Kentucky?
The lowest-paid 10% of Mental Health Counselors in Kentucky earn about $35,150 per year and the 25th percentile is $41,730.
How much do Mental Health Counselors make per hour in Kentucky?
About $27.67 per hour, based on the $57,560 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Mental Health Counselors work in Kentucky?
BLS counts 7,690 Mental Health Counselors jobs in Kentucky (OEWS May 2025).
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