Salary Info

Salary & Wage Data

• The median annual wage for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors was $59,190 in May 2024. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• The BLS also reports a 10th percentile wage of $39,090 and a 90th percentile wage of over $98,210 in that same dataset. Bureau of Labor Statistics+2onlinedegrees.bradley.edu+2
• In the May 2023 OES data, the “mean” (average) wage for that occupation was $60,080 (≈ $28.89/hr) Bureau of Labor Statistics
• In 2023, the “10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, 90th” annual wages from that dataset were approximately:
  • 10th: $36,700
  • 25th: $44,600
  • 50th / median: $53,710
  • 75th: $70,130
  • 90th: $89,920 Bureau of Labor Statistics

These numbers show fairly wide dispersion. It’s not uncommon for experienced, credentialed, or specialized counselors to reach into the upper tails if they combine therapy skills, grants, private practice, or supervisory roles.

State / Local Example — Florida

• In Florida, as of May 2023, the mean wage for substance abuse / behavioral disorder / mental health counselors was $56,980 (≈ $27.39/hr) Bureau of Labor Statistics
• For Florida specifically, some analyses list median salaries ~ $56,830 for substance abuse counselors. AllPsychologySchools.com
• The lowest 10% in Florida might be earning ~ $38,790, and the highest 10% ~ $83,330. AllPsychologySchools.com

So Florida’s numbers are a bit lower than the national median in many cases (which is expected because cost-of-living and demand vary by region).

Job Outlook & Growth Projections

• From 2024 to 2034, employment of substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors is projected to grow 17%, which is much faster than average for all occupations. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Earlier projections (e.g. 2022–2032) saw ~ 18% growth for this occupation. Bureau of Labor Statistics+2MACU+2
• The BLS expects ~48,300 job openings per year, on average, over the 2024–2034 span (a lot of turnover + new slots) Bureau of Labor Statistics
• The “Fastest Growing Occupations” listing shows this field among those with above-average growth (~17%) and cites the median wage $59,190 as of latest data. Bureau of Labor Statistics

So the demand is strong and expected to stay so for the foreseeable future.