How much do therapists make in Texas?

License type has a strong impact on mental healthcare providers’ salaries, as does whether or not they accept insurance. Along with the amount of education, license type influences how and where a provider can practice (which then affects salary). In practice, compensation is shaped less by license type and more by context — where you work, the value of the services you provide, and the depth of your experience.

In general, licenses that allow for independent practice, private pay, diagnosis, or prescribing authority tend to command higher pay. That’s why questions like “how much do psychiatrists make in Texas?” don’t have the same answer as questions about therapist pay overall. Put simply, license type plays an outside role in determining salary expectations.

Based on Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data for Texas, here’s roughly how average annual salary ranges break down:

• Licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFT): $48,000–$70,000
• Licensed professional counselors (LPC): $50,000–$80,000
• Licensed clinical social workers (LCSW): $65,000–$95,000
• Clinical psychologists (PhD or PsyD): $75,000–$105,000
• Psychiatrists (and other psychiatric prescribers): $160,000–$300,000+

Keep in mind that these ranges aren’t a promise. They reflect statewide averages and, in many cases, providers working in a variety of settings. For example, the salary range for LCSWs is inclusive of all types of social workers (“social workers, all other” in the BLS data), which can skew the numbers. Your individual earnings can fall well outside of these ranges, so refer to them more as a loose guideline than a firm guarantee. 

How much do therapists make per hour in Texas?

When you break annual salary ranges down into average hourly pay, most therapists in Texas  who take insurance earn somewhere between $25 and $50 per hour, depending on license type, experience level, and work setting. Higher-earning providers — such as psychologists or psychiatrists — may see hourly rates that climb well beyond that range.

However, keep in mind that an hourly pay breakdown isn’t always a straightforward calculation (and most therapists don’t view their compensation as hourly, since they’re often billing insurance). Many therapists don’t work a traditional 40-hour clinical week, and hourly earnings typically need to account for unpaid time spent on documentation, supervision, or administrative work.

Providers in private practice also need to factor in overhead costs, insurance reimbursement rates, and how many billable sessions they realistically handle each week when estimating their true hourly income.

Overall, when it comes to hourly rates or reimbursement rates, the dollar amount refers to what providers receive when they get individually credentialed with certain insurance plans. Headway makes credentialing with a range of plans easy, allowing you to focus on your clients instead of paperwork.