How much does a wellness counselor make?
Answer: A typical wellness counselor in the United States makes $59,350 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 492,000 people work in this job. About the same as the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
Wellness counselor pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $38,940 | $59,350 | $97,590 | about 492,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $80,770 | about 1,000 |
| Oregon | $74,590 | about 8,000 |
| New Mexico | $74,100 | about 2,000 |
| Washington | $68,910 | about 14,000 |
| North Dakota | $68,630 | about 1,000 |
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, experience, advanced or specialized training, and licenses or certifications can raise pay; complex work or more responsibility may pay more. Pay also differs by employer and location; full-time versus part-time hours matter, and some residential or inpatient jobs include night or weekend shifts.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a wellness counselor do?
What's a typical day like?
They meet clients one-on-one or in groups, listen to their concerns, and help set goals and practice ways to cope. Between sessions, they update records, check progress, make referrals, and coordinate with doctors or social workers.
How to get this job
In the United States, addiction counselors usually need a bachelor’s degree; mental health counselors usually need a master’s and an internship. Private practice requires a state license and supervised clinical hours; state rules decide which exam is needed.
Did you know?
Some U.S. counselors in this field work in prisons, probation or parole agencies, and juvenile detention facilities—not only in clinics.
Earn more in the same field
Community and Social Service jobs that pay a bit moreSources and data
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/substance-abuse-behavioral-disorder
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/details/21-1011.00
- www.nbcc.org/licensure
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY