Community and social service occupations · SOC 21-1018
Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors
Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors earned a median of $59,190 per year in the U.S. in 2024, employment is projected to grow +16.8% from 2024–2034, with about 48,300 openings projected each year. Typical entry-level education: Master's degree.
Median annual pay
$59,190
Above the $49,500 median for all U.S. occupations
Projected growth (2024–2034)
+16.8%
Faster than the +3.1% projected for all occupations
Annual openings (avg)
48,300
Projected 2024–2034
Employed (2024)
483,500
Typical entry education
Master's degree
On-the-job training
Internship/residency
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More occupations in this field
Occupations in the same federal BLS group (Community and social service occupations), grouped by the standard occupational classification, not a curated related-occupation mapping.
Source & methodology
Figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (Employment Projections). Wages are 2024; employment projections cover 2024–2034. Public domain (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). Credit BLS.
- U.S. national figures only, wages and outlook vary by state, metro, employer, and experience.
- Median wage is the 2024 BLS estimate; projections are BLS model estimates for 2024–2034, not guarantees.
- Occupational data is national and is NOT an institution-specific or graduate outcome.
- Very high wages are capped by BLS and stored as null rather than a fabricated number.
Suggested citation
CampusPin. (2026). Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors, occupation profile. Retrieved from https://campuspin.com/careers/substance-abuse-behavioral-disorder-and-mental-health-counselors
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