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BLSSalary

Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors Salary (2025)

Based on 491,930 employed workers · BLS OEWS May 2025

Official BLS Data
Annual Mean
$64,440
$30.98/hr
Annual Median
$59,350
$28.53/hr
Bottom 10%
$38,940
$18.72/hr
Top 10%
$97,590
$46.92/hr

Salary Percentile Breakdown

PercentileAnnual
10th Percentile
Bottom 10%
$38,940
25th Percentile
Lower quarter
$47,100
50th PercentileMedian
Median
$59,350
75th Percentile
Upper quarter
$76,530
90th Percentile
Top 10%
$97,590

Salary Distribution

Annual Salary Range

10th

$39K

25th

$47K

Median

$59K

75th

$77K

90th

$98K

Highest Paying States for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors

States with highest average wages · BLS May 2025

StateAnnual Mean
Alaska$86,500
New Mexico$76,370
Oregon$75,540
Washington$75,020
New Jersey$71,360
Nebraska$70,220
Hawaii$70,050
Colorado$69,860
Utah$69,370
District of Columbia$69,180

Geographic Salary Variation

Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors salaries vary significantly across the United States. The highest paying state is Alaska at an average of $86,500 per year, while District of Columbia has an average of $69,180 — a difference of $17,320. These geographic differences reflect variations in cost of living, demand, and local labor market conditions.

About Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 491,930 workers were employed as Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselorss in the United States as of May 2025. This occupation is classified under Community and Social Service Occupations. The annual mean wage of $64,440 reflects data from employer surveys conducted by BLS.

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 · SOC Code: 21-1018

What do these percentiles mean? The 10th percentile ($38,940) represents entry-level or part-time Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselorss, while the 90th percentile ($97,590) represents highly experienced professionals or those in high-demand locations. The median ($59,350) is the midpoint — half of all Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselorss earn more and half earn less than this amount.
Data sourced from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025. Public domain. Not affiliated with the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.