988 Mental Health Counselor
Compensation
Pay not listed
The week · per this posting
Ask the employer about the pay range, the work setting, call expectations and time off.
Job Description
Mental Health Counselors provide evidence-informed crisis intervention, brief supportive counseling, suicide prevention, information & referral and follow-up services to individuals who contact the Helpline Center through 988 in emotional distress, with substance use issues or with suicidal ideation.
Counselors interact with clients by telephone, SMS text messaging, and/or web chat. The position provides an opportunity to practice a wide range of clinical skills, and knowledge of the expanding field of behavioral health.
Hours for this role would be 12:30-10:30 pm Sunday-Wednesday. Would qualify for shift differentials.
Requirements
Master’s Degree in counseling, social work, psychology, or related field required or ability to obtain Master's degree within four weeks of hire date
- Additional experience working in mental health counseling or mental health crisis strongly preferred.
- Applicants must be comfortable working independently and as part of a team in a collegial group environment.
- Strong oral and written language skills
- Working knowledge of computers and software programs, proficient keyboarding skills
- Offers of employment contingent upon acceptable background check
Key Responsibilities
Mental Health Counselors provide crisis intervention, suicide prevention, and supportive counseling to individuals in distress via phone, text, and web chat. They also manage information and referral services while maintaining accurate follow-up documentation.
Qualifications
- Education
- Master's degree (postgraduate degree)
Key Skills
Crisis Counseling — Counselor Career Context
Of the 50 active Counselor listings this role was benchmarked against, 54% are remote, 28% have no call, 72% require no weekends.
Counselor pay on WeekdayDoc is up 6.6% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).
The cost-of-living index for South Dakota is 88.6 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 58.2% of South Dakota clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
Location & Logistics
South Dakota has no state income tax, which can significantly increase take-home pay compared to high-tax states.
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