If you’re applying for a job at a mental health group practice, you’ve probably seen the term “split” used when describing compensation. But what exactly does that mean—and how does it affect your paycheck? Understanding how a split works can help you make informed decisions as you compare job offers from private practices and agencies across Illinois.
A split refers to the percentage of revenue generated from each session that is shared between the therapist and the practice. For example, a 45/55 split usually means the therapist keeps 45% of what the session brings in, and the practice keeps 55% to cover overhead like rent, billing, admin support, marketing, insurance credentialing, supervision, and more. Some group practices offer higher splits but fewer benefits—while others may offer lower splits but include full employee benefits, PTO, CEU reimbursement, and even paid admin time, creating an overall larger compensation package.
Many therapists find that a split model offers more flexibility and growth than a flat hourly rate. Instead of being capped at a fixed wage regardless of client volume, your income can grow as your caseload grows. And the portion the company retains from the split is reinvested into resources that make your job easier and more sustainable. That includes things like guaranteed referrals and marketing, EHR platforms, admin staff, insurance billing teams, leadership development, and clinical consultation. The more support you have, the more time you can spend doing what you’re trained to do: therapy.
At our practice, we value transparency and sustainability. That’s why we walk every candidate through exactly how our compensation is structured, what percentage of revenue is invested back into your support, and how you can grow within the system. If you’re looking for a workplace that offers clarity, support, and ethical compensation, we’d love to hear from you.
