Occupation salary profile

Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors

SOC 21-1018 BLS OEWS May 2025
National median · BLS
$59,350
▲ +0.27% YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$64,440
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
491,930
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors

Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.

Percentile All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay$38,940
25th$47,100
Median (50th)$59,350
75th$76,530
90th — top pay$97,590

Hourly ⇄ annual pay

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Based on hrs/week × weeks/year = 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035

Job outlook for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors

BLS projects employment of substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors to grow 18.4% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 50,500 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.

Jobs 2025 → 2035
533,400 → 631,400
+98,000 jobs
Projected change
+18.4%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
50,500
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
Master's degree
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Internship/residency
Self-employed
5.4% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 5)
Extensive Preparation Needed. Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Fastest-growing jobs → Best-paying jobs that need a master's degree →

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035 · BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook →

Skills & tools

Skills needed for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors

How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.

Top skills
  • Active Listening4.6
  • Social Perceptiveness4.6
  • Speaking4.2
  • Reading Comprehension4.1
  • Writing4.1
  • Critical Thinking3.9
  • Judgment and Decision Making3.9
  • Monitoring3.9
  • Service Orientation3.9
  • Active Learning3.8
Top knowledge areas
  • Therapy and Counseling4.9
  • Psychology4.8
  • English Language4.3
  • Customer and Personal Service4.3
  • Sociology and Anthropology4.0
  • Education and Training3.7
  • Administrative3.4
  • Administration and Management3.0
Software and technology used
Microsoft AccessMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WordOracle PeopleSoftACMS Casewatch MilleniumAddison Health Systems WritePad EHRAllscripts CanopyAnasazi Software Assessment and Treatment Plan SystemsAthena Software Penelope Case ManagementCadence Solutions extendedReachCase management softwareCaseManagement.com E-ReportsClient information database systemsClient Systemdanic Technology

Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).

Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.

About the job

What substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors do

BLS reports pay for this group as one occupation. The details below combine O*NET's 2 detailed occupations: Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors; Mental Health Counselors.

  • Counsel clients or patients, individually or in group sessions, to assist in overcoming dependencies, adjusting to life, or making changes.
  • Attend training sessions to increase knowledge and skills.
  • Develop client treatment plans based on research, clinical experience, and client histories.
  • Complete and maintain accurate records or reports regarding the patients' histories and progress, services provided, or other required information.
  • Review and evaluate clients' progress in relation to measurable goals described in treatment and care plans.
  • Plan or implement follow-up or aftercare programs for clients to be discharged from treatment programs.
  • Intervene as an advocate for clients or patients to resolve emergency problems in crisis situations.
  • Coordinate counseling efforts with mental health professionals or other health professionals, such as doctors, nurses, or social workers.
Also called
Addictions CounselorChemical Dependency Counselor (CD Counselor)CounselorSA Counselor (Substance Abuse Counselor)CADC (Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor)Case ManagerChemical Dependency ProfessionalDrug and Alcohol Treatment Specialist (DATS)LADC (Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor)Residential Substance Abuse CounselorClinicianMental Health Counselor
More job titles for this occupation (55)
Addiction CounselorAddiction Recovery SpecialistAddiction SpecialistAddiction TherapistAlcohol and Drug CounselorAlcoholic CounselorAlcoholism and Substance Abuse CounselorBehavior TherapistBehavioral Health ClinicianBehavioral Health ConsultantBehavioral Health TherapistBereavement CounselorBSS (Behavior Support Specialist)CADC (Certified Alcohol Drug Counselor)CASAC (Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor)Certified Abuse and Drug Addiction CounselorCertified ADC (Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor)Certified Alcohol CounselorCertified Drug CounselorCertified Substance Abuse CounselorClinical CounselorClinical Mental Health Counselor (CMHC)Correctional Substance Abuse CounselorCorrections CaseworkerDirect Care CounselorDrug Abuse CounselorDrug and Alcohol TherapistDrug CounselorDrug or Alcohol Abuse Human Relations CounselorEAP Consultant (Employee Assistance Program Consultant)Elder CounselorGrief CounselorGroup CounselorGroup Home CounselorLicensed Addiction Counselor (LAC)Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC)Licensed CounselorLicensed Mental Health TherapistLicensed TherapistLPC (Licensed Professional Counselor)Mental Health Case ManagerMental Health ClinicianMental Health ProfessionalMental Health Program SpecialistOutpatient Mental Health TherapistQuitline CounselorResidential Child Care CounselorStudent Assistance Counselor (SAC)Substance Abuse SpecialistSubstance Abuse TherapistSubstance Use CounselorSubstance Use Disorder CounselorTelehealth TherapistTreatment CoordinatorTreatment Counselor

Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.