How much does a mental health worker make?
a year · about $29 an hour
A typical mental health worker in the United States makes $60,280 a year, about $29 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They talk with clients alone or in groups, assess what help is needed, and plan care with doctors or counselors. They record progress, respond to crises, and connect families with support groups and community services.
Did you know? A US clinical social worker can diagnose and treat mental, behavioral, and emotional problems—not just connect people to services.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $39,740 and $104,170How do you become one?
In the US, students usually earn a bachelor’s degree, then an accredited MSW (often two years); a BSW helps but isn’t required. Clinical work needs supervised practice and a state license after an exam, with no set starting age.
School needed: Graduate degree or long training
Good for people who like helping and teaching and figuring things out
Why does pay differ?
In the US, pay often rises with experience and a clinical license, and varies by employer setting and location. Full-time, evening, weekend, or on-call schedules can also change total earnings.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in New York ($79,380), lowest in South Carolina ($39,930).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $39,740 | $60,280 | $104,170 | about 133,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $79,380 | about 15,000 |
| California | $79,000 | about 20,000 |
| Connecticut | $78,640 | about 2,000 |
| Minnesota | $75,020 | about 4,000 |
| Maryland | $73,580 | about 2,000 |
Official definition: Assess and treat individuals with mental, emotional, or substance abuse problems, including abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and/or other drugs. Activities may include individual and group therapy, crisis intervention, case management, client advocacy, prevention, and education.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/print/social-workers.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/details/21-1023.00
- www.bls.gov/oes/earnings.htm
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY