Psychiatrists are the highest paid mental health professionals on our job board, with a median posted minimum of $300,000 and maximum of $375,000 a year. Psychiatric nurse practitioners come second at $145,000 to $175,000, and clinical psychologists third at $106,500 to $143,040.
Most rankings of the highest paying mental health careers use government surveys or self-reported salaries. This one uses what employers actually put in their job postings. The data comes from BehavioralHealth.careers, a behavioral health job board where 77.4% of listings in our September 28, 2026 pull showed posted pay.
The ranking
This comparison covers six clinical and ABA career categories with at least seven salaried, pay-disclosing location listings in the snapshot. It is not an exhaustive ranking of every mental health occupation.
| Rank | Career | Median posted range (salaried) | Median midpoint | Listings | Employers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psychiatrist | $300,000 to $375,000 | $337,500 | 31 | 4 |
| 2 | Psychiatric nurse practitioner (PMHNP) | $145,000 to $175,000 | $156,090 | 63 | 11 |
| 3 | Clinical psychologist | $106,500 to $143,040 | $124,000 | 18 | 5 |
| 4 | Mental health social worker | $75,816 to $102,000 | $90,000 | 7 | 3 |
| 5 | Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) | $83,500 to $95,000 | $89,750 | 46 | 7 |
| 6 | Counselor or therapist | $65,000 to $90,000 | $76,077 | 81 | 20 |
Social workers and BCBAs are close enough, and the social worker sample small enough, that their order could flip in the next data pull.
Hourly roles, for comparison:
| Career | Median posted range (hourly) | Listings | Employers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Counselor or therapist (hourly postings) | $40 to $50 | 79 | 13 |
| Case manager | $23 to $25 | 13 | 6 |
| RBT and behavior technician | $20 to $25 | 215 | 13 |
| Behavioral health technician | $18 to $22 | 31 | 6 |
How we built this ranking
- Source: the BehavioralHealth.careers curated board, pulled September 28, 2026: 924 listings from 60 employers.
- Posted pay only: 715 listings (77.4%) showed pay. That includes pay in the employer's structured job data and pay ranges stated in the job description. We did not estimate pay for listings without it.
- What the numbers mean: for each career, we took the median of the posted minimums, the median of the posted maximums, and the median of each listing's midpoint. Salaried and hourly postings are reported separately rather than converted.
- Ranking: by median midpoint of salaried postings in the six categories shown. Program directors ($110,000 midpoint, 3 listings), psychiatric registered nurses ($98,000, 3) and separately classified MFT jobs ($90,270, 2) are outside this comparison because their samples are smaller. Unassigned listings are also excluded.
- Counting and classification: counts are location listings, not unique vacancies; some share an employer posting URL. The counselor/therapist group includes postings accepting multiple license types and some associate-level clinicians. The social-worker group also includes both independent clinical and other social-work license levels. These figures do not isolate fully licensed practitioners.
Read the small samples carefully. A few large employers post many jobs, so some figures lean on one employer:
- LifeStance Health posted 18 of the 31 salaried psychiatrist listings (58%).
- LifeStance posted 12 of the 18 clinical psychologist listings (67%).
- LifeStance posted 4 of the 7 social worker listings (57%).
- The PMHNP, BCBA, and counselor figures are spread across more employers. No single employer accounts for more than about 28% of any of them.
We will update these figures as the board grows. For the national picture, most sections below link our salary page for that role, which uses Bureau of Labor Statistics or salary survey data.
1. Psychiatrist
Posted pay: median range $300,000 to $375,000 a year, midpoint $337,500 (31 salaried listings, 4 employers). Another 9 listings posted hourly pay, with a median midpoint of $172.50 an hour; 7 of those came from one telepsychiatry employer.
Psychiatrists are physicians who diagnose and treat mental health conditions, prescribe medication, and care for patients with the most complex needs. The path is the longest on this list: a bachelor's degree, four years of medical school (MD or DO), a four-year psychiatry residency, and a state medical license. Many employers also expect board certification.
Setting and schedule move pay within the range. Inpatient call, nights, rural shortage areas, and medical director roles tend to pay more. Telepsychiatry has opened more remote options; see our telepsychiatry jobs guide. National data: psychiatrist salary page.
2. Psychiatric nurse practitioner (PMHNP)
Posted pay: median range $145,000 to $175,000 a year, midpoint $156,090 (63 salaried listings, 11 employers).
PMHNPs are advanced practice registered nurses who assess, diagnose, and treat mental health conditions, including prescribing medication. The path runs through a registered nursing license, a qualifying PMHNP graduate degree (MSN or DNP), or a qualifying post-graduate certificate for nurses who already hold a graduate degree, national board certification such as the ANCC's PMHNP-BC, and state licensure as an advanced practice nurse. How independently a PMHNP can practice depends on state law.
PMHNP is the highest-paid graduate nursing path in this comparison. Its median midpoint is about 46% of the psychiatrist figure on our board, with a different training route from medical school and residency. Training time depends on your starting qualifications. PMHNP jobs were also the most plentiful of the top three, with 63 salaried listings from 11 employers. National data: PMHNP salary page.
3. Clinical psychologist
Posted pay: median range $106,500 to $143,040 a year, midpoint $124,000 (18 salaried listings, 5 employers).
Clinical psychologists provide psychotherapy and psychological testing, diagnose mental health conditions, and build treatment plans with patients. Independent clinical psychologist licensure generally requires a doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD), a supervised internship, supervised practice hours (postdoctoral in some states), and a passing score on the national licensing exam (EPPP) plus any state exams. Psychologists generally do not prescribe.
Testing and assessment specialties, such as neuropsychology, are a common route to higher pay. Eligible psychologists can practice telepsychology across participating states with the required PSYPACT authorization; see our PSYPACT guide. National data: psychologist salary page.
4. Mental health social worker
Posted pay: median range $75,816 to $102,000 a year, midpoint $90,000 (7 salaried listings, 3 employers). This is the smallest sample in the ranking.
Clinical social workers provide therapy and assessment and connect clients and families with community services. The usual path is a Master of Social Work (MSW), supervised clinical hours after graduation, and a clinical license such as the LCSW. The number of hours and the exam vary by state. The Social Work Licensure Compact is intended to make multi-state practice easier, but its commission reports that multistate licenses are not yet being issued as of October 2, 2026; see our social work licensure compact guide. National data: behavioral health social worker salary page.
5. Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)
Posted pay: median range $83,500 to $95,000 a year, midpoint $89,750 (46 salaried listings, 7 employers).
BCBAs design and oversee applied behavior analysis (ABA) programs, most often for children on the autism spectrum, and supervise RBTs. The usual graduate route requires a qualifying degree and behavior-analytic coursework, 2,000 hours of supervised fieldwork (or 1,500 concentrated hours), and the BCBA exam. For applications from January 1, 2027, use the BACB’s 2027 requirements, including its accepted programs and coursework routes. Some states add a license.
BCBA pay was the most tightly clustered of the six ranked salaried groups relative to its median: the middle half of listings had midpoints between $85,000 and $95,125 (inclusive quartiles). Along with clinical social work, it is one of the two highest-paying master's-level roles among the six ranked categories that don't require a nursing license. See our guides on how to become a BCBA and ABA jobs from RBT to BCBA.
6. Counselor or therapist
Posted pay: median range $65,000 to $90,000 a year, midpoint $76,077 (81 salaried listings, 20 employers). Another 79 listings posted hourly pay, with a median range of $40 to $50 an hour.
Licensed counselors (LPC, LMHC, LPCC and other titles) and marriage and family therapists provide counseling and therapy for anxiety, depression, trauma, substance abuse, and more, in community agencies, group practices, and telehealth. The path is a counseling or MFT master's degree, supervised clinical experience over a state-defined period, a national exam, and a state license. Our guide on how to become a licensed mental health counselor covers license titles in all 50 states.
Counselors had the widest range of employers and pay structures on our board. Hourly postings came mostly from telehealth and school-based therapy companies, and an hourly rate doesn't tell you how many paid hours you'll get. Ask about caseload, guaranteed hours, and whether you're an employee or a contractor. National data: mental health counselor salary page.
Can you earn $200,000 in a mental health career?
Among the six ranked categories, only psychiatrist and PMHNP listings had annual posted maximums of $200,000 or more. We looked at the top of each posted range; that is an advertised ceiling, not a guaranteed offer or base salary:
| Career | Salaried listings | Posted maximum of $200,000 or more | Posted maximum of $100,000 or more | Highest posted maximum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Psychiatrist | 31 | 31 | 31 | $550,000 |
| PMHNP | 63 | 22 | 63 | $300,000 |
| Clinical psychologist | 18 | 0 | 18 | $155,000 |
| BCBA | 46 | 0 | 13 | $131,000 |
| Counselor or therapist | 81 | 0 | 21 | $140,000 |
| Mental health social worker | 7 | 0 | 4 | $121,306 |
Every psychiatrist posting had a posted maximum of $200,000 or more. For PMHNPs, 22 of 63 postings did, and all 22 came from three employers, most of them outpatient and telehealth practices. No annual-pay listing in the ranked psychologist, BCBA, counselor or social-worker groups had a posted maximum of $200,000. For those roles, some advertised ceilings reached six figures: 21 of 81 counselor postings and 13 of 46 BCBA postings had a posted maximum of $100,000 or more. Private practice income isn't captured in job postings, so it isn't reflected here.
Entry-level roles and where they lead
Hourly roles don't make a highest-paying list, but they are where many people start, and several lead directly to the careers above.
- RBT and behavior technician: median $20 to $25 an hour (215 listings, 13 employers). RBT certification requires age 18 or older, a high school diploma or equivalent, background checks, qualifying 40-hour training, a competency assessment and the RBT exam. An uncredentialed behavior technician job may provide training after hire. This is the first rung of the ABA ladder toward the BCBA. RBT salary page.
- Case manager: median $23 to $25 an hour (13 listings, 6 employers). Usually a bachelor's degree. A common step toward an MSW or counseling degree.
- Behavioral health technician: median $18 to $22 an hour (31 listings, 6 employers). Often a high school diploma plus on-the-job training in inpatient or residential settings. Behavioral health technician salary page.
What moves mental health pay
Two patterns stand out in our data. The two roles that prescribe, psychiatrists and PMHNPs, rank first and second. And doctoral and medical paths pay the most, while PMHNP and BCBA offer different graduate routes to comparatively high posted pay in this sample. Some employers also post separate ranges for associate and fully licensed clinicians, so check which level a posting is for.
Within a career, state, setting, and schedule matter. Compare total compensation, not only base pay: guaranteed hours, productivity requirements, health insurance and other benefits, malpractice insurance, supervision for licensure, and paid time for documentation. Ask what separates the bottom of a posted range from the top. Experience and specialized skills, such as psychological testing or addiction treatment, are common factors.
Find mental health jobs with posted pay
BehavioralHealth.careers lists behavioral health jobs with posted pay wherever employers disclose it. Browse salary pages by role to compare pay by role and employer. You can also search open psychiatrist, PMHNP, BCBA and therapist jobs. Our content and salary data methods page explains how we collect and report pay.
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest paying mental health career?
Psychiatrist. On our board, the median posted range was $300,000 to $375,000 a year, based on 31 salaried listings as of September 28, 2026.
What is the highest paying mental health job without a medical degree?
Psychiatric nurse practitioner, with a median posted range of $145,000 to $175,000. It requires a nursing license and a graduate nursing degree, not medical school. Among roles outside medicine and nursing, clinical psychologists ranked highest, at a median midpoint of $124,000.
What is the highest paying mental health job with a master's degree?
Among the six ranked categories, mental health social workers ($90,000 midpoint, small sample) and BCBAs ($89,750 midpoint) led the master’s-level roles that don’t require a nursing license, ahead of counselor and therapist listings ($76,077). The small MFT and program-director samples are excluded from the ranking, so this is not a ranking of all master’s-level options.
Why are these numbers different from other salary sites?
Most salary sites use government surveys, self-reported salaries, or estimates. We use the pay ranges employers post in their own job listings. Our data reflects current hiring, not all workers in a role, and it depends on which employers are hiring on the board at the time. We report the number of listings and employers for every figure so you can judge the sample.
How often is this data updated?
These figures come from our September 28, 2026 pull. The board is refreshed regularly, and we plan to update this ranking as more listings come in.
