Mental Health Counselors Pay Range in Tennessee
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$34,950
- 25th Percentile — Junior$39,160
- 50th Percentile — Median$49,580
- 75th Percentile — Senior$61,160
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$76,620
Half of Mental Health Counselors in Tennessee earn more than $49,580. The top 10% make $76,620 or more, while entry-level workers start around $34,950.
Mental Health Counselors in Tennessee: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Tennessee ranks 49th of 51 states for Mental Health Counselors pay, at $53,720 per year (16.6% below the U.S. average of $64,440).
- 9,040 people work as Mental Health Counselors in Tennessee — 1.8% of all U.S. Mental Health Counselors jobs.
- Location quotient 0.87: Mental Health Counselors jobs are less concentrated in Tennessee than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $34,950; the top 10% earn over $76,620.
- Hourly equivalent: $25.83 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Alaska at $86,500.
- Among social services jobs in Tennessee, Health Education Specialists pays the most ($63,980).
Mental Health Counselors Job Market in Tennessee
Key factors affecting compensation
Tennessee's key industries are Healthcare, Manufacturing, Tourism, and its job market is rated strong. Mental Health Counselors here earn $53,720 on average, placing the state 49th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.88 (U.S. = 1.00), a Tennessee salary of $53,720 is roughly equivalent to $61,045 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, South Carolina ($55,880), South Dakota ($54,760), Alabama ($54,200) 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 Tennessee
Related career salary benchmarks
- Health Education Specialists $63,980/yr Tennessee +19.1% vs this role
- Healthcare Social Workers $62,750/yr Tennessee +16.8% vs this role
- Educational Guidance and Career Counselors $61,020/yr Tennessee +13.6% vs this role
- Child Family and School Social Workers $57,350/yr Tennessee +6.8% vs this role
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers $50,000/yr Tennessee 6.9% vs this role
- Marriage and Family Therapists $49,050/yr Tennessee 8.7% vs this role
- Rehabilitation Counselors $46,320/yr Tennessee 13.8% vs this role
- Community Health Workers $43,430/yr Tennessee 19.2% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Mental Health Counselors salary in Tennessee?
The average Mental Health Counselors salary in Tennessee is $53,720 per year (median $49,580), which is 16.6% below the national average of $64,440.
How does Tennessee rank for Mental Health Counselors pay?
Tennessee ranks 49th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is Alaska ($86,500/yr).
How much do entry-level Mental Health Counselors make in Tennessee?
The lowest-paid 10% of Mental Health Counselors in Tennessee earn about $34,950 per year and the 25th percentile is $39,160.
How much do Mental Health Counselors make per hour in Tennessee?
About $25.83 per hour, based on the $53,720 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Mental Health Counselors work in Tennessee?
BLS counts 9,040 Mental Health Counselors jobs in Tennessee (OEWS May 2025).
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