There are currently an estimated 483,500 mental health counselors in the United States. The mental health counselor job market is expected to grow by 16.8% between 2024 and 2034.
How employable are mental health counselors?
CareerExplorer rates mental health counselors with a B+ employability rating, meaning this career should provide good employment opportunities for the foreseeable future. Over the next 10 years, it is expected the US will need 81,100 mental health counselors.
What’s the supply of mental health counselors?
The mental health counselor industry is concentrated in California, Pennsylvania, Florida
Mental Health Counselor job market by state
| State Name | Employed Mental Health Counselors |
|---|---|
| California | 75,610 |
| Pennsylvania | 30,620 |
| Florida | 29,750 |
| New York | 26,770 |
| Texas | 21,400 |
| Illinois | 20,250 |
| Massachusetts | 18,190 |
| Ohio | 18,020 |
| Virginia | 17,940 |
| Colorado | 14,920 |
| Washington | 14,250 |
| New Jersey | 14,210 |
| Indiana | 11,890 |
| North Carolina | 10,300 |
| Michigan | 10,100 |
| Arizona | 9,990 |
| Maryland | 9,730 |
| Georgia | 9,600 |
| Tennessee | 9,040 |
| Wisconsin | 8,340 |
| Oregon | 8,160 |
| Missouri | 8,130 |
| Kentucky | 7,690 |
| Connecticut | 7,540 |
| Minnesota | 7,110 |
| Louisiana | 6,420 |
| Utah | 6,320 |
| South Carolina | 6,300 |
| Oklahoma | 5,150 |
| New Hampshire | 3,690 |
| Iowa | 3,530 |
| Idaho | 2,990 |
| Kansas | 2,600 |
| Arkansas | 2,570 |
| New Mexico | 2,420 |
| Rhode Island | 2,170 |
| Nebraska | 2,170 |
| Hawaii | 2,110 |
| West Virginia | 2,100 |
| Mississippi | 2,090 |
| Maine | 1,930 |
| Montana | 1,820 |
| Nevada | 1,810 |
| South Dakota | 1,710 |
| Delaware | 1,700 |
| Alaska | 1,290 |
| North Dakota | 1,290 |
| District of Columbia | 1,260 |
| Vermont | 1,120 |
| Wyoming | 910 |