Mental Health Counselors Pay Range in New Jersey
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$40,630
- 25th Percentile — Junior$49,290
- 50th Percentile — Median$62,820
- 75th Percentile — Senior$81,900
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$104,310
Half of Mental Health Counselors in New Jersey earn more than $62,820. The top 10% make $104,310 or more, while entry-level workers start around $40,630.
Mental Health Counselors in New Jersey: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- New Jersey ranks 5th of 51 states for Mental Health Counselors pay, at $71,360 per year (10.7% above the U.S. average of $64,440).
- 14,210 people work as Mental Health Counselors in New Jersey — 2.9% of all U.S. Mental Health Counselors jobs.
- Location quotient 1.05: Mental Health Counselors jobs are more concentrated in New Jersey than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $40,630; the top 10% earn over $104,310.
- Hourly equivalent: $34.31 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Alaska at $86,500.
- Among social services jobs in New Jersey, Marriage and Family Therapists pays the most ($90,310).
Mental Health Counselors Job Market in New Jersey
Key factors affecting compensation
New Jersey's key industries are Pharmaceuticals, Finance, Technology, and its job market is rated strong. Mental Health Counselors here earn $71,360 on average, placing the state 5th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.28 (U.S. = 1.00), a New Jersey salary of $71,360 is roughly equivalent to $55,750 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Alaska ($86,500), New Mexico ($76,370), Oregon ($75,540) 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 New Jersey
Related career salary benchmarks
- Marriage and Family Therapists $90,310/yr New Jersey +26.6% vs this role
- Healthcare Social Workers $85,340/yr New Jersey +19.6% vs this role
- Health Education Specialists $84,800/yr New Jersey +18.8% vs this role
- Educational Guidance and Career Counselors $81,430/yr New Jersey +14.1% vs this role
- Child Family and School Social Workers $78,560/yr New Jersey +10.1% vs this role
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers $70,930/yr New Jersey 0.6% vs this role
- Community Health Workers $59,500/yr New Jersey 16.6% vs this role
- Rehabilitation Counselors $59,410/yr New Jersey 16.7% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Mental Health Counselors salary in New Jersey?
The average Mental Health Counselors salary in New Jersey is $71,360 per year (median $62,820), which is 10.7% above the national average of $64,440.
How does New Jersey rank for Mental Health Counselors pay?
New Jersey ranks 5th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is Alaska ($86,500/yr).
How much do entry-level Mental Health Counselors make in New Jersey?
The lowest-paid 10% of Mental Health Counselors in New Jersey earn about $40,630 per year and the 25th percentile is $49,290.
How much do Mental Health Counselors make per hour in New Jersey?
About $34.31 per hour, based on the $71,360 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Mental Health Counselors work in New Jersey?
BLS counts 14,210 Mental Health Counselors jobs in New Jersey (OEWS May 2025).
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