Kentucky Median
$54,190
per year
Hourly Rate
$26.05
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-9% vs US median
US median $59,350
State Rank
#41 of 51
7,690 employed here
How much do Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors make in Kentucky?
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors working in Kentucky earn a median salary of $54,190 per year, or about $26.05 per hour. That is 9% below the national median of $59,350 for this occupation.
Within Kentucky, entry-level pay starts around $35,150 while the top 10% make $83,070 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $41,730 and $72,590 a year.
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors salary range in Kentucky
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,150 | $16.90 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $41,730 | $20.06 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $54,190 | $26.05 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $72,590 | $34.90 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $83,070 | $39.94 |
|
How Kentucky compares
Kentucky ranks 41st out of 51 states and territories for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors salary in other states
Alaska $80,770Oregon $74,590New Mexico $74,100Washington $68,910North Dakota $68,630Arizona $65,300Rhode Island $65,120Utah $63,890Nebraska $63,770Connecticut $63,590Idaho $63,360Wyoming $62,980New Jersey $62,820Texas $62,630Colorado $62,390Wisconsin $62,220Vermont $61,810Michigan $61,690Iowa $60,880Illinois $60,730District of Columbia $60,450Hawaii $60,090Maine $59,970Massachusetts $59,890Virginia $59,880Maryland $59,530Kansas $59,470New York $59,450Oklahoma $59,350California $59,250Montana $59,000Georgia $58,960Minnesota $58,780Ohio $58,360Nevada $57,210Missouri $56,910Florida $56,790Delaware $56,020North Carolina $55,490New Hampshire $54,840Indiana $53,760South Dakota $53,650South Carolina $52,370Pennsylvania $52,010Arkansas $51,580Tennessee $49,580West Virginia $49,430Alabama $47,310Mississippi $46,990Louisiana $37,910
Working as Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors in Kentucky
Nationally, about 492,000 people work as Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare Kentucky pay ($54,190) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much do Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors make in Kentucky?
The median Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors salary in Kentucky is $54,190 per year, or about $26.05 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $35,150 at the entry level to $83,070 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Kentucky pay compare to the national average?
Kentucky pays Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors about 9% less than the national median of $59,350. Kentucky ranks 41st out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Kentucky a good state for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $54,190 a year. About 7,690 Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors are employed in Kentucky. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Kentucky?
The highest-paying occupations in Kentucky include Cardiologist ($558,180), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($350,950), Anesthesiologist ($347,960), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.