Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors
SOC 21-1018 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors is $53,710, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $60,080, and an estimated 397,880 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +12.7% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of -4.3% (pay did not keep up with inflation). BLS projects employment will grow 16.8% between 2024 and 2034.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $53,710 | $53,710 | 397,880 |
| 2022 | $49,710 | $51,756 | 344,970 |
| 2021 | $48,520 | $54,560 | 310,880 |
| 2020 | $47,660 | $56,111 | 293,620 |
Nominal change
+12.7%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
-4.3%
Job Outlook (2024–2034 BLS projection)
The BLS Employment Projections program estimates how each occupation's employment will change over the coming decade, and how many job openings to expect each year (from both growth and the need to replace workers who leave).
Projected Growth
+16.8%
Much faster than average
Employment 2024
483,500
Projected 2034
564,600
Annual Openings
48,300
Typical entry-level education: Master's degree.
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $53,710. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $75,960 | +41.4% | 310 |
| Alaska | $70,860 | +31.9% | 1,120 |
| Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $68,200 | +27% | 280 |
| Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $66,420 | +23.7% | 260 |
| Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $64,860 | +20.8% | 280 |
| District of Columbia | $64,270 | +19.7% | 1,060 |
| Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $63,650 | +18.5% | 420 |
| Wyoming | $62,990 | +17.3% | 820 |
| Utah | $62,870 | +17.1% | 3,850 |
| New Mexico | $62,120 | +15.7% | 2,110 |
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$36,700
25th Pct
$44,600
Median
$53,710
75th Pct
$70,130
90th Pct
$89,920
Related Occupations in Community & Social Service
Other occupations in the same SOC major group, ranked by national median wage.