Mental Health and Counseling Services
Health Professions · federal classification: Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
Median earnings by degree level
| Degree | Median earnings | Typical range | Schools | Clear the bar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $43,046 | $37,622 to $49,145 | 44 | 84% |
| Associate's Degree | $40,366 | $35,722 to $43,928 | 62 | 76% |
| Bachelor's Degree | $51,288 | $45,729 to $57,701 | 53 | 98% |
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | $57,051 | $52,086 to $61,943 | 17 | 100% |
| Master's Degree | $58,963 | $53,196 to $66,852 | 239 | 99% |
| Doctoral Degree | $71,374 | $62,583 to $75,482 | 5 | 100% |
"Clear the bar" is the share of programs whose graduates out-earn a typical high-school graduate (the federal earnings-premium test). Typical range is the 25th to 75th percentile of program medians.
Job outlook
Projected employment growth +8% (2024 to 2034), about 200,600 openings a year across the occupations this field commonly leads to.
| Occupation | Median pay | Growth | Openings/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | $58,570 | +3.4% | 35,100 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $105,620 | +17.3% | 27,400 |
| Clergy | $60,820 | +1% | 23,000 |
| Healthcare Social Workers | $68,090 | +7.7% | 18,400 |
| Psychiatric Technicians | $42,590 | +20% | 15,900 |
| Directors, Religious Activities and Education | $54,840 | +2.1% | 13,800 |
Occupation pay and outlook: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wages, Employment Projections). A field maps to several occupations, and the same occupations serve many majors, so these are the jobs this major commonly leads to, not positions reserved for its graduates; the openings should not be added up across majors.
Earnings source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (release 2026-06-10), median earnings of graduates measured up to four years after completing. Figures describe past graduates and are never a promise. Method: methodology. Report an error.