Child counselors, also known as youth counselors or pediatric counselors, play an important role in supporting the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents. As trained mental health professionals, child counselors help young people cope with and overcome a wide range of psychological, behavioral, and emotional issues. From anxiety and depression to trauma and abuse, child counselors provide critical counseling, therapy, and interventions to foster improved mental health in their young clients.
Given the vital services they provide, child counselors must complete specialized training and licensure to practice. This includes obtaining a minimum of a master’s degree in counseling, psychology, or social work, along with supervised clinical experience working with children. Ongoing training and professional development is also essential.
Naturally, one key consideration for individuals interested in pursuing a child counseling career is earning potential. Like most professions, a number of factors impact how much child counselors get paid. Geography, education, experience, specialty, and work setting all influence child counselor salaries and wages.
National Salary Averages for Child Counselors
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average national salary for child, family, and school counselors was $48,720 as of May 2021. The top 10% of earners in this field made $82,000 or more annually.
These BLS salary figures account for full-time child counselors working in elementary and secondary schools. However, many child counselors work in other settings like private pediatric therapy practices, community mental health centers, and hospitals. BLS data indicates the highest average salaries for child counselors are in the following industries:
– State government, excluding education and hospitals: $60,940
– Child day care services: $54,160
– Individual and family services: $50,750
– Outpatient care centers: $50,080
– Offices of other health practitioners: $49,630
Among the states, New Jersey ($68,300), California ($63,990), Connecticut ($62,740) and New York ($60,160) offer the highest average salaries.
It’s important to note that BLS earnings specifically apply to licensed counselors. Those without full licensure and credentials will likely earn less on average. However, with a relevant master’s degree, proper licensure, and commensurate experience, child counselors can expect to earn salaries largely in line with their peers in counseling or social work positions.
Factors That Impact Child Counselor Salaries
A child counselor’s annual earnings depend on several key factors:
Education
Most child counseling jobs require a minimum of a master’s degree in counseling, social work, psychology, or a related field. Common graduate degrees include an M.A. or M.S. in Counseling, Counseling Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT), or Social Work (MSW). Some states may also allow individuals with a master’s degree in education or child development to practice child counseling with proper licensure.
In general, child counselors who hold a doctoral degree in counseling psychology, social work, or a PhD earn higher salaries on average. However, a master’s degree is sufficient for most child counseling positions.
Licensure and Certification
Proper professional licensure and/or certification is essential for child counselors. All states require licensure to practice as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) or similar designation. Maintaining an active license in good standing is mandatory.
Voluntary national certifications like National Certified Counselor (NCC) or National Certified School Counselor (NCSC) also demonstrate specialized skills and training. Board Certified-Behavior Analyst (BCBA) certification is common among child counselors focused on behavioral therapy. Such credentials can increase earning potential.
Experience
As with most professions, child counselors gain higher salaries as they accrue years of professional experience. While entry-level salaries near the BLS average, child counselors with 5-10 years experience often earn $55,000 – $75,000 on average based on setting and specialty.
Advanced expertise serving specific issues like trauma, abuse, autism, learning disabilities, etc. also boosts earnings potential. Leading child counseling practices value seasoned clinicians to serve more complex caseloads.
Work Setting
Work environment impacts earnings for child counselors as well. According to PayScale, average salaries by work setting are:
– Elementary or Secondary School – $48,000
– Outpatient Clinic – $52,000
– Private Practice – $66,000
– Hospital – $62,000
– Government Agency – $60,000
– Nonprofit Organization – $50,000
In general, private practice offers the highest salaries but also comes with higher costs, administration, and often unpredictable income. Established group or partnership practices provide a middle ground, combining stability with higher pay.
Geographic Region
Where child counselors live and work influences earnings. As noted earlier, BLS data shows the highest average salaries in states like New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and California. Higher costs of living and demand in these areas impacts pay scale.
Urban regions also tend to pay more for child counseling professionals compared to rural areas. For example, average advertised salaries for child counselors in select metropolitan regions are:
– New York, NY – $69,000
– San Francisco, CA – $75,000
– Chicago, IL – $58,000
– Austin, TX – $52,000
– Charlotte, NC – $48,000
– Boise, ID – $44,000
So location definitely matters when it comes to potential income for child counselors. Those willing and able to practice in higher-paying urban and coastal areas will enjoy salaries exceeding national averages.
Employment Setting
Child counselors working in public schools fall under state and district teacher salary schedules. Pay is therefore fairly fixed based on education level and years of experience. According to BLS, the median salary for school counselors is $61,820 nationwide.
By contrast, salaries and rates are more variable for private practice and clinical settings. Demand, insurance reimbursements, specialty, client fees, and business overhead expenses all impact earnings. Licensed mental health counselors in private practice settings generally earn some of the highest wages in the field.
Areas of Specialization
What types of issues child counselors treat also influences earning potential. Counselors with advanced expertise in high-need areas of specialization often command higher income. For example, counselors specifically trained in:
– Trauma, PTSD, and abuse recovery typically earn upwards of $65,000 on average.
– Autism spectrum disorders – $58,000+ on average.
– Learning disabilities including ADHD/ADD – $60,000+ on average.
– Child and adolescent depression/anxiety – $55,000+ on average.
– Pediatric chronic illness support – $58,000+ on average.
– Grief, loss, and bereavement counseling – $52,000+ on average.
– Divorce and separation counseling – $50,000+ on average.
Developing recognized skills in these and other specialty areas allows counselors to serve higher-need populations and clients. As such, they can negotiate higher salaries based on demand and value.
Job Growth and Outlook for Child Counselors
The job growth outlook for child counselors over the next decade also impacts earning potential and career opportunities.
The BLS projects a faster-than-average 11% increase in employment of school counselors through 2030. Positions for mental health counselors and marriage/family therapists are forecast to grow even faster at 25% over the same period. Expanding mental healthcare access and demand for services will drive much of this job growth.
Higher demand with increasing student populations and mental health needs should support continued salary growth for properly credentialed child counseling professionals. Those pursuing specialties like trauma counseling, autism therapy, learning assessments, etc. will be in especially high demand in the decade to come.
However, reimbursement challenges may constrain salary growth in some clinical settings. The highest earning potential will likely exist for those child counselors able to establish thriving private or group practices.
Entry-Level Salaries for Child Counselors
What can child counselors expect to earn starting out after graduate school? Entry-level salaries often begin around $35,000 – $45,000 on average. However, they can vary based on setting:
– Public elementary or secondary school – $35,000 – $40,000
– Community mental health clinic – $38,000 – $42,000
– Private pediatric therapy practice – $40,000 – $50,000
– Hospital clinical setting – $45,000 – $55,000
– Child and family services agency – $37,000 – $44,000
Social work positions tend to start slightly lower on the scale above. Counseling psychology grads entering schools can expect to earn near teacher starting salaries. Specialists with advanced training in high-need therapies may negotiate higher initial offers.
Though lower than salaries for experienced counselors, these entry-levels still allow a reasonable standard of living. New professionals must gain licensure and skills before commanding earnings above national averages. But with time and initiative, six-figure incomes are achievable for successful child counselors later in their careers.
Highest Paying Metropolitan Regions for Child Counselors
Major metropolitan areas pay the highest average salaries for qualified child counselors. Below are the top five highest-paying regions based on current salary data:
| Metro Area | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $98,000 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | $92,000 |
| Nassau-Suffolk, NY (Long Island) | $83,000 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT | $82,000 |
| New York-Jersey City-White Plains, NY-NJ | $80,000 |
With high costs of living, these regions offer salaries exceeding $80,000 for experienced child counseling professionals. Many openings exist to serve growing populations and mental health needs. Urban centers on the West Coast and Northeast provide the highest average pay scale currently.
Salary Variations by State
Significant differences in average salaries exist from state to state as well. Below are the top five highest-paying states for child counselors:
| State | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| California | $72,000 |
| New York | $69,000 |
| New Jersey | $68,000 |
| Massachusetts | $67,000 |
| Maryland | $66,000 |
Again, higher costs of living and concentrations of child counseling jobs in and around major cities impacts state salary averages. By contrast, lower salaries prevail in regions like the South, Midwest, and rural areas.
Salary Differences by Gender
One unfortunate gender gap exists among salaries for child counselors. According to Payscale, the average salaries by gender are:
– Male Child Counselors – $51,000
– Female Child Counselors – $43,000
This equates to roughly an $8,000 disparity in average earnings between men and women. While not as large a pay gap as some other fields, it remains significant. Some contributing factors likely include:
– Women make up around 75% of child counselors currently. Increased supply may limit earning power.
– Gender biases likely persist in salary offers and negotiations.
– Women are more likely to trade higher pay for increased flexibility to manage parenting/family responsibilities.
– Men tend to be overrepresented in school leadership and private practice settings that offer higher compensation.
Certainly, efforts are needed across the child counseling field to ensure fair, equitable pay regardless of gender. But the reality is that male counselors currently enjoy somewhat higher salaries on average all else being equal.
Conclusion
In summary, child counselors provide critical mental and behavioral health services to children, youths, and families. Though earning potential varies significantly based on setting, experience, geography, specialty, and other factors, average salaries range from $45,000 – $75,000 currently. With proper credentials and expertise, six-figure incomes are possible over the course of a career.
While compensation should not be the sole motivator for pursuing a child counseling career, it is an important consideration given required education and the field’s high demands. But with passion for helping young people thrive, child counselors gain intangible rewards that enrich careers and lives in countless ways. At its core, child counseling offers a chance to positively transform individual lives, families, and communities for the better.