Mental Health Counselors Pay Range in New York
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$42,410
- 25th Percentile — Junior$48,160
- 50th Percentile — Median$59,450
- 75th Percentile — Senior$73,710
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$90,590
Half of Mental Health Counselors in New York earn more than $59,450. The top 10% make $90,590 or more, while entry-level workers start around $42,410.
Mental Health Counselors in New York: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- New York ranks 27th of 51 states for Mental Health Counselors pay, at $64,040 per year (0.6% below the U.S. average of $64,440).
- 26,770 people work as Mental Health Counselors in New York — 5.4% of all U.S. Mental Health Counselors jobs.
- Location quotient 0.87: Mental Health Counselors jobs are less concentrated in New York than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $42,410; the top 10% earn over $90,590.
- Hourly equivalent: $30.79 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Alaska at $86,500.
- Among social services jobs in New York, Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers pays the most ($86,110).
Mental Health Counselors Job Market in New York
Key factors affecting compensation
New York's key industries are Finance, Technology, Media, and its job market is rated very strong. Mental Health Counselors here earn $64,040 on average, placing the state 27th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.38 (U.S. = 1.00), a New York salary of $64,040 is roughly equivalent to $46,406 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Massachusetts ($65,380), Texas ($65,180), Vermont ($64,890) 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 York
Related career salary benchmarks
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers $86,110/yr New York +34.5% vs this role
- Educational Guidance and Career Counselors $77,210/yr New York +20.6% vs this role
- Healthcare Social Workers $75,170/yr New York +17.4% vs this role
- Child Family and School Social Workers $72,150/yr New York +12.7% vs this role
- Marriage and Family Therapists $67,260/yr New York +5.0% vs this role
- Health Education Specialists $67,030/yr New York +4.7% vs this role
- Community Health Workers $62,140/yr New York 3.0% vs this role
- Rehabilitation Counselors $52,370/yr New York 18.2% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Mental Health Counselors salary in New York?
The average Mental Health Counselors salary in New York is $64,040 per year (median $59,450), which is 0.6% below the national average of $64,440.
How does New York rank for Mental Health Counselors pay?
New York ranks 27th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is Alaska ($86,500/yr).
How much do entry-level Mental Health Counselors make in New York?
The lowest-paid 10% of Mental Health Counselors in New York earn about $42,410 per year and the 25th percentile is $48,160.
How much do Mental Health Counselors make per hour in New York?
About $30.79 per hour, based on the $64,040 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Mental Health Counselors work in New York?
BLS counts 26,770 Mental Health Counselors jobs in New York (OEWS May 2025).
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