Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors Salary in District of Columbia
Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in District of Columbia earned a median of $60,450 a year ($29.06 an hour) and a mean of $69,180 in May 2025. The median is 1.9% above the U.S. median of $59,350, ranking 21st of 52 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $60,450
- Median hourly
- $29.06
- Mean annual
- $69,180
- Jobs on record
- 1,260
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 District of Columbia compare on pay for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors?
District of Columbia ranks 21st of 52 states and territories. Alaska is highest at $80,770, $20,320 more than the District of Columbia median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | 19 | $60,880 | +3% | 3,530 |
| Illinois | 20 | $60,730 | +2% | 20,250 |
| District of Columbia | 21 | $60,450 | +2% | 1,260 |
| Hawaii | 22 | $60,090 | +1% | 2,110 |
| Maine | 23 | $59,970 | +1% | 1,930 |
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 District of Columbia pay go further after prices?
Prices in District of Columbia run 9.9% above the U.S. average, so the $60,450 median buys about what $55,004 buys at average U.S. prices, below the $59,350 U.S. median. On this measure District of Columbia ranks 42nd of 51, down from 21st 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 District of Columbia pay substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors the most?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV is highest at $65,270, 8.0% above the District of Columbia median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $65,270 | 9,030 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia?
BLS counts 1,260 jobs in District of Columbia, 0.26% of the 491,930 in the U.S. That is the 48th largest count among the 51 states and territories with a published figure. That is 1.8 of every 1,000 jobs in District of Columbia, a location quotient of 0.57: the occupation's share of local jobs is 0.57 times its national share, so it is less concentrated here than in the U.S. as a whole.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025 and national file.
How does the District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia was $20.70 in May 2025, $2.30 above the $18.40 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 District of Columbia
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.