Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors (SOC 21-1018) earn a median $59,350 a year ($28.53 an hour) in the United States, with 491,930 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Alaska.
What substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors do
This code combines two SOC occupations that the OEWS survey reports together: counselors who work with substance abuse and behavioral disorders, and mental health counselors. Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors help people with problems involving alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, as well as gambling and eating disorders. Mental health counselors support people with a broader range of emotional and mental health concerns, including stress, family and marital problems, self-esteem, and aging, with an emphasis on prevention. Both work with individuals, families, and groups. Typical tasks include developing treatment plans, counseling clients in individual or group sessions, performing crisis interventions, keeping records of progress and services, and coordinating with courts, probation officers, and other community services. Some run prevention programs and follow up with clients after discharge. The category excludes psychologists, social workers, and psychiatrists, who are classified separately, and it differs from marriage and family therapists, who are reported on their own. Substance abuse counselors also assess drug dependency, including by analyzing urine samples, and follow the progress of discharged patients to judge how well treatment worked.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, a master's degree is the most commonly reported education level for the mental health counselor component, and also for the substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselor component.
Also called: Addiction Counselor, Behavioral Health Counselor, Addiction Recovery Specialist, Addiction Therapist, Addictions Counselor.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $18.72 | $22.65 | $28.53 | $36.80 | $46.92 | $30.98 | 491,930 |
| Annual | $38,940 | $47,100 | $59,350 | $76,530 | $97,590 | $64,440 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Alaska | Hourly | $28.00 | $31.59 | $38.83 | $47.10 | $55.12 | $41.59 | 1,290 | 3.98 | 1.26 |
| Annual | $58,240 | $65,710 | $80,770 | $97,960 | $114,650 | $86,500 | ||||
| Oregon | Hourly | $23.97 | $28.91 | $35.86 | $41.73 | $49.44 | $36.32 | 8,160 | 4.15 | 1.31 |
| Annual | $49,860 | $60,130 | $74,590 | $86,800 | $102,830 | $75,540 | ||||
| New Mexico | Hourly | $23.51 | $28.99 | $35.63 | $43.17 | $54.53 | $36.72 | 2,420 | 2.78 | 0.88 |
| Annual | $48,900 | $60,300 | $74,100 | $89,800 | $113,420 | $76,370 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $22.70 | $27.06 | $33.13 | $43.74 | $53.16 | $36.07 | 14,250 | 4.01 | 1.27 |
| Annual | $47,220 | $56,280 | $68,910 | $90,970 | $110,580 | $75,020 | ||||
| North Dakota | Hourly | $20.80 | $26.66 | $33.00 | $37.17 | $41.65 | $32.67 | 1,290 | 3.00 | 0.95 |
| Annual | $43,270 | $55,450 | $68,630 | $77,320 | $86,630 | $67,940 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $21.46 | $22.91 | $28.48 | $38.74 | $53.40 | $33.21 | 75,610 | 4.15 | 1.31 |
| Annual | $44,640 | $47,640 | $59,250 | $80,570 | $111,080 | $69,080 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $17.44 | $20.78 | $25.01 | $31.39 | $39.41 | $27.49 | 30,620 | 5.05 | 1.60 |
| Annual | $36,280 | $43,210 | $52,010 | $65,280 | $81,970 | $57,170 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $18.96 | $22.40 | $27.30 | $35.11 | $40.58 | $29.34 | 29,750 | 3.00 | 0.95 |
| Annual | $39,430 | $46,590 | $56,790 | $73,030 | $84,410 | $61,030 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $20.39 | $23.16 | $28.58 | $35.44 | $43.55 | $30.79 | 26,770 | 2.76 | 0.87 |
| Annual | $42,410 | $48,160 | $59,450 | $73,710 | $90,590 | $64,040 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $18.10 | $21.77 | $30.11 | $38.08 | $46.11 | $31.34 | 21,400 | 1.52 | 0.48 |
| Annual | $37,650 | $45,290 | $62,630 | $79,200 | $95,910 | $65,180 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Fairbanks-College, AK | Hourly | $30.51 | $31.82 | $40.23 | $48.97 | $62.85 | $43.13 | 100 | 2.88 | 0.91 |
| Annual | $63,470 | $66,180 | $83,680 | $101,860 | $130,740 | $89,720 | ||||
| Anchorage, AK | Hourly | $28.40 | $34.45 | $39.00 | $46.57 | $54.61 | $41.98 | 810 | 4.56 | 1.44 |
| Annual | $59,070 | $71,650 | $81,120 | $96,870 | $113,600 | $87,320 | ||||
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | Hourly | $22.06 | $26.22 | $38.83 | $49.57 | $49.57 | $38.28 | 350 | 2.89 | 0.91 |
| Annual | $45,880 | $54,540 | $80,770 | $103,110 | $103,110 | $79,630 | ||||
| Albany, OR | Hourly | $24.16 | $28.85 | $37.94 | $48.30 | $58.90 | $39.55 | 110 | 2.38 | 0.75 |
| Annual | $50,240 | $60,000 | $78,910 | $100,470 | $122,510 | $82,260 | ||||
| Salem, OR | Hourly | $22.59 | $29.42 | $37.92 | $46.14 | $55.12 | $37.50 | 560 | 2.97 | 0.94 |
| Annual | $46,990 | $61,190 | $78,870 | $95,980 | $114,660 | $78,010 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $21.29 | $22.50 | $24.96 | $36.75 | $49.83 | $30.51 | 26,960 | 4.30 | 1.36 |
| Annual | $44,270 | $46,800 | $51,910 | $76,440 | $103,650 | $63,450 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $20.39 | $23.44 | $29.34 | $37.33 | $48.65 | $32.96 | 26,200 | 2.76 | 0.87 |
| Annual | $42,410 | $48,760 | $61,020 | $77,650 | $101,190 | $68,560 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $20.68 | $22.96 | $29.62 | $39.88 | $55.18 | $33.74 | 15,580 | 3.45 | 1.09 |
| Annual | $43,010 | $47,770 | $61,600 | $82,950 | $114,770 | $70,180 | ||||
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | Hourly | $17.76 | $21.92 | $27.95 | $34.00 | $41.70 | $29.09 | 14,920 | 5.15 | 1.63 |
| Annual | $36,940 | $45,600 | $58,140 | $70,720 | $86,740 | $60,500 | ||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | $21.85 | $23.25 | $29.87 | $37.41 | $47.22 | $32.22 | 11,150 | 4.12 | 1.30 |
| Annual | $45,450 | $48,350 | $62,130 | $77,820 | $98,210 | $67,030 | ||||
Top industries employing substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors
Offices of Other Health Practitioners employ 21.7% of substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors nationally (106,780 jobs) at a median $58,240 a year ($28.00 an hour), followed by Outpatient Care Centers (20.0%) and Individual and Family Services (16.4%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners NAICS 621300 | 106,780 | 21.7% | $58,240 | $28.00 |
| Outpatient Care Centers NAICS 621400 | 98,150 | 20.0% | $59,390 | $28.55 |
| Individual and Family Services NAICS 624100 | 80,530 | 16.4% | $58,440 | $28.10 |
| Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities NAICS 623200 | 47,510 | 9.7% | $49,330 | $23.72 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999300 | 28,270 | 5.7% | $67,870 | $32.63 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (491,930). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $48,520 for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in May 2021 and $59,350 in May 2025, with employment of 310,880 and 491,930.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $48,520 | $23.33 | 310,880 |
| May 2022 | $49,710 | $23.90 | 344,970 |
| May 2023 | $53,710 | $25.82 | 397,880 |
| May 2024 | $59,190 | $28.46 | 440,380 |
| May 2025 | $59,350 | $28.53 | 491,930 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
51 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska profile | $38.83 | $80,770 | $58,240 | $114,650 | 1,290 | 3.98 | 1.26 |
| 2 | Oregon profile | $35.86 | $74,590 | $49,860 | $102,830 | 8,160 | 4.15 | 1.31 |
| 3 | New Mexico profile | $35.63 | $74,100 | $48,900 | $113,420 | 2,420 | 2.78 | 0.88 |
| 4 | Washington profile | $33.13 | $68,910 | $47,220 | $110,580 | 14,250 | 4.01 | 1.27 |
| 5 | North Dakota profile | $33.00 | $68,630 | $43,270 | $86,630 | 1,290 | 3.00 | 0.95 |
| 6 | Arizona profile | $31.39 | $65,300 | $44,520 | $95,210 | 9,990 | 3.08 | 0.97 |
| 7 | Rhode Island profile | $31.31 | $65,120 | $43,960 | $98,440 | 2,170 | 4.33 | 1.37 |
| 8 | Utah profile | $30.72 | $63,890 | $35,410 | $106,080 | 6,320 | 3.64 | 1.15 |
| 9 | Nebraska profile | $30.66 | $63,770 | $42,400 | $109,610 | 2,170 | 2.12 | 0.67 |
| 10 | Connecticut profile | $30.57 | $63,590 | $44,080 | $99,540 | 7,540 | 4.45 | 1.41 |
| 11 | Idaho profile | $30.46 | $63,360 | $36,400 | $98,760 | 2,990 | 3.49 | 1.10 |
| 12 | Wyoming profile | $30.28 | $62,980 | $36,960 | $103,150 | 910 | 3.26 | 1.03 |
| 13 | New Jersey profile | $30.20 | $62,820 | $40,630 | $104,310 | 14,210 | 3.32 | 1.05 |
| 14 | Texas profile | $30.11 | $62,630 | $37,650 | $95,910 | 21,400 | 1.52 | 0.48 |
| 15 | Colorado profile | $30.00 | $62,390 | $44,060 | $100,020 | 14,920 | 5.19 | 1.64 |
| 16 | Wisconsin profile | $29.91 | $62,220 | $46,510 | $94,640 | 8,340 | 2.84 | 0.90 |
| 17 | Vermont profile | $29.72 | $61,810 | $47,820 | $80,690 | 1,120 | 3.70 | 1.17 |
| 18 | Michigan profile | $29.66 | $61,690 | $38,490 | $94,400 | 10,100 | 2.29 | 0.72 |
| 19 | Iowa profile | $29.27 | $60,880 | $44,450 | $102,890 | 3,530 | 2.27 | 0.72 |
| 20 | Illinois profile | $29.20 | $60,730 | $43,010 | $109,100 | 20,250 | 3.32 | 1.05 |
| 21 | District of Columbia profile | $29.06 | $60,450 | $43,060 | $107,980 | 1,260 | 1.80 | 0.57 |
| 22 | Hawaii profile | $28.89 | $60,090 | $48,460 | $104,790 | 2,110 | 3.36 | 1.06 |
| 23 | Maine profile | $28.83 | $59,970 | $43,310 | $89,220 | 1,930 | 3.02 | 0.95 |
| 24 | Massachusetts profile | $28.80 | $59,890 | $43,180 | $96,200 | 18,190 | 5.00 | 1.58 |
| 25 | Virginia profile | $28.79 | $59,880 | $39,730 | $100,040 | 17,940 | 4.37 | 1.38 |
| 26 | Maryland profile | $28.62 | $59,530 | $44,050 | $91,980 | 9,730 | 3.52 | 1.11 |
| 27 | Kansas profile | $28.59 | $59,470 | $37,910 | $85,860 | 2,600 | 1.81 | 0.57 |
| 28 | New York profile | $28.58 | $59,450 | $42,410 | $90,590 | 26,770 | 2.76 | 0.87 |
| 29 | Oklahoma profile | $28.53 | $59,350 | $35,350 | $92,870 | 5,150 | 3.02 | 0.95 |
| 30 | California profile | $28.48 | $59,250 | $44,640 | $111,080 | 75,610 | 4.15 | 1.31 |
| 31 | Montana profile | $28.36 | $59,000 | $36,840 | $83,640 | 1,820 | 3.55 | 1.12 |
| 32 | Georgia profile | $28.35 | $58,960 | $37,390 | $90,980 | 9,600 | 1.96 | 0.62 |
| 33 | Minnesota profile | $28.26 | $58,780 | $45,250 | $77,320 | 7,110 | 2.41 | 0.76 |
| 34 | Ohio profile | $28.06 | $58,360 | $39,010 | $83,730 | 18,020 | 3.25 | 1.03 |
| 35 | Nevada profile | $27.51 | $57,210 | $42,920 | $98,010 | 1,810 | 1.17 | 0.37 |
| 36 | Missouri profile | $27.36 | $56,910 | $37,650 | $89,400 | 8,130 | 2.77 | 0.87 |
| 37 | Florida profile | $27.30 | $56,790 | $39,430 | $84,410 | 29,750 | 3.00 | 0.95 |
| 38 | Delaware profile | $26.93 | $56,020 | $36,940 | $80,710 | 1,700 | 3.51 | 1.11 |
| 39 | North Carolina profile | $26.68 | $55,490 | $37,440 | $86,010 | 10,300 | 2.08 | 0.66 |
| 40 | New Hampshire profile | $26.36 | $54,840 | $38,480 | $81,050 | 3,690 | 5.41 | 1.71 |
| 41 | Kentucky profile | $26.05 | $54,190 | $35,150 | $83,070 | 7,690 | 3.85 | 1.22 |
| 42 | Indiana profile | $25.85 | $53,760 | $37,580 | $83,200 | 11,890 | 3.71 | 1.17 |
| 43 | South Dakota profile | $25.79 | $53,650 | $39,210 | $67,010 | 1,710 | 3.75 | 1.18 |
| 44 | South Carolina profile | $25.18 | $52,370 | $35,010 | $81,420 | 6,300 | 2.73 | 0.86 |
| 45 | Pennsylvania profile | $25.01 | $52,010 | $36,280 | $81,970 | 30,620 | 5.05 | 1.60 |
| 46 | Arkansas profile | $24.80 | $51,580 | $35,760 | $100,270 | 2,570 | 1.97 | 0.62 |
| 47 | Tennessee profile | $23.84 | $49,580 | $34,950 | $76,620 | 9,040 | 2.76 | 0.87 |
| 48 | West Virginia profile | $23.76 | $49,430 | $36,990 | $73,360 | 2,100 | 3.00 | 0.95 |
| 49 | Alabama profile | $22.74 | $47,310 | $34,420 | $76,510 | ** | ** | ** |
| 50 | Mississippi profile | $22.59 | $46,990 | $32,770 | $77,310 | 2,090 | 1.80 | 0.57 |
| 51 | Louisiana profile | $18.22 | $37,910 | $29,860 | $65,720 | 6,420 | 3.32 | 1.05 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (21-1010), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Community and Social Service Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 21-1018 Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 21-1011, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 21-1014, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 21-1011.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.