Occupations · Community and Social Service

Mental Health Counselors

Counsel and advise individuals and groups to promote optimum mental and emotional health, with an emphasis on prevention. May help individuals deal with a broad range of mental health issues, such as those associated with addictions and substance abuse; family, parenting, and marital problems; stress management; self-esteem; or aging.

O*NET 30.3 Database (USDOL/ETA) · occupation code 21-1014.00

Pay over time

Median up 37% between 2003 and 2016, before inflation. The band shows the 10th to 90th percentile.

BLS OEWS, one release per year. Before May 2011 only national estimates were published, so geography detail starts there.

What people in this job actually do

Ordered by how important the work is rated.

Maintain confidentiality of records relating to clients' treatment.
Encourage clients to express their feelings and discuss what is happening in their lives, helping them to develop insight into themselves or their relationships.
Counsel clients or patients, individually or in group sessions, to assist in overcoming dependencies, adjusting to life, or making changes.
Assess patients for risk of suicide attempts.
Fill out and maintain client-related paperwork, including federal- and state-mandated forms, client diagnostic records, and progress notes.
Perform crisis interventions to help ensure the safety of the patients and others.
Guide clients in the development of skills or strategies for dealing with their problems.
Perform crisis interventions with clients.
Prepare and maintain all required treatment records and reports.
Develop and implement treatment plans based on clinical experience and knowledge.
Collect information about clients through interviews, observation, or tests.
Modify treatment activities or approaches as needed to comply with changes in clients' status.

O*NET 30.3 task ratings, importance scale

Skills that matter most

Importance, rated 1 to 5.

Active Listening5.0

Speaking4.2

Reading Comprehension4.1

Writing4.1

Critical Thinking4.0

Monitoring3.8

Active Learning3.8

Learning Strategies3.1

Science2.8

Mathematics2.0

O*NET 30.3 skills, importance scale

Software and tools

A dot marks what O*NET flags as in demand.

Microsoft Access●Microsoft Excel●Microsoft Office software●Microsoft Outlook●Microsoft PowerPoint●Microsoft Word●Oracle PeopleSoft●Client information database systemsDatabase softwareEmail softwareGoogle ClassroomManagement information systems MISMicrosoft DynamicsMicrosoft Internet ExplorerNetscape NavigatorPatient electronic medical record EMR softwareScheduling softwareStatistical softwareTest interpretation softwareWeb browser software

O*NET 30.3 software skills · hot-technology flag

What this work is actually like

Conditions rated against the average across all occupations — only what makes this job different is listed.

5 / 5Extensive preparation — graduate school, and often a licence on top.

O*NET 30.3 Job Zones

Working conditions that stand out

Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets−2.0 below average

Spend Time Sitting+1.7 above average

Exposed to Contaminants−1.6 below average

Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls−1.5 below average

Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures−1.2 below average

Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions−1.2 below average

Spend Time Standing−1.2 below average

O*NET 30.3 work context, frequency scale · observed 2025-08

How people actually get in

Share of workers by the education they hold.

Master's Degree89%

Post-Master's Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Master's degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees at the doctoral level.7%

First Professional Degree - awarded for completion of a program that: requires at least 2 years of college work before entrance into the program, includes a total of at least 6 academic years of work to complete, and provides all remaining academic requirements to begin practice in a profession.4%

O*NET 30.2 education, training and experience · observed 2025-08

What kind of person the work suits

Occupational interest profile, rated 1 to 7.

Social6.8

Investigative4.4

Conventional3.4

O*NET 30.2 occupational interests (RIASEC)

Tasks O*NET flags as emerging

Guide clients in the development of skills or strategies for dealing with their problems and coping with triggering factors.
Respond to client communications by monitoring voicemail and email, returning phone calls, and making follow-up calls for missed appointments.

O*NET 30.3 emerging tasks

What you take with you

Skills rated for how well they transfer into other occupations.

Social Perceptiveness5.0

Judgment and Decision Making4.0

Service Orientation3.9

Complex Problem Solving3.8

Persuasion3.6

Coordination3.0

Time Management3.0

Systems Analysis3.0

O*NET 30.3 transferable skills, importance scale

Knowledge the work draws on

Therapy and CounselingPsychologyCustomer and Personal ServiceEnglish LanguageSociology and AnthropologyEducation and Training

Abilities it leans on

Oral ComprehensionOral ExpressionProblem SensitivitySpeech ClarityDeductive ReasoningInductive Reasoning

O*NET 30.3 abilities and knowledge, importance scale

How this job is advertised

The same work is posted under many titles — this is what to search for.

ClinicianCounselorCase ManagerGroup CounselorGrief CounselorElder CounselorBehavior AnalystLicensed TherapistLicensed CounselorClinical CounselorGroup Home CounselorTelehealth TherapistDirect Care CounselorBereavement Counselor

O*NET 30.3 job titles reported for this occupation

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What changed since 2015

Comparing O*NET release 20.1 (2015-10-01) with 30.3 (2026-05-01). Signs, not colour alone, carry the meaning. 1 entries that were only relabelled between releases are left out.

Now listed 4

+Oracle PeopleSoft+Google Classroom+Microsoft Dynamics+Microsoft PowerPoint

No longer listed 3

−Word processing software−Office suite software−Spreadsheet software

Diff across the O*NET releases held here in full since October 2015, following occupations through merges and retirements. O*NET re-surveys occupations on a rolling cycle, so “no change” can also mean “not re-surveyed”.

O*NET 30.3 related occupations

Also called

CounselorClinicianTherapistCase ManagerGroup CounselorGrief CounselorElder CounselorBehavior AnalystLicensed CounselorClinical CounselorLicensed TherapistGroup Home Counselor

O*NET 30.3 alternative titles

The same work in Europe

ESCO occupation	ISCO	Match
mental health social worker	2635.3.17	exact
clinical social worker	2635.3.3	close
social counsellor	2635.1	close
drug and alcohol addiction counsellor	2635.1.2	broader
substance misuse worker	2635.3.24	broader
marriage counsellor	2635.1.4	broader

Official ESCO ↔ O*NET crosswalk (ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA)

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