Behavioral Health Leadership & Licensed Clinicians salary guide

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Published BLS wages for this family. BLS OEWS May 2025.

Behavioral Health Medical Director SOC 11-9111, Medical and Health Services Managers. proxy match.
Chief Clinical Officer (Behavioral Health) SOC 11-9111, Medical and Health Services Managers. broader match.
Executive Director, Treatment Center SOC 11-9111, Medical and Health Services Managers. broader match.
Clinical Director (Behavioral Health / Addiction) SOC 11-9111, Medical and Health Services Managers. broader match.
Program Director (Residential, PHP, IOP) SOC 11-9111, Medical and Health Services Managers. broader match.
Director of Behavioral Health Services (Hospital) SOC 11-9111, Medical and Health Services Managers. broader match.
Director of Psychiatric Nursing / Psych Unit Nurse Manager SOC 11-9111, Medical and Health Services Managers. broader match.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist SOC 19-3033, Clinical and Counseling Psychologists. broader match.
LCSW Clinical Supervisor SOC 21-1023, Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers. broader match.
LMHC / LPC Clinical Supervisor SOC 21-1018, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors. broader match.
Addiction Counselor Supervisor (LCADC / LADC) SOC 21-1018, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors. broader match.
BCBA Clinical Director SOC 11-9111, Medical and Health Services Managers. proxy match.
Utilization Review Director (Behavioral Health) SOC 11-9111, Medical and Health Services Managers. broader match.
Assistant Clinical Director, Behavioral Health SOC 11-9111, Medical and Health Services Managers. broader match.

What kinds of behavioral health leaders and clinicians belong on this page?

This edition covers behavioral health leaders and licensed clinicians. Ask who signs the treatment plan and who speaks with a worried family. The same title can sit in a hospital unit, residential center or outpatient clinic. We ask about the caseload, chart review and handoff before we compare jobs.

Some roles manage people and budgets. Others carry a caseload, lead groups, or supervise clinical work. We ask where the person spends the day, who signs off on plans, and which decisions stay with the owner, medical director, or nursing leader.

What does a behavioral health leader handle during a normal shift?

A leader often starts with census, staffing, admissions, discharges, and urgent clinical issues. They review notes, answer family or referral questions, and check that the team follows the plan for each patient. They may also handle conflicts, staffing gaps, and schedule changes before they reach the floor.

We separate operational work from clinical authority. The leader may coach staff, review quality issues, and escalate risk concerns, but medical decisions stay with the right licensed clinician or physician. When we speak with you, we ask who owns those calls on your unit.

What do medical directors and chief clinical officers usually own?

These roles set the clinical tone for the program. They review care standards, guide complex cases, meet with physicians and therapists, and help shape policy for admissions, documentation, and discharge. In some settings, they also speak with referring providers and help solve clinical disputes.

The owner or board may expect a different mix of hands-on care and administrative work. We ask how much time the person spends in direct patient care, how much is spent in meetings, and which approvals stay with executive leadership. That changes who fits the seat.

How do program and treatment center directors spend the day?

Program and treatment center directors keep the service moving. They watch attendance, staffing, scheduling, referrals, family communication, and daily operations. They may walk the unit, check on group coverage, review incidents, and talk with intake or discharge staff about the next step for each patient.

These leaders often solve practical issues before they become clinical ones. We ask whether the role runs one site or several, whether it covers residential, PHP, or IOP, and how much authority the person has over hiring, discipline, and day-to-day staffing changes.

What do licensed supervisors and clinical directors actually review?

Licensed supervisors review assessments, treatment plans, progress notes, and team questions. They coach counselors, social workers, psychologists, and therapists through tough cases. They may sign off on supervision logs, lead case review, and step in when a chart or discharge plan needs correction.

The important question is what the supervisor may approve alone. In some settings, the supervisor gives clinical direction. In others, the supervisor also carries a caseload or serves as the final reviewer for documentation and risk concerns. We ask about both parts before we discuss fit.

What should a hiring manager clarify before opening one of these searches?

Start with setting, patient age group, and level of care. Then define how much of the day is leadership work and how much is direct clinical work. We also ask who the person reports to, which staff they supervise, and whether weekends, on-call coverage, or meeting time are part of the week.

For licensure, we look for the exact credential, state practice setting, and any supervision duties attached to the role. We also ask whether the team needs a hands-on fixer, a policy leader, or a steady supervisor who can keep charts, staff, and patient transitions aligned.

What else should you ask about this edition?

How do we know if this role should be a manager seat or a licensed clinician seat?

Look at the work the person does most days. If they spend more time on staffing, budgets, intake flow, and department decisions, it is a leadership seat. If they spend more time on assessments, treatment plans, supervision, and direct care, it is a clinician seat.

What should we tell you about a behavioral health unit before a search starts?

Tell us the setting, level of care, patient mix, and who reports to the role. We also need to know whether the person covers weekends, on-call time, or multiple sites. That changes which background fits the opening.

Do supervision duties belong in the job summary for these roles?

Yes, if the person signs off on clinical work or coaches licensed staff. That affects the profile and the interview questions. We ask who they supervise, what they review, and what stays with another leader or physician.

What matters most when hiring for a treatment center or hospital behavioral health leader?

The daily handoff matters most. We want to know who handles census, discharge timing, staff issues, family calls, and chart review. Once that is clear, we can describe the role in plain terms and speak to the right candidates.