master's degree and 2000 hours of post-graduate experience, earns $45,000/year. as a point of reference, the average physical therapist earns $75,000/year. substance abuse counselor earnings are even lower, with an average salary of $34,000/year. job stress is another factor that may lead to the high turnover rates and workforce shortage. it is estimated that 21-67% of mental health workers experience high levels of burnout including symptoms of emotional exhaustion, high levels of depersonalization and a reduced sense of personal accomplishment. researchers have offered various recommendations to reduce the critical workforce gaps in behavioral health. some of these recommendations include the following: expanding loan repayment programs to incentivize mental health providers to work in underserved (often rural) areas, integrating mental health into primary care, and increasing reimbursement to health care professionals. social workers also tend to experience competing for work and family demands, which negatively affects their job well-being and subsequently their job satisfaction, resulting in high turnover in the profession.