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So, I've been working in the mental health field for a long while now and plan to stay in it or at minimum a related field. However, the pay is pretty bad. I really don't want to go for an master's of social work. Some people with that degree make around $40,000/yr (if they can even get jobs). I make more than that now (even though I kind of have to kill myself for it by working 2 jobs).
What I'm looking for pretty much is a 40 hr per week job that pays around $80,000-$100,000 and is in a field related to mental health. I know it's possible. For example I know you can get that by working in surgical pathology, which isn't exactly related to mental health directly, but is in the medical field. And you don't need an MD to do it.
So, if anyone has any ideas I'd love to hear them Thanks in advance!
Look into a masters in health information or health informatics. It's a growing field and folks with MHI's are snapped up pretty quickly.
Here's one MHI example at the University of Michigan that will give you an idea of what this type of masters is all about and the career opportunities it can lead to: http://healthinformatics.umich.edu/about
Mental health clinicians don't make incredible bank for the amount of schooling and associated costs required in general, but at least where I am, counseling therapists with full licensure and psychologists do outearn social workers. I can't speak to the 40 hour a week limitation, however, because all the ones I know work more, with many doing adjunct grad level instructing in addition to being individual practitioners.
Much direct mental health work, though, like the majority of human services, does fall lower on the salary scale...so it really depends on the context in which it is most important to you to work in mental health.
Somewhat related to mental health, specifically, but an MS in I/O psychology would likely get you close to an 80-100k/yr job within a few years in a high COLA.
So, I've been working in the mental health field for a long while now and plan to stay in it or at minimum a related field. However, the pay is pretty bad. I really don't want to go for an master's of social work. Some people with that degree make around $40,000/yr (if they can even get jobs). I make more than that now (even though I kind of have to kill myself for it by working 2 jobs).
What I'm looking for pretty much is a 40 hr per week job that pays around $80,000-$100,000 and is in a field related to mental health. I know it's possible. For example I know you can get that by working in surgical pathology, which isn't exactly related to mental health directly, but is in the medical field. And you don't need an MD to do it.
So, if anyone has any ideas I'd love to hear them Thanks in advance!
Occupational Therapist (yes, I am one but not in mental health, although many OTs are).
Second Occupational Therapy. Excellent pay, good outlook, decent hours, and is heavily associated with mental health.
For those who said occupational therapy, that is actually one career I've been really thinking about. I was wondering how long it takes to get to that $80,000-$100,000 number and if it is closer to the $80,000 or $100,000? Generally speaking of course as I know it varies greatly.
For those who said occupational therapy, that is actually one career I've been really thinking about. I was wondering how long it takes to get to that $80,000-$100,000 number and if it is closer to the $80,000 or $100,000? Generally speaking of course as I know it varies greatly.
Truthfully if you do mental health, you probably won't get to that amount as it's usually a public sector job. The biggest salaries are in skilled nursing facilities, home health and travel jobs (which are mostly SNFs and not always far from home).
Mental health is not considered a priority in our country (as evidenced by the awful things happening today) and is never going to pay a lot. Even psychiatrists don't make that much compared to other docs.
However....the mentally ill people, when they start getting old and sick, do end up in nursing homes, I work with many of them daily, so you could get both.
More money comes with more experience. I would not take a travel job or Home Health job without at least a year or two of experience. But I think if you like mental health, you will like nursing facilities. In both settings you get to know people and form bonds with them which is rare in modern health care.
You also make the most by working per diem rather than full-time, but again I think you should have experience for that. When they pay you a per diem rate, they expect you to be able to hit the ground running.
You could start in the 70's+ though, depending where. Places that have a harder time getting people pay the most (bad neighborhoods, boondock rural areas, just old crappy poorly run places, etc. I actually don't mind those places. I feel more needed in those places versus the wealthy areas I've worked in, and I like that. You'll get more of your mental health pop in those places, too.
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