Mental Health Services
Quick Facts: Mental Health Services Training
Where it's offered
Mental Health Services programs are offered at 61 schools across 22 states. Most students attend a school within driving distance of home — use the state picker below to see programs near you.
Earnings expectations
Graduates earn approximately $36,448/year on average one year after completion, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard. Pay scales with experience, certifications, and regional cost-of-living.
Apprenticeship pathways
The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes 5 registered apprenticeship pathways related to Mental Health Services — earn-while-you-learn alternatives to traditional schooling. See apprenticeship.gov for the federal registry.
Program quality benchmark
Across the 61 schools we analyze, the average TradeSchoolOutlook Score is 50/100. Higher-scoring programs combine strong graduate earnings, manageable cost, and strong job-market demand — see the leaderboard further down for the highest-rated options.
What Mental Health Services Graduates Do
Your career in this field is about direct human impact. As a psychiatric technician, one of the fastest-growing roles, you’ll work in hospitals or residential centers, monitoring patients, assisting with daily activities, and de-escalating crises. Or you might become a social worker, meeting with families in their homes or schools to connect them with vital services like housing or food assistance, or working in a hospital to help patients navigate complex healthcare decisions. Your initial roles may involve assisting senior staff, with earnings starting in the $40,000s.
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With experience and licensure, you can advance to manage your own caseload as a licensed social worker, earning closer to $60,000-$70,000. Demand is high across the board, with tens of thousands of new openings each year. For top earners, paths can lead to supervisory roles or teaching health specialties at the postsecondary level, where median salaries exceed $100,000. While AI tools may assist with administrative tasks like organizing case files or researching resources, the core of your job—building trust and providing empathetic, in-person support—remains a uniquely human skill, ensuring your expertise stays in demand.
Students considering Mental Health Services also weigh Public Health, Bioethics, and Dental Assisting — see each trade's earnings and school count side by side.
Registered Apprenticeship Pathways
The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes 5 registered apprenticeship occupations related to Mental Health Services. Apprenticeships let you earn while you learn — most have zero tuition costs and pay wages from day one.
| Apprenticeship | Training Hours | Type | Salary RangeSalary | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Behavioral Health Aide (Existing Title: Counselor)
RAPIDS 0569CB |
Competency | Competency | $37K – $42,590 – $49K | 20.0% |
|
Certified Drug And Alcohol Counselor
RAPIDS 2068 |
3100 hrs
~1.6 yrs |
Time | — | — |
|
Community Health Worker
RAPIDS 2002CB |
Competency | Competency | $50K – $63,000 – $84K | 4.5% |
|
Community Health Worker
RAPIDS 2002HY |
2000-2200 hrs | Hybrid | $50K – $63,000 – $84K | 4.5% |
|
Wellness Coach
RAPIDS 2016HY |
2000 hrs
~1.0 yrs |
Hybrid | $44K – $51,030 – $63K | 11.3% |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Database (RAPIDS). Wages and job growth from Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 projections.
Find Mental Health Services Programs in Your State
Trade and community college programs are local decisions — most students pick a school within driving distance. Mental Health Services is offered at 61 schools across 22 states. Pick your state to see a local comparison (states with fewer programs link to the state hub).
Top Mental Health Services Programs Nationally
For context, here are the highest-scoring Mental Health Services programs in the country. Most students attend a school within 60 miles of home, so your state list above is usually more actionable — but these are the benchmarks others compete against.
Top 20 of 61 schools ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. Click any row for full earnings projections and career analysis.
Highest Earning Mental Health Services Programs
Schools where Mental Health Services graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.
| School | 1-Year Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Coalinga College | $72,116/yr | 85 |
| Coalinga College | $71,517/yr | 85 |
| Lemoore College | $71,182/yr | 85 |
| Lemoore College | $69,125/yr | 85 |
| Mt San Antonio College | $59,278/yr | 83 |
| Pueblo Community College | $59,198/yr | 80 |
| Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts | $53,451/yr | 64 |
| Minneapolis Community and Technical College | $49,629/yr | 75 |
| Spokane Falls Community College | $45,849/yr | 69 |
| Fox Valley Technical College | $43,548/yr | 67 |
Best ROI for Mental Health Services
Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Mental Health Services.
| School | ROI Multiple | Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mt San Antonio College | 548.1x | $59,278/yr | 83 |
| Coalinga College | 510.1x | $71,517/yr | 85 |
| Lemoore College | 498.5x | $69,125/yr | 85 |
| Coalinga College | 259.5x | $72,116/yr | 85 |
| Lemoore College | 256.2x | $71,182/yr | 85 |
| Forsyth Technical Community College | 127.7x | $31,072/yr | 69 |
| Pueblo Community College | 120.2x | $59,198/yr | 80 |
| Minneapolis Community and Technical College | 89.3x | $49,629/yr | 75 |
| Paul D Camp Community College | 80.5x | $24,556/yr | 60 |
| Central Virginia Community College | 80.3x | $32,649/yr | 66 |
Related Majors
Explore similar fields of study.
Considering a 4-Year Degree?
Compare the trade route with a bachelor's degree. See how Mental Health Services degree programs stack up on earnings and ROI.