A masters in counseling degree offers you career opportunities that a lesser degree in counseling sciences does not. It is once you have a masters that you can actually begin to do the work of a counselor and to reap the rewards of your education in psychology. Read on to learn about the average salary for someone with a masters in counseling as well as how much this salary can deviate depending on the exact career path.

The Average Salary

The average salary range for someone with a masters in counseling is between $40,000 and $65,000 a year but you can gain a more precise estimation if you narrow down your goals further. For example, if you intend to become a school or career counselor then you can make anywhere from $37,000 to $63,000 a year. Mental health counselors tend to make about $35,000 to $45,000 a year. Then there are counselors who specialize in marriage and family issues who make $33,000 to $45,000 a year while clinical therapists make around $39,000 a year. Clearly, your potential earnings will be heavily influenced by your exact job and the area that you specialize in.

Why A Masters In Counseling Degree Is A Good Idea

A masters in counseling is a smart educational goal because this is one of those careers that does not go out of style. People have problems and need help sorting out and working through those problems. Mental health is often separated from physical health but both are important. Both contribute to quality of life and neither can be left to degrade without consequences.

What this means for you as someone who obtains a masters in counseling is that you will always have people who need your services. Whatever your area of specialty, it is unlikely that all marital problems will evaporate anytime soon or that schools will no longer require counselors because students suddenly learned to adjust to all pressures on their own. You will have job security even as you pursue the noble purpose of helping people to live better lives.

The average salary for a masters in counseling is substantial. You can easily build a good life off income like this and you can do it while helping people and working in a job you love. Just select your specialty and you could be on your way to your masters in counseling degree.

There is a wide variety of careers available to individuals with master's degrees in counseling. A holder of a masters in counseling can become a school counselor, rehabilitation counselor, career counselor, mental health counselor, substance abuse counselor, or marriage and family therapist, just to name a few of the options. Below is a list of accredited online universities offering master's degrees in counseling.

M.Ed. in School Counseling MA in Profes. Counseling MA in Pastoral Counseling	Liberty University: Liberty University's online counseling master's programs in school counseling, professional counseling, and pastoral counseling prepare students for state licensure and national certification, and ultimately for careers in mental health agencies and private practices. The program includes a focus on integrating faith with the career of counseling, as well as standard coursework in counseling theories and skills, legal issues, human development, and research methodology.
MS in Mental Health Cnsling MS in Forensic Counseling	Walden University: Walden University is one of only a few online colleges to offer a CACREP accredited MS degree in Mental Health Counseling and an MS in Forensic Counseling. The degrees are designed to allow students to use their knowledge immediately as professionals, even incorporating interactive simulations of real-world situations into the training and coursework.
MS in Counseling Studies MS in Addiction Counseling MS in Career Counseling MS in Mental Health Cnsling More Degrees...	Capella University: Capella University's online counseling programs in school counseling, career counseling, marriage and family therapy, mental health counseling, counseling studies, and psychology all offer well-rounded curriculums that include online coursework, residencies and field experiences to prepare students to be eligible for state licensure. Theory and practice come together in this program to ensure graduates will be able to assess and treat mental and emotional health issues.
MS in Family Therapy MS in Mental Health Cnsling MS in Rehab Counseling MS in School Counseling	University of Massachusetts: The University of Massachusetts offers MS degrees in family therapy, school counseling, mental health counseling, and rehabilitation counseling, in addition to specialized certificates in Autism and addiction treatment. The 60 unit degree programs meet the academic requirements for licensure in Massachusetts. Some clinical courses must be taken on campus and take place for two weeks during summers.
MS in Clinical Counseling	Bellevue University: Bellevue University offers a 60-credit clinical counseling master's program preparing students to get a provisional LMHP or equivalent licensure in other states. Graduates will have the opportunity to be supervised while treating major mental disorders. Applicants must have 6 credits in behavioral sciences and 3 credits in statistics to apply.
MS in Professional Counseling MS in Addiction Counseling	Grand Canyon University: Graduates from the Grand Canyon University MS in Professional Counseling and MS in Addiction Counseling programs will meet the requirements for licensure in Arizona, and if they do not live in Arizona, will be prepared to begin the process of certification in their own states. Students should check the requirements in their home states and make sure this program meets them.
MS in Rehab Counseling	Thomas University: Thomas University's MS in rehabilitation counseling program prepares students for the Licensed Associate Professional Counselor credential, and can be done completely online with no residency requirements. With a Masters degree in Rehabilitation, graduates can work in careers from vocational evaluation to independent living program coordination to marriage counseling among others.
MA in Psychology - Career Counseling	University of the Rockies: The MA in Psychology with specialization in Career Management and Counseling is a unique program in which students learn how psychological research influences job seeking and deciding on a career. Coursework allows students to assess the performances of job candidates, and use group dynamics to build effective teams of empowered professionals.
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