Mental health therapist salary in Iowa
Open mental health therapist jobs in Iowa post a median of $21.50 an hour, the middle half $21.25–$56.50 (about $44,700 a year full time), $14.20 below the national posted median. From 12 jobs at 3 employers that state their pay.
- 25th percentile$21.25/hr
- Median (50th)$21.50/hr
- 75th percentile$56.50/hr
- Distinct posted rates12
- Jobs stating an hourly rate12
- Employers3
The median is the middle of the 12 distinct rates they post, and the middle half, $21.25–$56.50 an hour, runs from their 25th percentile to their 75th: half of the rates fall between them. Each range counts at its midpoint, and a job posted many times at one rate counts once, so no employer's posting volume sets the figure.
- 25th percentile$21.25/hr
- Median (50th)$21.50/hr
- 75th percentile$56.50/hr
- Distinct posted rates12
- Jobs stating an hourly rate12
- Employers3
The median is the middle of the 12 distinct rates they post, and the middle half, $21.25–$56.50 an hour, runs from their 25th percentile to their 75th: half of the rates fall between them. Each range counts at its midpoint, and a job posted many times at one rate counts once, so no employer's posting volume sets the figure.
- Median posted per hour$21.50
- Hours in a full-time year2,080
- A year, full time$44,700
40 hours a week for 52 weeks, to the nearest $100. An estimate from the hourly rate: no job states it.
- 10th percentile$21.37/hr
- 25th percentile$23.28/hr
- Median$29.27/hr
- 75th percentile$37.13/hr
- 90th percentile$49.47/hr
- People employed in it3,530
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors (SOC 21-1018), all industries, Iowa: the hourly wages BLS measured people employed in it earn, not read from open jobs. Measured and published by BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (source: BLS OEWS May 2025, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors, Iowa).
The jobs themselves: Mental health therapist jobs in Iowa · Mental health therapist pay nationwide
What mental health therapists are paid in Iowa
Each bar counts the open jobs posting an hourly rate in its step of pay (a range at its midpoint).
Median $21.50 an hour. Middle half $21.25 to $56.50. Point at a bar for its count. Tap a bar for its count.
Posted on open jobs in Iowa
Middle half of 12 distinct posted rates (a job posted many times at one rate counted once), median $21.50. 13% of the 90 open mental health therapist jobs in Iowa state an hourly rate.
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Mental health therapist pay by town in Iowa
Towns where at least three open jobs state an hourly rate, the towns with the most such jobs first.
| Town | Median posted | Posted range | Jobs (employers) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indianola | $21.50 | $20.50–$21.50 | 3 (1) |
| Marshalltown | $20.50 | $20.50–$21.50 | 3 (1) |
Median of employers' rates in the town, the lowest and highest rate posted, and the jobs and employers behind them. A town opens its own job page.
Mental health therapist pay by employer in Iowa
What each employer posts for mental health therapists here, the employers with the most jobs stating pay first.
| Employer | Median posted | Posted range | Jobs stating pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevate CCBHC | $21.50 | $20.50–$21.50 | 7 |
| BetterHelp | $56.50 | $43–$70 | 4 |
| Seasons Center for Behavioral Health | $24 | $22–$26 | 1 |
Median of each employer's jobs in Iowa (a range at its midpoint), and its lowest and highest rate here. An employer's name opens its pay for mental health therapists nationwide when it has such a page.
Jobs that state a yearly salary
Measured on their own, never converted to hourly.
20 open jobs in Iowa state a yearly salary: a median of $70,300, the middle half $54,100 to $82,500.
Best-paid open mental health therapist jobs in Iowa
The open jobs posting the highest hourly rates tonight, at most two from one employer.
$43–$70/hr- $43–$70/hr
$22.00–$26.00/hr- $21.50/hr
- $21.50/hr
What BLS measures in Iowa
What people employed in the occupation earned in the state, at every level of experience, from the BLS survey. A posting advertises what a new hire is offered.
| BLS occupation | 10th pct | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | 90th pct | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors (21-1018) | $21.37 (source: BLS OEWS, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors) | $23.28 (source: BLS OEWS, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors) | $29.27 (source: BLS OEWS, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors) | $37.13 (source: BLS OEWS, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors) | $49.47 (source: BLS OEWS, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors) | 3,530 (source: BLS OEWS, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors) |
BLS median by metro area
- Omaha, NE-IA$29.16/hr (source: BLS OEWS, Omaha, NE-IA)
- Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA$29.48/hr (source: BLS OEWS, Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA)
- Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL$29.05/hr (source: BLS OEWS, Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL)
- Cedar Rapids, IA$28.84/hr (source: BLS OEWS, Cedar Rapids, IA)
- Iowa City, IA$32.12/hr (source: BLS OEWS, Iowa City, IA)
- Sioux City, IA-NE-SD$28.96/hr (source: BLS OEWS, Sioux City, IA-NE-SD)
- Ames, IA$33.53/hr (source: BLS OEWS, Ames, IA)
- Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA$30.40/hr (source: BLS OEWS, Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA)
Mental health therapist salary in Iowa: common questions
How much does a mental health therapist make in Iowa?
Open mental health therapist jobs in Iowa that state an hourly rate post a median of $21.50, the middle half $21.25–$56.50 (12 jobs from 3 employers). Full time that is about $44,700 a year. BLS measured a median of $29.27/hr ($60,880 a year) for people employed in the occupation in Iowa (May 2025).
Where in Iowa do mental health therapists earn the most?
By the median rate open jobs post, in the towns with the most jobs stating pay: Indianola ($21.50) and Marshalltown ($20.50). The town table lists 2.
Which employers in Iowa pay mental health therapists the most?
Among employers stating a rate on at least three open jobs here: BetterHelp ($56.50) and Elevate CCBHC ($21.50).
How does Iowa compare with the rest of the country?
The posted median in Iowa ($21.50) is $14.20 below the national posted median of $35.70. In the BLS survey Iowa ranks 19 of 52 by median wage.
Where do these figures come from?
From the pay open jobs state, read every night from each employer's own job board: 12 of 90 open mental health therapist jobs in Iowa (13%) state an hourly rate. No pay is estimated for a job that states none; "up to" ceilings and weekly travel rates are left out.
Mental health therapist pay in other states
- West Virginia
- Tennessee
- District of Columbia
- Nevada
- New Mexico
- Texas
- Idaho
- Alaska
- Montana
- Oregon
- Nebraska
- Virginia
- Utah
- New Jersey
- Florida
- Maryland
- California
- Louisiana
- Minnesota
- Washington
- North Carolina
- Georgia
- Wisconsin
- Arizona
- New Hampshire
- Ohio
- Kansas
- South Dakota
- North Dakota
- Colorado
- Michigan
- Maine
- Vermont
- Illinois
- Pennsylvania
- New York
- Massachusetts
- Connecticut
Sources and method
- CareJobs.Now job board: the pay open jobs state, read every night from each employer's own careers site, published 5 Nov 2026
- BLS OEWS May 2025: Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors (SOC 21-1018), every state, published 15 May 2026
- BLS OEWS May 2025: Marriage and Family Therapists (SOC 21-1013), every state, published 15 May 2026
- BLS OEWS May 2025: Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers (SOC 21-1023), every state, published 15 May 2026
- BLS OEWS May 2025: Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors, national, published 15 May 2026
- BLS OEWS May 2025: Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors by metropolitan area, published 15 May 2026
Cite this page
CareJobs.Now. (2026). Mental health therapist salary in Iowa. Data as of 5 Nov 2026. https://carejobs.now/salaries/mental-health-therapist/iowa