Disciplines / LPC / LMHC
Licensed Professional Counselor / Mental Health Counselor (LPC / LMHC)
LPCs and LMHCs deliver diagnosis and psychotherapy across outpatient, community and substance use settings. Title varies by state; the work does not.
- Advertised pay
- $55k – $85k
- Credential
- State licensure (LPC, LMHC, LPCC, LCPC depending on state)
- Live roles
- None open today
What is a Licensed Professional Counselor / Mental Health Counselor (LPC / LMHC), and what does the role pay?
What the role does
- Assess, diagnose and treat mental health conditions
- Deliver individual and group therapy
- Manage risk and crisis situations
- Document to payer standards
Credential and route in
State licensure (LPC, LMHC, LPCC, LCPC depending on state) · State counseling boards; NBCC examinations (NCE/NCMHCE)
- 1Master's in counseling from a CACREP or equivalent program
- 2Post-graduate supervised hours (typically 2,000 to 4,000 by state)
- 3Pass the NCE or NCMHCE
- 4State licensure
Advertised pay
| Career stage | Advertised pay | What typically sits behind it |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | $55k | Newly credentialed, supervised caseload |
| Mid-career | $70k | Full caseload, independent, some supervision of others |
| Senior | $85k | Lead or multi-site scope, clinical quality ownership |
Ranges reflect what we typically see advertised on roles we recruit for in the US. They are a market guide, not a survey, and vary by setting, caseload and experience. Last reviewed August 2026. For federal wage and outlook data, see the Bureau of Labor Statistics occupation page.
Full LPC / LMHC salary guideWhere LPC / LMHCs work
Outpatient clinics · Community mental health · Substance use treatment · Schools and colleges · Telehealth
Specialties
- Community mental healthMedicaid-funded outpatient and community programs delivering therapy, prescribing, case management and crisis services.
- Substance use treatmentDetox, residential, IOP, outpatient and MAT programs across the full continuum of addiction care.
- Telehealth and virtual careRemote therapy, teletherapy, telepsychiatry and remote supervision across state lines, delivered by platforms and traditional providers alike.
- Inpatient and residentialPsychiatric hospitals, residential treatment centers and PHP programs treating high-acuity mental health presentations.
Demand right now
High volume nationally, with the tightest markets wherever associate-level clinicians cannot find paid supervision.
Hiring LPC / LMHCs?
Title portability is the trap. Moving state usually means a new application, sometimes new coursework. We map it before a candidate commits.
Submit a roleLive LPC / LMHC roles
No live LPC / LMHC roles today. Join the talent network and we will contact you when one opens in your state.
Join the talent networkQuestions we get asked
- Is an LPC in one state an LPC everywhere?
- No. Titles and hour requirements differ by state and there is no universal counseling compact yet, though the Counseling Compact is being implemented. Always check the destination board first.
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