Therapist salary: how much does a therapist make?
A mental health therapist in the US earns a median of about $59,350 to $66,940 a year, depending on license: marriage and family therapists (LMFT) $66,940, mental health counselors (LPC, LMHC) $59,350, and mental health social workers (LCSW) $60,280.
Therapist salary by license type
| Job (BLS May 2025) | Bottom 10% | Median | Top 10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marriage and family therapists (LMFT) | $44,650 | $66,940 | $123,730 |
| Substance abuse, behavioral disorder and mental health counselors (LPC, LMHC) | $38,940 | $59,350 | $97,590 |
| Mental health and substance abuse social workers (LCSW) | $39,740 | $60,280 | $104,170 |
| Clinical and counseling psychologists | $55,170 | $100,580 | $180,960 |
Therapist hourly pay
| Job | Median per hour | Top 10% per hour |
|---|---|---|
| LMFT | $32.18 | $59.49 |
| Counselor | $28.53 | $46.92 |
| LCSW (mental health) | $28.98 | $50.08 |
Therapist salary by state
Median annual pay by state, BLS May 2025. Hawaii and New Jersey top the LMFT list.
| State | LMFT | Counselor |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $49,990 | $47,310 |
| Alaska | $60,010 | $80,770 |
| Arizona | $65,290 | $65,300 |
| Arkansas | $64,340 | $51,580 |
| California | $67,300 | $59,250 |
| Colorado | $60,700 | $62,390 |
| Connecticut | $86,250 | $63,590 |
| Delaware | $76,580 | $56,020 |
| District of Columbia | Not published | $60,450 |
| Florida | $56,400 | $56,790 |
| Georgia | $91,550 | $58,960 |
| Hawaii | $141,960 | $60,090 |
| Idaho | $62,700 | $63,360 |
| Illinois | $60,970 | $60,730 |
| Indiana | $56,810 | $53,760 |
| Iowa | $67,180 | $60,880 |
| Kansas | $68,710 | $59,470 |
| Kentucky | $52,420 | $54,190 |
| Louisiana | Not published | $37,910 |
| Maine | $71,680 | $59,970 |
| Maryland | $69,900 | $59,530 |
| Massachusetts | $67,370 | $59,890 |
| Michigan | $52,270 | $61,690 |
| Minnesota | $72,470 | $58,780 |
| Mississippi | $51,440 | $46,990 |
| Missouri | $60,440 | $56,910 |
| Montana | $46,960 | $59,000 |
| Nebraska | $62,610 | $63,770 |
| Nevada | Not published | $57,210 |
| New Hampshire | $60,030 | $54,840 |
| New Jersey | $92,150 | $62,820 |
| New Mexico | $70,630 | $74,100 |
| New York | $64,430 | $59,450 |
| North Carolina | $48,100 | $55,490 |
| North Dakota | Not published | $68,630 |
| Ohio | $70,240 | $58,360 |
| Oklahoma | $57,670 | $59,350 |
| Oregon | $91,520 | $74,590 |
| Pennsylvania | $66,040 | $52,010 |
| Rhode Island | Not published | $65,120 |
| South Carolina | $55,430 | $52,370 |
| South Dakota | $44,870 | $53,650 |
| Tennessee | $46,700 | $49,580 |
| Texas | $46,300 | $62,630 |
| Utah | $84,980 | $63,890 |
| Vermont | $62,780 | $61,810 |
| Virginia | $79,900 | $59,880 |
| Washington | $60,000 | $68,910 |
| West Virginia | $55,700 | $49,430 |
| Wisconsin | $37,870 | $62,220 |
| Wyoming | Not published | $62,980 |
Private practice and telehealth
BLS counts only employees, so therapists who run their own private practice aren't in these figures. Their income depends on caseload and rates, so it can be higher or lower than the medians above.
Other kinds of therapists
“Therapist” also covers jobs outside mental health, each with its own page: physical therapist ($102,760 median), occupational therapist ($100,330), respiratory therapist ($82,280), speech therapist ($97,870) and massage therapist ($58,450).
Therapist take-home pay by state (2026)
2026 federal brackets and standard deduction, Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% plus 0.9% above $200,000 ($250,000 joint), and each state's 2026 income tax. Local income taxes, state disability or paid-leave payroll taxes and other deductions are not included. Estimate only, not tax advice.
Common questions
How much does a therapist make?
Mental health therapists earn a median $59,350 (counselors) to $66,940 (marriage and family therapists) a year, BLS May 2025.
How much does a therapist make an hour?
About $28.53 an hour for counselors and $32.18 for LMFTs at the median.
Which therapists earn the most?
Among mental health therapists, the top 10% of LMFTs earn over $123,730 a year. Clinical psychologists earn more, a median $100,580.
Which state pays therapists the most?
For LMFTs, Hawaii has the highest median at $141,960, followed by New Jersey ($92,150).
Do therapists in private practice make more?
Often, but BLS doesn't count self-employed therapists, so there's no official figure for private practice income.
Sources
- BLS: Marriage and family therapists (21-1013)
- BLS: Substance abuse, behavioral disorder and mental health counselors (21-1018)
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Marriage and family therapists
Related
Last reviewed November 5, 2026. Median means half earn more and half less. BLS figures cover employees only. Figures are gross pay before taxes and benefits. General information, not career or financial advice.