ZipRecruiter

Log In

2

Remote Chat Counselor Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Vibrant Emotional Health

Crisis Counselor

$30.22 - $32/hr

Remote Schedule: Full-time; Mornings, Evenings, Overnights, and Weekends Vibrant Emotional Health ... Crisis Counselors interact with clients through SMS text messaging, web chat and/or calls. Duties ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsChat Counselor JobsRemote Chat Counselor Jobs

Remote Chat Counselor information

See salary details

$7

$15

$22

How much do remote chat counselor jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 9, 2026, the average hourly pay for remote chat counselor in the United States is $15.89, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $13.46 and $17.55 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a Remote Chat Counselor?

A Remote Chat Counselor is a mental health professional or trained support specialist who provides counseling, guidance, or emotional support to clients through online chat platforms rather than in-person meetings. They work remotely, often from home, and communicate with individuals seeking help via text-based messaging. This role is commonly used by mental health organizations, crisis intervention services, and employee assistance programs to provide accessible, confidential support to people who may not be comfortable with phone or video calls. Remote Chat Counselors may help with issues such as stress, anxiety, relationships, or crisis situations. They are trained to listen, offer coping strategies, and refer clients to further resources if needed.

What are some common challenges faced by remote chat counselors, and how can they effectively manage them?

Remote chat counselors often encounter challenges such as managing high volumes of conversations, addressing sensitive topics without non-verbal cues, and maintaining emotional well-being while working in isolation. To manage these, counselors can use structured response protocols, participate in regular supervision or peer support sessions, and set clear boundaries to maintain work-life balance. Additionally, leveraging available training and mental health resources can help counselors provide effective support while caring for their own well-being.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Remote Chat Counselor, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Remote Chat Counselor, you need a background in psychology or counseling, strong written communication skills, and relevant certifications such as a counseling license or crisis intervention training. Familiarity with secure chat platforms, case management systems, and confidentiality protocols is typically required. Exceptional empathy, active listening, and the ability to stay calm under pressure set top performers apart in this role. These skills and qualities are crucial for providing effective emotional support and guidance to clients in a confidential and remote environment.

What is the difference between Remote Chat Counselor vs Remote Customer Support Agent?

AspectRemote Chat CounselorRemote Customer Support Agent
CredentialsHigh school diploma or equivalent; some roles may require counseling or psychology backgroundHigh school diploma or equivalent; customer service experience often preferred
Work EnvironmentOnline, home-based, focused on providing emotional support and guidanceOnline, home-based, focused on resolving product or service issues
Industry UsageHealthcare, mental health, educational support servicesRetail, tech, telecommunications, and various service industries
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding counseling roles, emotional support, mental health servicesTechnical support, product assistance, troubleshooting

While both roles are remote and involve online communication, Remote Chat Counselors primarily provide emotional and mental health support, often requiring specialized background. In contrast, Remote Customer Support Agents focus on resolving product or service issues, with less emphasis on counseling skills. Both roles are vital in their industries and share similar work environments.

Infographic showing various Remote Chat Counselor job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 64% Full Time, 12% Part Time, and 24% Contract. Highlights an 100% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $33,041 per year, or $15.9 per hour.
Crisis Counselor

Crisis Counselor

Vibrant Emotional Health

Remote

$30.22 - $32/hr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement

Posted 29 days ago

Vibrant Emotional Health rating

5.9

Company rating: 5.9 out of 10

Based on 5 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

Job description

Department: H2H Connect Contact Center
Reports to: Crisis Shift Supervisor
Pay Range: $30.22 - 32.00
Location: Remote
Schedule: Full-time; Mornings, Evenings, Overnights, and Weekends
Vibrant Emotional Health's groundbreaking solutions have delivered high quality services and support, when, where and how people need it for over 50 years. Through our state-of-the-art technology-enabled services, community wellness programs, and advocacy and education work, we are building a society in which emotional wellness can be a reality for everyone.
Position Overview:
Crisis Counselors provide evidence-informed crisis intervention, suicide prevention, information & referral, and brief supportive counseling to individuals who a designated program in emotional distress, particularly those at high risk for suicidal and/or homicidal thoughts and behaviors. Crisis Counselors interact with clients through SMS text messaging, web chat and/or calls.
Duties/Responsibilities:
  • Provide evidence-informed information and referral, brief supportive counseling, crisis intervention and suicide prevention support to callers and/or chat/text visitors who are in emotional distress.
  • Provide follow-up to high-risk callers reporting suicidal and/or homicidal thoughts and behaviors.
  • Participation in at least two Lifeline continuing education webinars per fiscal year.
  • Adhere to policies & procedures for each service offered by the program.
  • Conduct assessments in accordance with program policies & procedures.
  • Utilize resource referral databases to provide information and referral assistance to callers seeking mental health and substance abuse services.
  • Accurately and efficiently document client interactions.
  • Utilize SMS texting, voice, calls, and/or web chat to interact with clients.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Required Skills/Abilities:
  • Proficiency with motivational interviewing skills.
  • Active listening skills to establish working alliance with callers and/or chat/text visitors.
  • Efficiency with information-gathering, and problem-solving to facilitate resolution of inquiries.
  • Superior communication skills to convey information clearly and concisely.
  • Ability to maintain professional demeanor when handling crises and other difficult contacts.
  • Efficiency with balancing pace and flow of conversation and call time.

Required Qualifications:
  • A bachelor's degree in Psychology, Social Work, Mental Health Counseling, Forensic Psychology, or related field is preferred or 4+ years of experience in lieu of degree.
  • 1+ years' experience working in behavioral health and/or call center.
  • Experience working in behavioral health with call center experience strongly preferred.
  • Fluency in the English language both oral and written.
  • Must be able to attend a 3-week training class without interruptions

Physical Requirements:
  • Must be able to remain in a stationary position for at least 50% of the time.
  • Will frequently communicate over video calls with internal and external stakeholders as well as team members.
  • Will constantly operate a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine, and computer printer.

We determine base pay through a comprehensive review of skills, experience, education, certifications, geographic location, and other relevant factors. The range listed reflects the compensation parameters for the role and does not represent the full compensation package. A complete overview of compensation and benefits will be provided by the Talent Acquisition team during the hiring process.
Full time employees will be eligible for excellent comprehensive benefits, including medical, dental, vision, supplemental income insurance, employer paid disability insurance, employer paid life insurance, pre-tax FSA for medical and dependent care, and 401K available.
Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they are able to perform every task in the job description. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional background. Vibrant will consider any equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, education and experience to meet minimum qualifications. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and skill set for the role.
Vibrant Emotional Health is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants are considered for positions without regard to veteran status, uniformed service member status, race, creed, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, citizenship status, national origin, marital status, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, caregiver status or any other category protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.
Please be aware that fictitious job openings, consulting engagements, solicitations, or employment offers may be circulated on the Internet in an attempt to obtain privileged information, or to induce you to pay a fee for services related to recruitment or training. Vibrant does NOT charge any application, processing, or training fee at any stage of the recruitment or hiring process. All genuine job openings will be posted on our careers page and all communications from the Vibrant recruiting team and/or hiring managers will be from an @vibrant.org email address.

Apply