Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors Salary in Delaware
Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in Delaware earned a median of $56,020 a year ($26.93 an hour) and a mean of $57,330 in May 2025. The median is 5.6% below the U.S. median of $59,350, ranking 38th of 52 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $56,020
- Median hourly
- $26.93
- Mean annual
- $57,330
- Jobs on record
- 1,700
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 Delaware compare on pay for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors?
Delaware ranks 38th of 52 states and territories. Alaska is highest at $80,770, $24,750 more than the Delaware median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri | 36 | $56,910 | -4% | 8,130 |
| Florida | 37 | $56,790 | -4% | 29,750 |
| Delaware | 38 | $56,020 | -6% | 1,700 |
| North Carolina | 39 | $55,490 | -7% | 10,300 |
| New Hampshire | 40 | $54,840 | -8% | 3,690 |
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 Delaware pay go further after prices?
Prices in Delaware are about at the U.S. average, so the $56,020 median buys about what $56,128 buys at average U.S. prices, below the $59,350 U.S. median. On this measure Delaware ranks 38th of 51, the same place it holds 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 Delaware pay substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors the most?
Dover, DE is highest at $60,990, 8.9% above the Delaware median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Dover, DE | $60,990 | 220 |
| Sussex Delaware nonmetropolitan area | $51,530 | 230 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in Delaware 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 Delaware?
BLS counts 1,700 jobs in Delaware, 0.35% of the 491,930 in the U.S. That is the 45th largest count among the 51 states and territories with a published figure. That is 3.5 of every 1,000 jobs in Delaware, a location quotient of 1.11: the occupation's share of local jobs is 1.11 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.
How does the Delaware minimum wage compare with pay for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors?
The 10th-percentile hourly pay for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in Delaware was $17.76 in May 2025, $2.76 above the $15.00 minimum wage that applies there now. The pay figure dates from May 2025 and the minimum wage is the current rate, so the two are not from the same date.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, State Minimum Wage Laws, updated 2026-11-05; BLS OEWS state file, May 2025, 10th-percentile hourly wage.
Related jobs in Delaware
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.