Clinical Counselor, IYC

Counselor / TherapistFull-Time

Listed compensation

$55k-$58k

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.

Posted 4m ago · Verified live

Job Description

  • Position Title: Clinical Counselor
  • Location: Illinois Youth Center - Chicago, IL.
  • Full-Time | Salary: $55K–$58K (based on experience & qualifications)

Position Overview

Youth Outreach Services (YOS) is seeking a dedicated and compassionate Clinical Counselor to provide mental health services to youth at the Illinois Youth Center (IYC) in Chicago, a secure juvenile correctional facility serving youth involved in the justice system. This role offers a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact by supporting adolescents as they work toward rehabilitation, personal growth, and successful community reintegration.

The Clinical Counselor will work directly with youth in a structured correctional environment, providing counseling services that address behavioral health, trauma, emotional well-being, and treatment goals.

What You’ll Do

  • Reporting to the Program Manager, the Clinical Counselor will:
  • Provide individual, group, and family counseling services utilizing evidence-based therapeutic interventions.
  • Complete assessments, develop treatment plans, and monitor client progress.
  • Maintain timely and accurate clinical documentation.
  • Partner with facility staff, families, schools, and community providers to support treatment goals and continuity of care.
  • Facilitate psychoeducational and therapeutic groups.
  • Support youth in developing coping skills, emotional regulation, and positive decision-making strategies.
  • Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings and case consultations.

What We’re Looking For

  • Master’s degree in counseling, Social Work, or a related field
  • Preferred licensure: LPC, LSW, AMFT, or CADC
  • Experience providing counseling services to adolescents or young adults.
  • Experience working with justice-involved youth, trauma-informed care, behavioral health, residential treatment, or correctional settings is highly preferred.
  • Strong clinical documentation, communication, and relationship-building skills.

What We Offer

Comprehensive Benefits Package: Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, and Short/Long-Term Disability options.

  • Retirement Plan: 403(b) with eligibility for Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness.
  • Paid Time Off (PTO): Generous accruals to support work-life balance.

Additional Perks

Mileage reimbursement (specific to this position).

How to Apply

Please apply through our website by submitting your resume. Candidates will receive a brief questionnaire as part of the next step in the process.

YOS is an E-Verify participating employer.

At Youth Outreach Services, we’re committed to equity and inclusion. We proudly serve diverse communities and welcome professionals who reflect the youth we support.

Youth Outreach Services is a drug-free workplace and compliance with this policy is a condition of employment and continued employment.

Key Responsibilities

Provide individual, group, and family counseling to youth, including assessments, treatment plans, progress monitoring, and accurate clinical documentation. Facilitate therapeutic and psychoeducational groups, build coping and emotional regulation skills, and coordinate care with facility staff, families, schools, and community providers.

Requirements

A master’s degree in counseling, social work, or a related field is required, with licensure such as LPC, LSW, AMFT, or CADC preferred. Candidates should have counseling experience with adolescents or young adults; experience with justice-involved youth, trauma-informed care, behavioral health, residential treatment, or correctional settings is highly preferred.

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Individual CounselingGroup CounselingClinical AssessmentTreatment PlanningPsychoeducationCoping Skills DevelopmentCase Consultation

Counselor Career Context

In Illinois, the Counselor weighted monthly median benchmark on WeekdayDoc is ~$66k (602 salary observations; 1,936 listings), vs ~$73k nationally (10,111 salary observations; 46,259 listings). Monthly aggregates cover 2025-12-01 through 2026-11-01; these are not the modal's selected comparable-job medians.

The cost-of-living index for Illinois is 100.0 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$57k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $57k in an average-cost state. 62.6% of Illinois clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

What does the Counselor market look like in Illinois?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed pay$55k–$58kCounselor median $58k (middle half $51k–$73k)32 comparable listings, Nov 2026
Illinois vs national$66k median in Illinois$73k nationally (−9%)602 state / 10,111 national salary observations
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$57k in purchasing powerIllinois index 100.0 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Clinical Counseling listings in Illinois7 active—live on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
All counselor listings in Illinois556 active13,260 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 56% remote · 30% no call · 56% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentloan repaymentIllinois counselor listings (all specialties): 13% state a sign-on bonus (median $3k) · 19% offer loan repayment556 active listings, Nov 2026
Counselor pay trend (all specialties)−1.3% vs prior quarter—through Oct 2026
Youth Outreach Services#21 of 23 for payTop Employers work-life index
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index, Top Employers work-life index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Nov 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page. Illinois figures use all counselors: too few Illinois Clinical Counseling postings state pay.

Top Counselor Jobs

40 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

40 jobs · 30 employers
16
<$70k
8
$70k-85k
8
$85k-100k
2
$100k-115k
6
$115k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

35 jobs · 30 employers
401k / retirement match
91% this job
CME allowance
40%
Sign-on bonus
37%
Loan repayment
23% this job
PSLF eligible
20% this job

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMFT, LMHC, LCSW)

Gotham Enterprises · Cartersburg, Indiana

$115k-$120k
#2

Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMFT, LCSW, LPC)

Gotham Enterprises · Anchorage, Alaska

$115k-$120k
#3

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Therapist - LICSW - LPCC - LMFT

$74k-$117k
#4

Licensed Clinical Therapist (LSCSW, LCPC, LCMFT) Sign-on Bonus $5,000

$81k-$117k
+ 38 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.0this job 3.0
Better work-life than 20% of Counseling listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 13,190 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Youth Outreach Services logo

About Youth Outreach Services

Individual and Family Services
Chicago, IL
51-200 employees

Benefits & Perks

Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance
Short/Long-Term Disability
403(b) retirement plan
Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness eligibility
Generous PTO accruals
Mileage reimbursement

Living in Chicago

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$354k≈ 6.4× annual pay
Typical market rent
$2,311/mo≈ 50% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
33 min
State income tax
Up to 5%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Sep 2026), Zillow market rents (Sep 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

Ratios use this listing’s gross annual pay. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.