The field of mental health is diverse, with career opportunities existing in a number of different roles and sectors. Social workers, counselors and psychologists are among the most common career paths in this field. While their responsibilities sometimes overlap, each of these mental health careers involves varying levels of formal education, types of specialty training, field placements and certifications.
For those interested in the mental health field, there are several critical questions to consider when deciding which career path to take. What are the key differences in responsibilities and expectations between social workers, counselors and psychologists? What type of education and training are required for each of these careers? Which careers present the most promising salary potential and job outlook?
Regardless of which path they take, an advanced education can help aspiring mental health professionals prepare for the career of their choosing.
3 Mental Health Careers: Social Worker vs. Counselor vs. Psychologist
Mental health issues present significant challenges to millions of Americans. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 1 out of every 5 people in the U.S. experiences a mental illness each year. Educating and training qualified professionals to meet the demand for mental health care has never been more important. The best way to decide on a career path is to learn about what differentiates the roles.
1. What Is a Social Worker?
A career in social work is perhaps the broadest of these three mental health careers. Social workers can pursue jobs in clinical settings, government organizations, education, prisons, social services administration, public policy, research and ethics. Social workers often focus on finding solutions to systemic problems, as well as helping smaller communities that are affected by those problems. Licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs) with a Master of Social Work (MSW) can also offer counseling and therapy.
Social work master’s programs typically focus on preparing students for a leadership role in the care of and advocacy for their clients, which can include individuals and entire communities. They’re also prepared to perform clinical assessments, engage in client advocacy, provide education and manage complex caseloads.
For those who hope to enact wide, sweeping, systemic changes to longstanding institutions and appreciate the ability to work on an individual level, social work offers students the opportunity to do so.
Social Worker Salary
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), social workers had a median annual salary of $50,390 in 2021. Currently, social workers are in high demand, and the number of positions for social workers is expected to grow at a rapid pace. The BLS projects that employment of social workers will grow by 9% between 2021 and 2031, creating approximately 64,000 new jobs.
2. What Is a Counselor?
Counselors are often viewed as the first responders for those in need of emotional and psychological support. They work in schools, hospitals, mental health facilities, private practices, the armed forces and a variety of other areas. Their client base is also incredibly diverse, making it easy for counseling students to choose a demographic they’d like to work with.
By earning a Master of Arts in Counseling, students can prepare themselves for a number of mental health careers, including school counseling, marriage and family therapy, rehabilitation counseling, vocational or career counseling, clinical mental health counseling, and substance abuse counseling.
For those certain that counseling is a field that they’re interested in, an advanced degree in counseling provides the opportunity to study counseling theories and techniques, psychological testing, counseling ethics, research, diverse cultural perspectives, and psychological development.
After earning a degree, students are able to complete the licensing necessary to start their careers. The type of licensing and the requirements they need to meet to earn it vary by state and may also be dependent on the type of counseling they plan to practice.
Counselor Salary
Salaries for counselors can vary greatly according to specialty. For example, school and career counselors and advisers earned a median annual salary of $60,510 in 2021, the BLS reports. Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors, meanwhile, made $48,520.
Similar to social worker jobs, the number of positions for counselors is projected to grow at a faster-than-average rate. The BLS reports that employment of school and career counselors will grow by 10% between 2021 and 2031, while jobs for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors will grow at a rate of 22% — leading to more than 100,000 new jobs between both sectors.
3. What Is a Psychologist?
While counselors and psychologists each help people resolve their problems and improve their mental health, the professions differ in their typical work duties and the education required for each. Of the mental health careers in consideration, psychologists have the longest educational path.
Psychologists have extensive training in psychological theory, meaning they are well equipped to assist families and individuals by observing and assessing their behavior and applying interventions that they feel will best help their clients. Typically, psychologists also have a more extensive research-based background. Unlike other mental health professionals, psychologists can also use their theory-based background to help businesses improve employee morale, or help advertisers increase their sales to certain demographics.
Psychologists typically need to hold a doctoral degree to qualify for many positions, though a master’s is sometimes sufficient. Psychologists must also be licensed in the state where they practice.
Psychologist Salary
When comparing social workers, counselors and psychologists, psychologists have the highest earnings on average. According to the BLS, psychologists had a median annual salary of $81,040 in 2021. However, psychologists are projected to have the least rapid job growth of the three mental health careers. The BLS predicts that employment of psychologists will grow by 6% between 2021 and 2031, which is about as fast as the average growth rate projected for all occupations.
Begin Your Mental Health Career with a Master’s in Counseling
When considering a career in mental health, it can be difficult to determine which field you might want to pursue, as there is some overlap in each of these fields. Day-to-day responsibilities and educational requirements do vary considerably however, which may help to push you in one direction or the other.
Wake Forest University’s online Master of Arts in Counseling program can prepare you for a rewarding career in counseling. To help you diversify your career options, we offer two distinct degree paths — one focused on clinical mental health and another focused on school counseling.
Learn more about each program so that you can make an informed decision about which mental health career path you’d like to pursue.
Recommended Readings
The Role of the Substance Abuse Counselor in Addiction Recovery
What Is a School Counselor? How to Help Students Thrive
Sources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, About Mental Health
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Psychologists
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, School and Career Counselors and Advisors
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Social Workers
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors