Career Outlook
Your Future with a MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Mental Health Counselors work in a wide range of settings. You can customize your career path to focus on work with a specific population and in a preferred setting where you can have the greatest impact. Here is a sampling of settings where you may work in the future.
- Community Mental Health Centers
- Hospitals and Clinics
- Residential Treatment Centers
- Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities
- College and University Counseling Centers
- Employee Assistance Programs
- Managed Behavioral Health Care Organizations
- Government Agencies
- Elder Care Facilities
- Faith Communities
Here's a sampling of organizations where our Clinical Mental Health Health Counseling alumni can be found.
- Advocates
- Arbour Counseling
- Aspire Health Alliance
- Brockton Neighborhood Health Center
- Brookline Center for Community Mental Health
- Children’s Friends and Family Services
- Commonwealth Care Alliance
- Eliot Community Human Services
- Justice Resource Institute (JRI)
- Lighthouse School Inc
- Massachusetts Treatment Center/ Wellpath
- Mattapan Community Health Center
- NorthEast Health Services
- Pinal County Juvenile Court
- Quincy Police Department
- Riverside Community Care
- Signature Health Care (Brockton Hospital)
- South Bay Community Services
- Worcester Housing Authority
“WJC has allowed me to expand my knowledge not only in the counseling field, but in so many different aspects of life. The community William James has offered is diverse is so many ways. All classes emphasize collaboration and conversation throughout each topic studied. This allows for conversation with [students who were] prior accountants or chefs, enabling me to open my view to the many new perspectives I can use as a future counselor.”
—Sierra Dorr, Clinical Mental Health Counseling
There are many employment opportunities in the Boston area and throughout the United States for qualified counselors. Once you have completed your post-master's work experience requirements and have passed the national licensing examination (known as the NCMHE), mental health counselors can also pursue independent practice. In Massachusetts, licensed mental health counselors are known as LMHCs.
Salary Guide
According to Salary.com, there is a range of salaries, which vary by industry and occupation. Here is a sampling below. We encourage you to do your own research on Salary.com or the Bureau of Labor Statistics to explore salary expectations for your geographical region and industy.
| Job Title | National Salary Range |
| Mental Health Clinician | $53,880-$80,232 |
| Substance Abuse Counselor | $42,998-$68,426 |
| Employee Assistance Program Counselor | $60,764-$90,949 |
| School Adjustment Counselor | $40,818-$70,841 |
The need for master's level mental health counselors is now greater than ever. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports on national employment growth for these professions.
| Job Outlook: Percent (%) Change in Employment for 2020-2030 | ||
| Mental Health Counselor | Up 23% |  |
| Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselor | Up 23% | |
| US News and World Report: Best Social Service Jobs in 2022 | ||
| Mental Health Counselor | No. 15 |  |
| Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselor | No. 3 | |
Are you ready to pursue your career as a clinical mental health counselor?
Connect with us at info@williamjames.edu to learn more.
Career Services at William James College
We offer career services through our Dean of Students Office including individual career guidance and employment counseling, workshops, events, and resources to students and alumni across all disciplines.
Read more about our services