Counselor - Military Family Life Counselor (MFLC) - Ellsworth AFB
Listed compensation
$83K–$89K
The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed
Ask the employer about call expectations, weekend coverage, nights and shift pattern and time off.
Job Description
MFLC Adult Behavioral Counselors
Venesco LLC is looking for Military Family Licensed Counselors (MFLC) to support military members and families at Ellsworth AFB, SD. We are currently hiring for a full-time adult Military & Family Life Counselor (MFLC). This role is a critical part of our mission to support military service members in-person at Ellsworth AFB. Venesco LLC offers full and generous benefits.
Additionally, we have openings for short-term counselors to cover surge and on-demand events for Ellsworth.
In this role you will help members and families with the complex stresses of military life. You will provide a wide range of problem-solving skills to address areas such as deployment, frequent relocations, isolation from extended family members, children coping with the absence of a parent, child education, and spousal employment.
School counselors and Child Development Center Counselors are assigned to DoDEA schools, military childcare centers, and in some cases, local community schools. Counselors should have experience working in a school setting to qualify for CYB positions.
CYB counselors are also assigned to youth programs, summer camps, and for on demand assignments. CYB counselors are responsible for working closely with military branch Points of Contact (POCs) to assure that the program is provided within the scope of the contract and meets the needs of assigned installation.
These counelor positions requires an independent license in any state. Eligible license types include: LCSW- PIP, LICSW, LMFT, LPC, LCPC, and LMHC. If you are working on your independent license, let's start the conversation!
Our team of mental healthcare professionals ensures that our active-duty service members and their families receive the exceptional care they deserve. The MFLC counselor is an independently licensed mental health professional who exercises discretion and independent judgement to provide appropriate resource information in the form of non-medical counseling, coaching, training and education to military service members and their families.
Non-medical counseling is supportive in nature and addresses: living conditions; life skills; improving relationships at home and at work; stress management; adjustment issues, such as those related to returning from deployment; marital problems; parenting, fear, grief and loss.
It is an honor to provide non-medical services to active-duty service members and their families, and we are grateful to support such a valued customer and important mission.
Venesco, LLC, is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.
Venesco is committed to administering all employment and personnel actions on the basis of merit and free of discrimination based on race, ethnicity, religious affiliation, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, protected veteran status, or status as an individual with a disability.
Consistent with this commitment, we are dedicated to the employment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, protected veterans, persons of all ethnic backgrounds and religions according to their abilities.
For more information on Venesco, LLC., visit venesco.com.
Minimum Requirements
- A Master’s degree in the Behavioral Health Professions
- Minimum 2 years of post-master’s supervised clinical experience
- Mental Health Licensure at the Independent Practice level
- School Counselors must demonstrate past experience working in a school setting or other Child/Youth Services setting.
- Must be a U.S. citizen and be able to obtain a NACI level government security clearance
Desired
Prior military service/military family member and/or strong familiarity with the military culture
Key Responsibilities
The MFLC counselor provides non-medical counseling, coaching, training, and education to military service members and their families, addressing complex stresses related to military life such as deployment and relocation. This involves exercising discretion and independent judgment to offer appropriate resource information and supportive counseling on issues like living conditions, life skills, and relationship improvement.
Qualifications
- Education
- Professional certificate or licensure
- Experience
- 2+ years of experience
Key Skills
Clinical Psychology — Counselor Career Context
The cost-of-living index for South Dakota is 88.6 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$86k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $97k in an average-cost state. 58.2% of South Dakota clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
Of the 48 active Counselor listings this role was benchmarked against, 54% are remote, 44% have no call, 69% require no weekends.
| Measure | This job | Market |
|---|---|---|
| Work-life score | 7.2 / 10 · top 25% in clinical psychology (counseling) | ranked against 361 Clinical Psychology (Counseling) listingslisting-based score, 0–10 |
| Listed pay | $83k–$89k | Counselor median $73k (middle half $55k–$86k)263 comparable listings, Oct 2026 |
| Cost-of-living adjusted pay | ~$97k in purchasing power | South Dakota index 88.6 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) |
| Counselor listings in South Dakota | 33 active | 13,653 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026 |
| Work setting | on-site | peers: 54% remote · 44% no call · 69% no weekends48 benchmarked listings |
| Counselor pay trend | +2.5% vs prior quarter | —through Sep 2026 |
Work-Life Balance Analysis
WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Counselor - Military Family Life Counselor (MFLC) - Ellsworth AFB at VENES a 7.2 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as very good. This places the position in the top 25% in Clinical Psychology (Counseling) — ranked against 361 active Clinical Psychology (Counseling) listings on WeekdayDoc.
Location & Logistics
South Dakota has no state income tax, which can significantly increase take-home pay compared to high-tax states. At the posted ~$86k midpoint, that is roughly $3k–$6k a year versus a typical 4–7% state rate.
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