The average salary for a mental health counselor in South Dakota is around $53,650 per year.
Avg Salary
Mental health counselors earn an average yearly salary of $53,650.
Wages typically start from $39,210 and go up to $67,010.
16% below national average Updated in 2025
Mental health counselor earnings by seniority
Top-level mental health counselor earnings begin at:
$32.22 per hour
$67,010 per year
Senior-level mental health counselor earnings begin at:
$30.13 per hour
$62,660 per year
Mid-level mental health counselor earnings begin at:
$25.79 per hour
$53,650 per year
Junior-level mental health counselor earnings begin at:
$21.95 per hour
$45,650 per year
Starting level mental health counselor earnings begin at:
$18.85 per hour
$39,210 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Mental health counselor salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $80,770 |
| Oregon | $74,590 |
| New Mexico | $74,100 |
| Washington | $68,910 |
| North Dakota | $68,630 |
| Arizona | $65,300 |
| Rhode Island | $65,120 |
| Utah | $63,890 |
| Nebraska | $63,770 |
| Connecticut | $63,590 |
| Idaho | $63,360 |
| Wyoming | $62,980 |
| New Jersey | $62,820 |
| Texas | $62,630 |
| Colorado | $62,390 |
| Wisconsin | $62,220 |
| Vermont | $61,810 |
| Michigan | $61,690 |
| Iowa | $60,880 |
| Illinois | $60,730 |
| District of Columbia | $60,450 |
| Hawaii | $60,090 |
| Maine | $59,970 |
| Massachusetts | $59,890 |
| Virginia | $59,880 |
| Maryland | $59,530 |
| Kansas | $59,470 |
| New York | $59,450 |
| Oklahoma | $59,350 |
| California | $59,250 |
| Montana | $59,000 |
| Georgia | $58,960 |
| Minnesota | $58,780 |
| Ohio | $58,360 |
| Nevada | $57,210 |
| Missouri | $56,910 |
| Florida | $56,790 |
| Delaware | $56,020 |
| North Carolina | $55,490 |
| New Hampshire | $54,840 |
| Kentucky | $54,190 |
| Indiana | $53,760 |
| South Dakota | $53,650 |
| South Carolina | $52,370 |
| Pennsylvania | $52,010 |
| Arkansas | $51,580 |
| Tennessee | $49,580 |
| West Virginia | $49,430 |
| Alabama | $47,310 |
| Mississippi | $46,990 |
| Louisiana | $37,910 |
| Puerto Rico | $24,090 |
How do mental health counselor salaries compare to similar careers?
Mental health counselors earn about the same as related careers in South Dakota. On average, they make less than medical appliance technicians but more than school counselors.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Medical appliance technician salary | $53K |
| Exercise physiologist salary | $52K |
| Hearing aid specialist salary | $55K |
| Occupational therapist assistant salary | $56K |
| Licensed practical nurse salary | $53K |
| Mental health counselor salary | $54K |
| Drug & alcohol counselor salary | $54K |
| Rehabilitation counselor salary | $49K |
| Medical records technician salary | $52K |
| School counselor salary | $52K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)