SOC 211018

Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors

This occupation includes the 2018 SOC occupations 21-1011 Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors and 21-1014 Mental Health Counselors.

National Median

$59,190

per year

National Salary Overview

Median Annual

$59,190

Entry Level (10th pct)

$39,090

Experienced (90th pct)

$98,210

Total Employed

440,380

Salary Distribution

Salary percentiles show the range from entry-level (10th) to top earners (90th)

Salary by Experience Level

Experience LevelEstimated Salary Range
Entry Level0-2 years experience$39,090 - $47,170
Mid Career2-8 years experience$47,170 - $76,230
Senior / Expert8+ years experience$76,230 - $98,210

Highest Paying Locations for Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors

Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors Salary by Location

Compare salaries across 50 metropolitan areas

Metropolitan AreaMedian SalaryEmployed
Bend, OR$82,380390
Ogden, UT$81,300800
Alaska nonmetropolitan area$80,470290
Anchorage, AK$79,830670
Alaska$79,2201,060
Fairbanks-College, AK$78,750100
Boulder, CO$77,720920
Hanford-Corcoran, CA$76,240190
Flagstaff, AZ$75,930150
Santa Fe, NM$75,420140
Salem, OR$74,810460
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$74,6702,520
Logan, UT-ID$74,400200
Vallejo, CA$74,210570
Brownsville-Harlingen, TX$74,160540
Napa, CA$73,960190
Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area$73,470240
Lansing-East Lansing, MI$73,300720
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$72,9508,080
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA$72,550260
Coeur d'Alene, ID$72,400190
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA$72,380800
Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area$71,700280
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$71,5303,640
Albuquerque, NM$71,4801,110
Bellingham, WA$71,250340
New Mexico$70,7702,070
Carson City, NV$70,74040
Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ$70,340210
Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI$70,080160
Oregon$69,6606,410
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$69,5103,570
Farmington, NM$68,700110
Corvallis, OR$68,620170
Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI$68,560130
Fort Collins-Loveland, CO$68,5501,310
Lewiston, ID-WA$68,29060
West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area$68,120110
Omaha, NE-IA$68,0901,080
Bismarck, ND$67,950300
Arizona nonmetropolitan area$67,840120
Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA$67,800100
Battle Creek, MI$67,800150
Stockton-Lodi, CA$67,7001,050
Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area$67,680130
Albany, OR$67,590170
Salt Lake City-Murray, UT$67,5401,930
Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area$67,490350
East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area$67,190110
Amarillo, TX$66,930190

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average salary for a Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors?
The national median annual salary for Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors is $59,190, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This means half of workers in this occupation earn more, and half earn less.
Where do Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselorss earn the most?
The highest-paying metro area for Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselorss is Bend, OR, with a median salary of $82,380.
How much can an experienced Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors make?
Top-earning Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselorss (90th percentile) make $98,210 or more annually. This typically reflects workers with significant experience, specialized skills, or positions in high-paying regions.