Career comparison
Social worker vs. Mental health counselor
Social workers and mental health counselors earn about the same: medians of $59,550 and $59,350.
Mental health counselors have the stronger outlook: +18% projected growth through 2035, vs. +4%.
Getting in is faster for social workers: about 2 years vs. 4.5 years for someone with a bachelor's in another field.
At a glance
| Social worker | Mental health counselor | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $59,550 | $59,350 |
| Top 10% earn over | $95,530 | $97,590 |
| Growth to 2035 | +4% | +18% |
| Openings per year | 33,900 | 50,500 |
| Jobs today | 405,100 | 533,400 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Master's degree |
| Time to qualify* | 2 years | 4.5 years |
| Training cost* | $30K–$90K | $31K–$95K |
* Starting from a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025. Outlook: BLS Employment Projections 2025–35.
Pay
Social worker
Mental health counselor
Switching from one to the other
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Getting in
Social worker
- Entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- On-the-job training
- None
- Prior experience
- None
Required: ASWB exam · State social work license
Mental health counselor
- Entry education
- Master's degree
- On-the-job training
- Internship/residency
- Prior experience
- None
Required: NCE or NCMHCE exam · 2–3 years supervised practice · State LPC/LMHC license
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Exposure to disease
Social worker: 43% usually work over 40 hours a weekMental health counselor: 25% usually work over 40 hours a week
Social worker: core tasks
- Maintain case history records and prepare reports.
- Interview clients individually, in families, or in groups, assessing their situations, capabilities, and problems to determine what services are required to meet their needs.
- Serve as liaisons between students, homes, schools, family services, child guidance clinics, courts, protective services, doctors, and other contacts to help children who face problems, such as disabilities, abuse, or poverty.
- Develop and review service plans in consultation with clients and perform follow-ups assessing the quantity and quality of services provided.
- Address legal issues, such as child abuse and discipline, assisting with hearings and providing testimony to inform custody arrangements.
Mental health counselor: core tasks
- Counsel clients or patients, individually or in group sessions, to assist in overcoming dependencies, adjusting to life, or making changes.
- Attend training sessions to increase knowledge and skills.
- Develop client treatment plans based on research, clinical experience, and client histories.
- Complete and maintain accurate records or reports regarding the patients' histories and progress, services provided, or other required information.
- Review and evaluate clients' progress in relation to measurable goals described in treatment and care plans.
Skills: what carries over
Both rely on: Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Social Perceptiveness, Reading Comprehension, Service Orientation.
New for a social worker moving to mental health counselor: Active Learning.
New for a mental health counselor moving to social worker: Complex Problem Solving.
Interests (Holland codes): Social worker: Social, Conventional, Investigative. Mental health counselor: Social, Investigative, Conventional.
Outlook to 2035, and AI
Social worker
+4%
about as fast as average · 33,900 openings a year
BLS lists no specific factors, including AI, changing demand for this job.
Mental health counselor
+18%
much faster than average · 50,500 openings a year
BLS lists no specific factors, including AI, changing demand for this job.
Quoted notes: BLS Employment Projections, factors affecting occupational utilization (Table 1.12). Average growth across all jobs: +3.5%.
Questions people ask
Who makes more, a social worker or a mental health counselor?
Social workers and mental health counselors earn about the same: medians of $59,550 and $59,350.
Which has the better job outlook?
Mental health counselors have the stronger outlook: +18% projected growth through 2035, vs. +4%.
How long does it take to become a mental health counselor?
For someone with a bachelor's degree in another field, about 4.5 years, with tuition of roughly $31,000 to $95,000. Required: NCE or NCMHCE exam, 2–3 years supervised practice, State LPC/LMHC license.
How long does it take to become a social worker?
For someone with a bachelor's degree in another field, about 2 years, with tuition of roughly $30,000 to $90,000. Required: ASWB exam, State social work license.