- Counselors work in many fields, and the pay differs slightly from field to field. Mental health counselors make between $34,000 and $47,000 annually. Clinical therapists earn between $35,000 and $47,000. Counselors who work with alcoholics and substance abusers earn between $31,000 and $44,000 a year, and licensed clinical social workers make between $39,000 and $55,000.
- A counselor's years of experience are also reflected in her salary. For instance, a new counselor, with less than a year in her field, can expect to command an annual wage of about $37,000, while a counselor with 10 years in her field can command as much as $46,000. Experts with 20 years and more in their profession can make as much as $51,000 and more.
- There were 665,500 counselors employed in 2008.professional image by Leticia Wilson from Fotolia.com
Advancement, again, depends on the specific field of expertise and usually requires additional training. Counselors working within a school setting may become supervisors or directors of counseling. With further education, a school counselor can also advance to counselor educator or move into administration. Some may branch out into research and teaching, while others move into private practice, such as marriage counselors. - According to the U.S. Department of Labor, licensed professional counselor opportunities are growing at a fast rate with favorable opportunities for finding work. Overall, the counseling sector is expected to grow by 18 percent from 2008 to 2018; however, that percentage of growth varies depending on the exact field. For example, substance abuse counseling is projected to grow by 21 percent, while family and marriage counseling is expected to grow by 14 percent.
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