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How much do child counselors make?

Author

Jessica Hardy

Updated on March 13, 2026

How much do child counselors make?

According to the BLS, the annual average salary of a child counselor is $47,240 with the top 10 percent of the profession earning upwards of $73,000. The top employers are obviously secondary and elementary schools, but outpatient care centers and family services centers employ a lot of them as well.

Hereof, how much do child counselors make an hour?

Child Care Counselor Salaries

Job TitleSalary
YMCA Child Care Counselor salaries - 6 salaries reported$9/hr
YMCA Child Care Counselor salaries - 3 salaries reported$11/hr
Hillsides Child Care Counselor salaries - 3 salaries reported$15/hr
St. Ann's Home & School Child Care Counselor salaries - 3 salaries reported$14/hr

Likewise, what degree do you need to be a child counselor? Child therapists are required to have at least a master's degree in counseling or social work or a doctoral degree in psychology. A Bachelor's degree is the first requirement for a child counselor, and most places of employment, as well as state boards, require a Master's or Doctoral level education.

Moreover, how many years does it take to become a child counselor?

In order to practice child counseling in every state, candidates must have a master's degree at minimum. Program length varies, but master's students take an average of two years of full-time study. Most curricula include an internship or clinical experience.

Do school counselors make good money?

School Counselors made a median salary of $56,310 in 2018. The best-paid 25 percent made $73,740 that year, while the lowest-paid 25 percent made $43,210.

What are the highest paying counseling jobs?

Highest Paying Psychology Careers
  • Neuropsychologist.
  • Engineering Psychologist.
  • Psychology Teacher.
  • Clinical Psychologist. Average Yearly Salary: $81,330.
  • Counseling Psychologist. Average Yearly Salary: $81,330.
  • School Psychologist. Average Yearly Salary: $77,430.
  • Forensic Psychologist. Average Yearly Salary: $61,220.
  • Sports Psychologist.

How do I become a child mental health specialist?

Most positions require that mental health specialists have at least a bachelor's degree in psychology or a related area, plus experience working with mental health patients. In some cases, a master's degree in psychology, counseling, social work or a related area can make up for work experience.

How do I become a children's Councillor?

How to Become a Child Counselor
  1. Complete a bachelor's degree in a behavioral, social science, or psychology field.
  2. Earn a master's degree in counseling with a focus on child and adolescent development.
  3. Complete graduate and postgraduate internship experience for certification/licensure requirements.
  4. Pass any required exams for certification/licensure.

How much does a children's psychiatrist make?

How much does a Pediatric Psychiatrist make in the United States? The average Pediatric Psychiatrist salary in the United States is $213,373 as of February 26, 2020, but the range typically falls between $186,961 and $243,489.

How much does a child therapist make a month?

National Average
Salary Range (Percentile)
25th75th
Monthly Salary$3,750$11,625
Weekly Salary$865$2,683
Hourly Salary$22$67

What jobs can you get with a masters in child psychology?

Some of the many fields you can enter with a degree in child psychology include:
  • School Psychology. School psychologists work in K-12 schools and help students academically and emotionally.
  • School Guidance Counselor.
  • Social Work.
  • Art Therapy.
  • Child Psychologist.

What does child psychology mean?

Child psychology is the study of subconscious and conscious childhood development. Child psychologists observe how a child interacts with their parents, themselves, and the world, to understand their mental development.

How do you become a school psychologist?

Going to school, college or university and being taught is something we just do.

Thinking of a career in educational psychology?

  1. A three-year Bachelor's Degree majoring in Psychology or the equivalent thereof.
  2. An Honours Degree in Psychology.
  3. A Master's Degree in Psychology approved by the HPCSA.

What is the best counseling degree?

There are any number of Master's level counseling degrees, the best known being:
  • Clinical Social Work.
  • Marriage and Family Therapy.
  • Mental Health Counseling.
  • School Counseling.

What makes a good child therapist?

Develop an Approachable Presence. According to The United States Department of Labor, those who work with children in a therapeutic environment are most successful when they are compassionate, have well-developed interpersonal skills, are good listeners and have superior speaking skills.

What do pediatric therapists do?

Pediatric therapists are occupational or physical therapists who specialize in working with children. As a pediatric therapist, you would help your patients develop, improve or regain daily life skills and motor functions.

What is child and adolescent counseling?

Child counseling is a type of therapy that focuses on young children, teens, and adolescents with one or more mental illnesses. It also provides aid to youths, who have experienced trauma, and/or who are experiencing a dysfunctional or stressful home environment.

What is the difference between a therapist and a psychologist?

A psychologist often works in tandem with a psychiatrist, who is also a medical doctor and can prescribe medication if it is determined that medication is necessary for a patient's treatment. A therapist's goal is to help patients make decisions and clarify their feelings in order to solve problems.

Do school counselors make more than teachers?

In general, school counselors earn a higher salary when compared to the average earnings of K-12 teachers. Middle and high school teachers earn a bit more, at $53,550 and $55,150. Both elementary and secondary school counselors, however, take in $61,190 on average, according to the BLS.

Do school counselors get summer off?

Clinical counselors and school counselors both have the ability to work full time. School counselors, however, are usually off during summer vacation and other school holidays. You will find school counselors in public and private schools as well as community colleges, universities, and even prisons.

Is there a shortage of school counselors?

Counselors are key to helping students navigate school, apply to college and plan for a career, but there's a shortage of them in our nation's schools. And the lack of guidance counselors is often most acute at schools that serve low income students — the children who need the most help.

Is it hard to become a school counselor?

Landing a job in a high school is difficult enough but getting employed at a college counseling center is extremely difficult unless you have a connection. Most colleges want applicants for a counselor position to have a PhD, not just a Masters degree and want several years of experience before even considering you.

What benefits do school counselors get?

The median salary for elementary and secondary school counselors was $51,160 per year. Benefits include paid holidays and vacations, sick leave, health insurance, and retirement plans.

Is there a demand for school counselors?

With the increasing amount of on-site campus career centers opening to help students prepare and develop skills for the workforce, school counseling jobs are in demand. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 8.4 percent employment growth for school counselors between 2018 and 2028.

How much does a school counselor make with a master's degree?

Psychological college counselors have a master's degree or PhD in psychology and may require licensing, depending on state laws. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, psychological school counselors earn a median salary of $75,760.

What can you do with a school counseling degree?

Career Options for Individuals with a Master's Degree in School Counseling
  • School and Career Counselor.
  • School Psychologist.
  • Postsecondary Teacher.
  • Marriage and Family Therapist.
  • Substance Abuse Counselor.

What does it take to become a school counselor?

In general, most school counselors begin their careers with a bachelor's degree in areas such as counseling, education, or psychology. When pursuing a school counseling career, you'll most likely also be required to earn at least a master's degree in school counseling or education psychology.