Social workers and counselors fall into a broad occupational category called the “helping professions,” which comprises professionals who dedicate their professional lives to helping others. Sounds simple enough, right? Yet, there is a wide range of job titles within the helping professions — therapists, counselors, community health workers, social workers, psychologists, and psychiatrists.

This article compares two key professions — social workers and counselors — and their pay, based on data collected by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Read on to learn the potential salary differences between a licensed professional counselor (LPC) and a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW).

Table of Contents

Demand for Social Workers and Counselors

How Much Do Social Workers Make?

How Much Do Counselors Make?

Does a Person with a Degree Earn More?

Explore Social Work and Counseling Careers

The BLS estimates there were more than 810,900 social workers in the U.S. in 2024, with a 6% increase in overall demand for these positions expected through 2034.

Growth within the counseling field is expected to be as high as 17 for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors through 2034, according to the BLS.

The BLS reports that the 2024 annual median pay for social workers in the United States was $61,330. The job growth outlook is 6% through 2034, which is faster than the average (3%) for all occupations in the United States.

Salaries are affected by several factors, including your experience, where you live, and the type of social worker you are. The BLS categorizes social work jobs and their 2024 median salaries into four types:

States with the highest (2024) mean wages for social workers across these BLS categories include:

The top-paying industries  for social workers based on 2024 median wages were:

If you want to be a social worker, start with this guide, our list of online MSW programs and more information about social work careers and licensure.

The BLS classifies counselors into five types and reported the following annual median wages for counselors in the U.S. in 2024:

*The mean average wage is reported, not the median. 

The next sections review these professions in more detail, providing states with top-earning counselors, typical work environments, and career resources for each type of counselor.

Counselors in educational settings earned a median annual wage of $65,140 in 2024, according to the BLS. School and career counselors and advisors held about 376,300 jobs in 2024, 40% of those counselors worked in elementary and secondary schools, earning a median annual wage between $62,090 to $76,960 in private or local school systems. of $70,790. 24% of counselors worked in state and local colleges, universities, or professional schools, earning $60,170, and counselors at similar private postsecondary institutions earned $57,800 media annual pay in 2024.  

Educational and career counselors earned the highest incomes in California, Washington, the District of Columbia, Alaska, and Massachusetts in 2024. 

If you’re interested in being a counselor in an education setting, start with this guide on how to become a school counselor, or browse our list of online master’s in school counseling programs.

The BLS reports that marriage and family counselors made a median annual wage of $63,780 in 2024. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $42,610, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $111,610. The highest-paying industries for MFTs included state government jobs ($89,030) and outpatient care centers ($73,230), earning above the median for all MFTs annually.

Marriage and family counselors earned the most in Hawaii, New Jersey, Utah, Virginia, and Oregon.  

To learn what these counselors do and their licensure requirements, refer to “How To Become a Marriage and Family Therapist.”

Rehabilitation counselors earned a median annual wage of $46,110 according to 2024 BLS data. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $34,480, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $77,200. Annual wages for rehabilitation counselors in state government ($63,610) and local government ($60,590) earned top wages well above the median for all rehabilitation counselors. 

These counselors earned the most in Alaska, the District of Columbia, North Dakota, Washington, and Wyoming.  

Wondering how to become one of these helping professionals? Learn about the six steps in “How to Become a Rehabilitation Counselor.”

The BLS combines substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors together, reporting that they had a median annual wage of $59,190 in 2024. These counselors work in mental health centers, addiction treatment facilities, prisons, private practices, and government agencies. Counselors in the hospital setting, including state, local, and private facilities, earned the highest annual wages at $61,930 annually. Counselors earned top wages in health practitioners’ offices ($59,570) and outpatient mental health and substance abuse centers ($58,200). 

Substance abuse counselors earned the most in Alaska, New Mexico, Oregon, North Dakota, and the District of Columbia.  

Learn more, including the five levels of substance abuse counseling, in “How to Become a Substance Abuse Counselor.”

All other counselors who don’t fall into one of the four previous classifications earned a mean annual wage of $58,070 in 2024, according to the BLS. These individuals work in private practice, local and state government, elementary and secondary schools, and outpatient care centers. The 2024 annual median wage of “other” counselors by employer:

States, where counselors in this catch-all category earned the most, were Virginia, the District of Columbia, North Dakota, Delaware, and New Jersey.  

If you’re interested in learning about the other types of counselors, check out this counseling careers resource. If you want to see more state comparisons, view our main page on counselor salaries.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, median weekly earnings in 2024 generally increased with educational attainment among full-time wage and salary workers age 25 and older. Workers with a high school diploma had median weekly earnings of $930, compared with $1,020 for those with some college but no degree, $1,099 for associate degree holders, $1,543 for bachelor’s degree holders, and higher amounts for workers with graduate degrees. BLS also notes that earnings vary based on factors such as occupation, geographic location, work experience, and hours worked. 

Online Counseling Programs is your go-to resource for navigating the paths to becoming a social worker and a counselor. Whether you’re just starting to explore the field or looking to take the next step, you’ll find in-depth guidance on becoming a licensed counselor or social worker, along with information on related professions like therapy and psychology. We also highlight online bachelor’s and master’s degree programs to help you find the right educational path for your goals. Both social work and counseling are licensed health professions, and requirements vary by state — but most include a graduate degree, supervised clinical experience, and a passing score on a national licensing exam. Understanding the licensure and certification process early is important, as these requirements can shape which graduate programs are the right fit and what career opportunities will be available to you down the road.

Last Updated: March 2026