Mid-level Mental Health Counselor salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 24 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level II in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Evanston, Dekalb, Naperville, Forest Park, Wheaton.
Also listed as: Therapist
Median salary$59,500
Middle 50%$57.8k–$65.4k
vs. all levels here−5%comparison median $62,727
Filings24FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years
Salary range
All levels here
$40k$50k$60k$70k$80k$90k
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $56,541 |
| 25th | $57,803 |
| 50th (median) | $59,500 |
| 75th | $65,423 |
| 90th | $75,979 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | – | – | – | 3 |
| FY2021 | – | – | – | 4 |
| FY2022 | – | – | – | 7 |
| FY2023 | – | – | – | 7 |
| FY2024 | $52,000 | $50,283 | $58,969 | 11 |
| FY2025 | $61,524 | $57,000 | $66,679 | 10 |
| FY2026 | $58,120 | $57,852 | $60,587 | 14 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median mid-level Mental Health Counselor salary of $59,500 is worth about $57,400 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Chicago = 103.6).
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Aria Counseling PLLC | too few | 2 |
| Chicago Compass Counseling | too few | 2 |
| Kellie Rinehart Rice LCPC | too few | 2 |
| Sinai Health System | too few | 2 |
| The Thresholds | too few | 2 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $51,363 | 12 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $59,500 | 24 |
| Senior · Level III | too few | 3 |
| Expert · Level IV | $94,500 | 12 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $42,536 | $51,363 | 12 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $57,803 | $59,500 | 24 |
| Expert · Level IV | $75,400 | $94,500 | 12 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.