How much do counsellors earn in Australia? [2026 salary guide]

If you’re considering a career in counselling, one of the first questions on your mind is probably: how much do counsellors actually earn in Australia?

It’s a fair question, and it deserves a straightforward answer. Counselling is a deeply rewarding profession, but it’s also a career you’ll be investing time and study into, so understanding the financial reality matters.

The good news is that counsellor salaries in Australia are competitive, growing, and offer plenty of room to increase your earnings as you gain experience and specialise. In this guide, we’ll break down counsellor salary data by experience level, specialisation, state, and work setting so you can make an informed decision about your future.

What is the average counsellor salary in Australia in 2026?

The average counsellor salary in Australia in 2026 sits between AU$78,000 and AU$96,000 per year, depending on your experience, specialisation, location, and work setting.

To put that in context, the Australian Bureau of Statistics reports the national average full-time wage at approximately AU$98,000 (May 2025 data). A mid-career counsellor earning AU$85,000 is close to the national average, and experienced counsellors or those in private practice can comfortably exceed it.

It’s worth noting that counselling salaries have been trending upward over recent years. Growing demand for mental health services, NDIS expansion, and workforce shortages across the sector are all contributing to stronger earning potential for qualified counsellors.

Counsellor salary at a glance (2026)

• Average range: AU$78,000-$96,000/year
• Entry level: AU$55,000-$68,000/year
• Experienced: AU$85,000-$100,000/year
• Private practice: AU$80,000-$130,000+/year
• Hourly rate (employed): AU$38-$52/hour
• Session rate (private practice): AU$120-$200/session

Sources: Seek.com.au, ABS, Jobs & Skills Australia, 2025-2026

Counsellor salary by experience level

Your experience is one of the biggest factors in determining your counsellor salary. Entry-level salaries are modest but grow quickly as you build your skills, professional reputation, and client base.

Source: Seek.com.au salary data, ABS Labour Force surveys, 2025-2026

A few things to keep in mind about these figures:

• Entry-level salaries grow quickly. Most counsellors move from entry level to mid-career rates within two to three years, especially if they specialise or gain registration with the Australian Counselling Association (ACA).
• Private practice has the highest ceiling, but it takes time to build. An established counsellor in private practice might charge AU$150-$200 per session. With 20-25 client sessions per week, that translates to strong earnings, but it typically takes three to five years of experience before most counsellors are ready to go out on their own.
• Hourly rates for employed counsellors generally range from AU$38 to AU$52 per hour, depending on the employer and your qualifications.

The important takeaway is that counselling is not a career where you plateau early. Your earning potential continues to grow with every year of experience, every new specialisation, and every professional development opportunity you pursue.

Counsellor salary by specialisation

The type of counselling you practise has a significant impact on your salary. Some specialisations attract higher pay due to demand, complexity, or the additional qualifications involved.

Source: Seek.com.au, PayScale Australia, ACA member data, 2025-2026

Which specialisations can you access with a Diploma?

With a Diploma of Counselling, you can work as a mental health counsellor, drug and alcohol counsellor, youth counsellor, rehabilitation counsellor, family counsellor, grief counsellor, or career counsellor. These roles are accessible through ACA Level 2 registration.

School counsellor roles typically require additional qualifications (often a bachelor’s degree in education or psychology), and financial counselling may require specific accreditation through the Financial Counselling Association.

If you’re curious about which direction suits you best, our guide to counselling specialisations explores each pathway in detail, including the day-to-day work and qualification requirements.

Interested in one of these specialisations? It all starts with a nationally recognised qualification. Explore Hader’s CHC51015 Diploma of Counselling – study 100% online, at your own pace, and job ready assistance.

Counsellor salary by state and territory

Where you work in Australia affects your counsellor salary, though the differences are often smaller than people expect. Higher salaries in capital cities tend to be offset by higher living costs.

Source: Seek.com.au regional salary data, ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey, 2025-2026

A few patterns worth noting:

• ACT and NSW tend to offer the highest salaries, driven by a concentration of government-funded roles and higher cost of living.
• Northern Territory salaries are strong relative to population size, reflecting workforce shortages in remote and regional areas. Some NT positions include additional allowances for remote service.
• Tasmania and South Australia sit lower on the scale, but the cost of living in these states is also significantly lower. Your purchasing power may be comparable to a higher salary in Sydney or Melbourne.
• Telehealth has changed the equation. If you’re based regionally, online counselling allows you to work with clients across the country, potentially accessing metro-level session rates regardless of where you live. This is a genuine game-changer for counsellors outside major cities.

Counsellor salary by work setting

Your work setting is arguably the most controllable factor in your earning potential. Each setting comes with different salary ranges, benefits, and trade-offs.

Source: Seek.com.au, PayScale Australia, ACA industry data, 2025-2026

Understanding the trade-offs

Not every setting is right for every counsellor, and higher pay doesn’t always mean a better fit:

• Private practice offers the highest earning ceiling, but income is variable. You’re responsible for finding clients, managing your business, paying for room hire or an online platform, and covering your own superannuation and leave. Most counsellors build toward private practice after gaining experience in employed roles.
• Hospital and government roles offer stability, structured hours, superannuation, paid leave, and professional development support. The salary may be lower than private practice at its peak, but the total employment package is often more valuable than it first appears.
• Community organisations and NGOs tend to pay less, but the work is deeply meaningful and the roles often come with excellent supervision, training opportunities, and a supportive team environment. Many counsellors start here to build experience.
• EAP work offers a good balance of steady referrals and competitive pay, though the sessions are typically short-term (three to six sessions per client).

Many experienced counsellors combine settings – for example, working three days in a community organisation and running a private practice two days a week. This can give you the best of both worlds: stable income plus higher-earning potential.

How to maximise your counsellor salary

Your earning potential isn’t fixed. There are practical steps you can take to increase your counsellor salary over time.

1. Gain a specialisation. Counsellors who specialise in high-demand areas like mental health, family and relationship counselling, or trauma counselling tend to earn more than generalists. Specialisation also makes you more attractive to employers and clients.
2. Pursue professional registration. ACA or PACFA registration signals credibility to employers and clients alike. Registered counsellors consistently command higher salaries than unregistered practitioners. If you start with ACA Level 2 (via a Diploma), you can work toward higher registration levels as you gain experience and further qualifications.
3. Build toward private practice. If your long-term goal is to maximise income, private practice offers the highest earning ceiling. Start by building experience in employed roles, develop your niche, and grow your client base gradually. Many counsellors transition to part-time private practice before going full-time.
4. Consider telehealth. Offering online sessions broadens your potential client base beyond your geographic area. It also reduces overhead costs compared to maintaining a physical office. Telehealth has become increasingly accepted since 2020, and many clients now prefer it.
5. Continue your professional development. CPD (continuing professional development) is a requirement for maintaining your registration, but it’s also an investment in your earning power. Additional training in areas like trauma-informed practice, CBT, EMDR, or couples therapy opens doors to higher-paying roles. If you’re still deciding whether counselling is the right fit, our guide to the signs you’d make a great counsellor can help you reflect on your suitability.
6. Consider further qualifications. A Diploma of Counselling gets you into the profession, but a bachelor’s degree or postgraduate qualification can unlock senior roles, clinical positions, and PACFA registration. Many counsellors study further while working, using their experience as a foundation.

Start building your counselling career today. Study the Diploma of Counselling online with Hader Institute – nationally recognised, self-paced, with job search assistance.

Are counsellors in demand in Australia?

Yes, and demand is growing faster than the national average for all occupations. This matters for your salary because strong demand gives qualified counsellors more negotiating power and more options.

According to Jobs & Skills Australia, the counselling workforce is projected to grow by approximately 15-20% over the next five years, well above the national average growth rate. Several factors are driving this:

• Mental health awareness is at an all-time high. More Australians are seeking professional support, and the stigma around therapy continues to decline. Government campaigns, workplace mental health programs, and media attention have all contributed to increased demand.
• NDIS expansion continues to create roles. The National Disability Insurance Scheme funds counselling and mental health support for participants, and the scheme’s continued growth is generating thousands of new positions across Australia.
• Workforce shortages exist in regional and remote areas. Many communities lack adequate access to mental health professionals, and government funding is increasingly directed at addressing these gaps. This creates opportunities with competitive salaries and relocation incentives.
• Telehealth has expanded the market. Online counselling has opened up the profession to practitioners who may not have access to a traditional office, and it’s created new platforms and employment models.
• Employee Assistance Programs are expanding. More employers are investing in workplace mental health, creating steady demand for EAP counsellors.

For someone entering the profession now, the outlook is strong. There are more roles available, more diversity in work settings, and more support for professional development than at any point in the past decade.

If you’re interested in a related pathway, the Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work is another growing field within the mental health sector, particularly for people with lived experience.

Frequently asked questions

What type of counsellor gets paid the most?

Private practice counsellors with established client bases have the highest earning potential, with annual incomes of AU$100,000 to AU$130,000 or more. Among employed specialisations, school counsellors (AU$70,000-$100,000) and mental health counsellors (AU$65,000-$95,000) tend to sit at the higher end, though school counselling typically requires qualifications beyond a Diploma.

Are counsellors in demand in Australia?

Yes. Jobs & Skills Australia projects the counselling workforce to grow by 15-20% over the next five years, driven by increased mental health awareness, NDIS expansion, and workforce shortages in regional areas. This is well above the national average growth rate for all occupations.

Is $70,000 a good salary in Australia?

AU$70,000 is a solid starting salary, particularly for an entry-level role. The national median full-time wage is approximately AU$78,000, so an entry-level counsellor salary of AU$55,000-$68,000 is competitive for the first one to two years, with strong growth potential as you gain experience. Most counsellors move past AU$70,000 within three to five years.

What qualifications do you need to be a counsellor in Australia?

The minimum qualification for professional counsellor registration is a Diploma of Counselling (CHC51015), which qualifies you for ACA Level 2 membership. You don’t need a university degree. A Diploma can be completed in 12-18 months online. For a detailed breakdown, see our guide on how to become a counsellor in Australia.

How much does a private practice counsellor earn?

An established private practice counsellor in Australia typically earns between AU$80,000 and AU$130,000 or more per year. Most charge between AU$120 and AU$200 per session, and see 20-25 clients per week. However, private practice income is variable, and it usually takes three to five years of experience before most counsellors are ready to build a sustainable practice.

Do counsellors earn more than psychologists?

Generally, no. Psychologists in Australia earn a median salary of approximately AU$95,000-$120,000, and clinical psychologists can earn significantly more. However, psychologists require a minimum of six years of university study (four-year degree plus a two-year postgraduate qualification), compared to 12-18 months for a Diploma of Counselling. Counsellors can enter the workforce much sooner and begin earning earlier, and those who build a successful private practice can reach comparable income levels over time. The careers are complementary but different – counsellors and psychologists work together in many settings.

Ready to start earning as a counsellor?

The salary data is clear: counselling offers a stable, growing income with real room to increase your earnings as you gain experience and find your specialisation. But the journey starts with the right qualification.

A Diploma of Counselling is the fastest pathway into the profession. In as little as 12 months, you can qualify for ACA registration and start building a career that’s both financially sustainable and genuinely meaningful.

If you’ve been thinking about making this move, you don’t need to wait. The demand is there, the salaries are competitive, and the profession needs more qualified counsellors.

Your counselling career starts here. Explore the Diploma of Counselling at Hader Institute today.