Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors Salary in Alaska
Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in Alaska earned a median of $80,770 a year ($38.83 an hour) and a mean of $86,500 in May 2025. The median is 36.1% above the U.S. median of $59,350, ranking highest of 52 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $80,770
- Median hourly
- $38.83
- Mean annual
- $86,500
- Jobs on record
- 1,290
Grey needle: U.S. median, $59,350 a year.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state file, May 2025. Wage and salary jobs only; the self-employed are not counted. OEWS pay excludes overtime, shift differentials and non-production bonuses. Confirm any figure on bls.gov/oes. Latest BLS release: May 2025, published May 15, 2026; checked November 10, 2026.
How does Alaska compare on pay for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors?
Alaska pays substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors more than any other state or territory, ahead of Oregon at $74,590.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 1 | $80,770 | +36% | 1,290 |
| Oregon | 2 | $74,590 | +26% | 8,160 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $74,100 | +25% | 2,420 |
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025. Rank 1 is the highest median among 52 states and territories with a published figure. See every state.
Does Alaska pay go further after prices?
Prices in Alaska run 2.4% above the U.S. average, so the $80,770 median buys about what $78,909 buys at average U.S. prices, above the $59,350 U.S. median. On this measure Alaska ranks 2nd of 51, down from 1st before the adjustment.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025; BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024. The adjustment divides pay by the state's price level.
Which areas in Alaska pay substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors the most?
Fairbanks-College, AK is highest at $83,680, 3.6% above the Alaska median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Fairbanks-College, AK | $83,680 | 100 |
| Anchorage, AK | $81,120 | 810 |
| Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $78,420 | 380 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in Alaska is shown; an area that crosses state lines is listed under the first state in its BLS title.
How many substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors work in Alaska?
BLS counts 1,290 jobs in Alaska, 0.26% of the 491,930 in the U.S. That is the 46th largest count among the 51 states and territories with a published figure. That is 4.0 of every 1,000 jobs in Alaska, a location quotient of 1.26: the occupation's share of local jobs is 1.26 times its national share, so it is more concentrated here than in the U.S. as a whole.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025 and national file.
Related jobs in Alaska
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.