How much do therapists make in Florida?

One of the biggest factors influencing how much mental health providers earn in Florida is license type. Different licenses come with different scopes of practice, levels of clinical responsibility, and training requirements — all of which influence reimbursement rates and overall earning potential.

Generally speaking, licenses that allow for more autonomy, independent practice, or prescribing authority tend to come with higher salaries. Providers with advanced or specialized credentials might also have more flexibility in how and where they work, which can further influence their income. Whether or not a provider accepts insurance also plays a role.

Here’s a look at the average annual salary ranges in Florida (using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and other salary aggregators) for some of the most common mental health license types. 

• Licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFT): $60,000–$90,000
• Licensed mental health counselors (LMHC): $55,000–$85,000
• Licensed clinical social workers (LCSW): $60,000–$95,000
• Clinical psychologists (PhD or PsyD): $80,000–$125,000
• Psychiatrists or psychiatric prescribers: $210,000–$290,000

Keep in mind that these numbers represent estimated statewide averages and ranges — they aren’t a hard and fast rule about what you’ll earn with a specific license. Your experience, location, and how you structure your practice will also have an impact. 

How much do therapists make per hour in Florida?

When broken down into hourly pay, therapists in Florida who take insurance typically earn anywhere from $25 to $55 per hour, depending on the license type and experience. 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics data, mental health counselors and social workers tend to sit toward the lower end of that range, while psychologists and psychiatrists earn significantly more on an hourly basis. 

However, hourly estimates don’t always tell the whole story. Many therapists aren’t paid for every hour worked. In fact, most therapists don’t view their compensation as hourly, since they’re often billing insurance. Things like administrative tasks, cancellations, and benefits (or lack thereof) can all affect take-home pay, and they widen the variation in effective hourly rates even more.

Reimbursement rates from insurance plans also vary, which is why it’s important to look beyond posted hourly figures and consider how many clients you realistically see each week. 

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.

How much do therapists make in Miami?

It’s easy to assume that therapists in a more metropolitan area like Miami would earn more than other mental health professionals in the state, but the data paints a different picture.

Therapist pay in Miami is strikingly similar to Florida’s statewide averages, though it can vary by role and experience. For example, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the average psychologist salary in Miami is $117,360 per year. That’s nearly identical to Florida’s statewide average of $117,450.

That said, some roles — particularly psychiatrists — tend to see higher earnings in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach area, likely due to stronger demand, a denser population, and a higher concentration of private practices. For counselors and social workers, salaries typically stay close to statewide ranges, with only modest differences depending on setting and experience.