Average Salary With a Master’s in Counseling

Counseling is an extremely broad field with lots of career options, but one thing is for sure – if you get your master’s degree in this field, you can make more money, since you’ll be able to get your license and start working in upper level positions in this field. Let’s take a look at what you can expect to earn as a counselor and how to make more money.

Salary by Job Title

Counselors typically specialize as students, which allows them to work in a certain setting or with specific type of patients, like addicts or students. This specialization determines your job title after graduating, with different types of counselors earning different amounts based on the demand for counselors in this field and the difficulty for you job. Here are some of the kinds of counseling jobs you can consider along with the average salary you can expect with these titles:

Educational/School Counselor: $51,050
Substance Abuse/Behavioral Counselor: $37,030
Mental Health Counselor: $36,810
Rehabilitation Counselor: $30,930
Marriage/Family Counselor: $44,590

Keep in mind that as a counselor, you can also open your own practice, which allows you to earn even more money as well as make your own schedule. Owning a business is definitely hard work, but the sky is the limit with this career option!

Salary by Location

Counselors can often make more by living in locations where counselors are in high demand. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the top-paying states for counselors are as follows:

New Jersey: $91,910
Colorado: $88,930
California: $82,770
New York: $82,300
Rhode Island: $79,070

In most cases, you’ll make more money working in a metropolitan location than in a more rural area, though keep in mind that in these locations, you’ll also find high costs of living, so they might not always be the best options. It depends on your specific situation. If you’re interested in finding the highest-paying jobs, check out the following cities:

Montgomery, Alabama: $112,600
Hanford, California: $110,330
Trenton, New Jersey: $109,730
Salinas, California: $104,420
Bakersfield, California: $101,970
San Jose, California: $100,010
Newark, New Jersey: $99,680

If you’re looking for a high-paying counseling job in a non-metropolitan area, you can also check out some jobs in the the Mother Lode and North Coast regions of California, Eastern Idaho, Southeastern Nebraska, and Northwestern Connecticut.

Guide to Online Masters in Counseling Programs

Masters in counseling programs often explore a specialized field like marriage counseling, school counseling, or even credit counseling. Counseling has its roots in psychology as workers strive to understand, identify, and finally provide resolution to problems one can have. Earning your masters degree doesn't have to be hard nor a major inconvenience. The first step is already taken for you with some highly-regarded schools with online programs listed below.

MS in Counseling Psychology MS in Addiction Counseling MS in Career Counseling MS in Mental Health Counseling MS in Marriage/Family Therapy MS in School Counseling	Capella University – Capella University combines convenience with flexibility and freedom of choice in which direction students want to take their careers. Students are placed at the forefront of an industry with many high demand positions for skilled individuals. CU offers a huge selection of masters degrees, including Addiction Counseling, Career Counseling, Mental Health Counseling, Marriage & Family Therapy, School Counseling, and Counseling Psychology.
MS in Crisis Counseling MS in Forensic Counseling MS in Mental Health Counseling PhD in Counseling PhD in Counseling Psychology	Walden University – Walden has long been a leader in online masters in counseling programs. They offer a degree for those that want to pursue crisis counseling as well as a forensic counseling degree and finally a degree designed for those who want to become mental health counselors. Finally, for those that already have a master of counseling degree, Walden offers two PHD level counseling degrees; one generally in counseling and another in counseling psychology
MA in Professional Counseling MA in School Counseling MA in Marriage/Family Therapy MA in Pastoral Counseling	Liberty University – One of the nations leading Christian evangelical colleges, Liberty offers a number of online masters in counseling degrees, such as programs for those that want to become a professional counselors, become school counselors, become certified to be marriage and family counselors, or even become pastoral counselors. These courses are designed to be completed with in two years and most require a bachelor degree.
MS in Clinical Counseling MS in Alcohol/Drug Counseling	Post University – Students looking for fast-paced curriculum and industry-driven education should consider Post University's two accredited, online programs for Masters in Counseling degrees. Student will be able to apply their skill and knowledge to real-world situations upon graduation. Students can pick from a Masters in Counseling in Clinical Counseling or Alcohol and Drug Counseling.
MS in Psychology MS in General Psychology MS in Addictions Psychology MS in Behavioral Psychology	Kaplan University – Kaplan University is a nation-wide leader in accredited online education. Students gain knowledge and skills they need to fill high in demand positions. This places them in the center of lucrative careers and a field that is always seeking skilled individuals. Students can choose from a masters in Psychology, General Psychology, Addictions Psychology, and Behavioral Psychology.
MS in Clinical Counseling	Bellevue University – Bellevue now offers a fully accredited online master of counseling degree which focuses on clinical counseling. Students in this fully online program can complete the 60-credit degree in less time than it would require at a traditional campus school. Graduates will obtain the skills and knowledge necessary to pursue lucrative careers in psychology.
MA in Career Counseling	University of the Rockies – In response to growing interest in online education, University of the Rockies has made an accredited online program available for its Masters in Career Counseling degree. This degree takes a look at the behavioral patterns and psychological aspects behind decision making and job seeking, using curriculum designed to be relevant in today's work environment.
MS in Professional Counseling MS in Addiction Counseling	Grand Canyon University – Grand Canyon University is an accredited college that is backed by years of experience in helping students pursue high level positions and in-demand careers. Programs can be completed on your own timeline, and better yet, they can be worked on at school, home, or even on the go. GCU offers two degrees, a Masters in Professional Counseling as well as a MS in Addiction Counseling.
MS in Rehabilitation Counseling	Thomas University – A rigorous masters in counseling degree that is now offered through accredited online courses. Thomas' program, which focuses on rehabilitation counseling, involves rigorous coursework and an internship in your local area which provides you with the hands on skills you need to succeed in a counseling career. This gives students a greater understanding and experience in dealing with real-world situations and human interaction.

Masters In Counseling

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