How much do Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors make?
The median pay for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors in the United States is $59,350 per year — about $28.53 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $38,940, while the most experienced professionals in the top 10% earn $97,590.
That is $2,040 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors salary range by percentile
Half of all Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors earn between $47,100 and $76,530 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,940 | $18.72 | |
| 25th percentile (early career) | $47,100 | $22.64 | |
| 50th percentile (median) | $59,350 | $28.53 | |
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $76,530 | $36.79 | |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $97,590 | $46.92 |
Highest-paying states for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Alaska leads the country for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors pay at $80,770 a year, followed by Oregon ($74,590) and New Mexico ($74,100). At the other end, Louisiana posts the lowest median at $37,910 — a gap of $42,860 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
| # | State | Median salary | Hourly | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $80,770 | $38.83 | +36% |
| 2 | Oregon | $74,590 | $35.86 | +26% |
| 3 | New Mexico | $74,100 | $35.63 | +25% |
| 4 | Washington | $68,910 | $33.13 | +16% |
| 5 | North Dakota | $68,630 | $33.00 | +16% |
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 51 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Workforce and education
About 492,000 people work as Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $64,440 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
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