Pay, demand and where to work, from BLS data with the year on every table.
low → high: location quotient
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By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors (SOC 21-1018) employed 491,930 people in May 2025. The median pay is $59,350 a year ($28.53 an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $38,940 and the highest-paid 10% more than $97,590. BLS projects its employment to change by +18.4% between 2025 and 2035 (about 50,500 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: Master's degree.
Highest median pay: Alaska ($80,770), Oregon ($74,590), New Mexico ($74,100). Most jobs: California (75,610), Pennsylvania (30,620), Florida (29,750).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,940 | $18.72 |
| 25th percentile | $47,100 | $22.64 |
| Median | $59,350 | $28.53 |
| Mean | $64,440 | $30.98 |
| 75th percentile | $76,530 | $36.79 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $97,590 | $46.92 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
Hourly equivalents divide by 2,080 hours. Pay above $239,200 is shown as "≥ $239,200" (BLS top code).
| Measure ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Jobs 2025 | 533,400 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 631,400 |
| Change in jobs | 98,000 |
| Percent change | +18.4% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 50,500 |
| Self-employed share | 5.4% |
| Typical entry education | Master's degree |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | Internship/residency |
Licences and certifications are set by states and employers; the education shown is the usual entry requirement, not a legal one.
| State ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ | Yearly rent as % of median pay ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 1,290 | 1.26 | $80,770 | $58,240 | $114,650 | +36% | 21% |
| Arizona | 9,990 | 0.97 | $65,300 | $44,520 | $95,210 | +10% | 28% |
| Arkansas | 2,570 | 0.62 | $51,580 | $35,760 | $100,270 | -13% | 22% |
| California | 75,610 | 1.31 | $59,250 | $44,640 | $111,080 | -0% | 41% |
| Colorado | 14,920 | 1.64 | $62,390 | $44,060 | $100,020 | +5% | 34% |
| Connecticut | 7,540 | 1.41 | $63,590 | $44,080 | $99,540 | +7% | 28% |
| Delaware | 1,700 | 1.11 | $56,020 | $36,940 | $80,710 | -6% | 30% |
| District of Columbia | 1,260 | 0.57 | $60,450 | $43,060 | $107,980 | +2% | 39% |
| Florida | 29,750 | 0.95 | $56,790 | $39,430 | $84,410 | -4% | 35% |
| Georgia | 9,600 | 0.62 | $58,960 | $37,390 | $90,980 | -1% | 28% |
| Hawaii | 2,110 | 1.06 | $60,090 | $48,460 | $104,790 | +1% | 39% |
| Idaho | 2,990 | 1.10 | $63,360 | $36,400 | $98,760 | +7% | 23% |
| Illinois | 20,250 | 1.05 | $60,730 | $43,010 | $109,100 | +2% | 25% |
| Indiana | 11,890 | 1.17 | $53,760 | $37,580 | $83,200 | -9% | 24% |
| Iowa | 3,530 | 0.72 | $60,880 | $44,450 | $102,890 | +3% | 19% |
| Kansas | 2,600 | 0.57 | $59,470 | $37,910 | $85,860 | +0% | 21% |
| Kentucky | 7,690 | 1.22 | $54,190 | $35,150 | $83,070 | -9% | 21% |
| Louisiana | 6,420 | 1.05 | $37,910 | $29,860 | $65,720 | -36% | 34% |
| Maine | 1,930 | 0.95 | $59,970 | $43,310 | $89,220 | +1% | 23% |
| Maryland | 9,730 | 1.11 | $59,530 | $44,050 | $91,980 | +0% | 34% |
| Massachusetts | 18,190 | 1.58 | $59,890 | $43,180 | $96,200 | +1% | 35% |
| Michigan | 10,100 | 0.72 | $61,690 | $38,490 | $94,400 | +4% | 22% |
| Minnesota | 7,110 | 0.76 | $58,780 | $45,250 | $77,320 | -1% | 26% |
| Mississippi | 2,090 | 0.57 | $46,990 | $32,770 | $77,310 | -21% | 24% |
| Missouri | 8,130 | 0.87 | $56,910 | $37,650 | $89,400 | -4% | 22% |
| Montana | 1,820 | 1.12 | $59,000 | $36,840 | $83,640 | -1% | 22% |
| Nebraska | 2,170 | 0.67 | $63,770 | $42,400 | $109,610 | +7% | 20% |
| Nevada | 1,810 | 0.37 | $57,210 | $42,920 | $98,010 | -4% | 33% |
| New Hampshire | 3,690 | 1.71 | $54,840 | $38,480 | $81,050 | -8% | 33% |
| New Jersey | 14,210 | 1.05 | $62,820 | $40,630 | $104,310 | +6% | 33% |
| New Mexico | 2,420 | 0.88 | $74,100 | $48,900 | $113,420 | +25% | 17% |
| New York | 26,770 | 0.87 | $59,450 | $42,410 | $90,590 | +0% | 33% |
| North Carolina | 10,300 | 0.66 | $55,490 | $37,440 | $86,010 | -7% | 27% |
| North Dakota | 1,290 | 0.95 | $68,630 | $43,270 | $86,630 | +16% | 17% |
| Ohio | 18,020 | 1.03 | $58,360 | $39,010 | $83,730 | -2% | 21% |
| Oklahoma | 5,150 | 0.95 | $59,350 | $35,350 | $92,870 | +0% | 21% |
| Oregon | 8,160 | 1.31 | $74,590 | $49,860 | $102,830 | +26% | 25% |
| Pennsylvania | 30,620 | 1.60 | $52,010 | $36,280 | $81,970 | -12% | 28% |
| Rhode Island | 2,170 | 1.37 | $65,120 | $43,960 | $98,440 | +10% | 25% |
| South Carolina | 6,300 | 0.86 | $52,370 | $35,010 | $81,420 | -12% | 27% |
| South Dakota | 1,710 | 1.18 | $53,650 | $39,210 | $67,010 | -10% | 21% |
| Tennessee | 9,040 | 0.87 | $49,580 | $34,950 | $76,620 | -16% | 29% |
| Texas | 21,400 | 0.48 | $62,630 | $37,650 | $95,910 | +6% | 27% |
| Utah | 6,320 | 1.15 | $63,890 | $35,410 | $106,080 | +8% | 28% |
| Vermont | 1,120 | 1.17 | $61,810 | $47,820 | $80,690 | +4% | 24% |
| Virginia | 17,940 | 1.38 | $59,880 | $39,730 | $100,040 | +1% | 32% |
| Washington | 14,250 | 1.27 | $68,910 | $47,220 | $110,580 | +16% | 31% |
| West Virginia | 2,100 | 0.95 | $49,430 | $36,990 | $73,360 | -17% | 21% |
| Wisconsin | 8,340 | 0.90 | $62,220 | $46,510 | $94,640 | +5% | 21% |
| Wyoming | 910 | 1.03 | $62,980 | $36,960 | $103,150 | +6% | 19% |
Location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in the state than in the nation. "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure. Rent uses the state median gross rent (ACS).
The 60 highest-paying metropolitan areas among those with at least 300 jobs in this occupation.
| Metropolitan area ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage, AK | 810 | $81,120 | $59,070 | $113,600 | 1.44 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | 350 | $80,770 | $45,880 | $103,110 | 0.91 |
| Salem, OR | 560 | $78,870 | $46,990 | $114,660 | 0.94 |
| Bellingham, WA | 440 | $77,620 | $49,280 | $111,990 | 1.51 |
| Lincoln, NE | 560 | $76,480 | $41,650 | $113,740 | 0.97 |
| Las Cruces, NM | 310 | $76,350 | $52,730 | $94,000 | 1.22 |
| Bend, OR | 590 | $75,470 | $48,550 | $104,320 | 1.72 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 4,640 | $75,420 | $50,970 | $109,330 | 1.21 |
| Boulder, CO | 620 | $75,020 | $45,870 | $109,830 | 1.02 |
| Albuquerque, NM | 1,280 | $73,990 | $48,900 | $113,430 | 1.00 |
| Salinas, CA | 620 | $73,940 | $45,430 | $107,820 | 1.06 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 7,350 | $73,580 | $50,440 | $114,400 | 1.11 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | 450 | $73,540 | $46,820 | $103,270 | 1.09 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 1,260 | $72,770 | $45,470 | $127,730 | 1.37 |
| Idaho Falls, ID | 310 | $72,630 | $39,360 | $99,740 | 1.20 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 2,550 | $72,550 | $47,930 | $123,600 | 0.71 |
| St. George, UT | 440 | $72,510 | $35,680 | $117,000 | 1.54 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | 900 | $71,120 | $40,070 | $97,160 | 1.69 |
| Bismarck, ND | 360 | $70,810 | $42,760 | $85,790 | 1.59 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | 340 | $69,770 | $36,580 | $78,750 | 0.68 |
| Ogden, UT | 1,070 | $69,590 | $33,890 | $106,080 | 1.25 |
| Medford, OR | 340 | $68,990 | $49,470 | $96,230 | 1.21 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 9,520 | $68,400 | $48,050 | $132,510 | 1.27 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | 310 | $68,300 | $41,830 | $116,620 | 0.94 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | 1,030 | $68,140 | $44,570 | $105,970 | 0.81 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | 610 | $67,650 | $47,500 | $103,630 | 1.49 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | 790 | $67,510 | $45,950 | $109,190 | 1.16 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | 300 | $67,450 | $47,500 | $95,960 | 1.02 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 5,050 | $67,370 | $37,540 | $95,760 | 0.48 |
| Vallejo, CA | 670 | $66,940 | $42,220 | $132,340 | 1.47 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 2,930 | $66,780 | $38,950 | $100,220 | 0.72 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | 370 | $66,750 | $38,260 | $88,300 | 0.95 |
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | 370 | $66,540 | $49,000 | $93,240 | 0.99 |
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | 910 | $66,060 | $44,420 | $104,000 | 1.80 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 7,950 | $66,020 | $44,590 | $95,270 | 1.06 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | 1,370 | $65,940 | $43,310 | $97,700 | 1.80 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | 320 | $65,440 | $44,850 | $103,130 | 0.47 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | 420 | $65,370 | $37,820 | $86,920 | 0.45 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 9,030 | $65,270 | $46,520 | $104,170 | 0.91 |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | 1,040 | $65,220 | $47,070 | $99,330 | 2.08 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 1,330 | $64,910 | $43,750 | $104,420 | 1.30 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | 500 | $64,450 | $44,120 | $95,750 | 1.25 |
| Madison, WI | 1,500 | $64,250 | $48,250 | $98,510 | 1.16 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | 1,130 | $64,100 | $42,860 | $99,020 | 0.60 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | 1,650 | $64,100 | $44,730 | $101,300 | 2.04 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 870 | $63,980 | $46,940 | $128,210 | 1.34 |
| Mankato, MN | 500 | $63,460 | $51,410 | $75,610 | 2.80 |
| New Haven, CT | 1,430 | $63,110 | $45,490 | $94,930 | 1.61 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | 2,720 | $63,100 | $36,820 | $112,810 | 1.04 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 860 | $63,010 | $45,070 | $109,370 | 1.35 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 8,480 | $62,810 | $47,110 | $100,320 | 1.66 |
| Chico, CA | 380 | $62,780 | $43,530 | $79,520 | 1.55 |
| Modesto, CA | 1,390 | $62,700 | $45,960 | $120,480 | 2.24 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 5,000 | $62,560 | $38,220 | $98,790 | 0.39 |
| El Paso, TX | 760 | $62,510 | $37,860 | $81,460 | 0.71 |
| Visalia, CA | 710 | $62,500 | $41,950 | $115,910 | 1.31 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | 330 | $62,460 | $46,410 | $98,440 | 1.23 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | 700 | $62,300 | $46,070 | $92,610 | 0.76 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 11,150 | $62,130 | $45,450 | $98,210 | 1.30 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 2,360 | $61,960 | $46,300 | $93,180 | 0.91 |
The median is $59,350 a year ($28.53 an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $38,940 and the highest-paid tenth over $97,590 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
491,930 in May 2025, and BLS projects +18.4% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: Master's degree (BLS).
Alaska, with a median of $80,770 (among states with published figures).