How Much Do Mental Therapists Make in a Year?

Work

Mental therapists typically work from offices that are comfortable to both themselves and their patients. However, they may experience stress from listening to problems all day long. They may work normal business hours. However, those who are in private practice may work evenings and weekends for the convenience of their clients. Their median salary is $38,010 yearly, with a range of $24,230 to $64,610.

The biggest employers of mental therapists are outpatient care centers with over 20 percent of the available 106,920 jobs. They pay a mean $19.81 per hour or $41,210 per year; the next largest employers are individual and family services with over 17 percent of the jobs. They pay slightly less at $19.09 per hour or $39,210 per year. The employers with the highest salaries are junior colleges, where pay is $28.93 per hour or $60,160 per year. However, they only offer 60 positions. Also among the top five for pay is local government, with wages at $23.86 per hour or $49,630 per year and with 9,360 jobs.

The state with the best pay for mental therapists is Maine at $26.51 per hour or $55,150 per year. However, it only offers 350 jobs. California, which is among the top five for compensation, offers lower wages at $24.96 per hour or $51,910 per year, but far more opportunities with 9,420 jobs. The city with the highest-paid positions is Bakersfield, California, at $36.92 per hour or $76,800 per year and offering 220 jobs. Sacramento, California, which is among the top five for pay, has lower wages at $29.05 per hour or $60,420 per year, but three times as many jobs at 680.

Employment for mental therapists will grow by 24 percent from 2008 to 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is much faster than average and is due to more people seeing the advantages of counseling as a legitimate treatment for mental and emotional issues. Therapists are also seen as a less costly alternative to psychiatrists and psychologists. Prospects will be excellent because the number of graduates from counseling programs, especially in rural areas, will be less than the demand.