Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors Salary in Florida
Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in Florida earned a median of $56,790 a year ($27.30 an hour) and a mean of $61,030 in May 2025. The median is 4.3% below the U.S. median of $59,350, ranking 37th of 52 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $56,790
- Median hourly
- $27.30
- Mean annual
- $61,030
- Jobs on record
- 29,750
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 Florida compare on pay for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors?
Florida ranks 37th of 52 states and territories. Alaska is highest at $80,770, $23,980 more than the Florida median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | 35 | $57,210 | -4% | 1,810 |
| 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 |
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 Florida pay go further after prices?
Prices in Florida run 3.4% above the U.S. average, so the $56,790 median buys about what $54,915 buys at average U.S. prices, below the $59,350 U.S. median. On this measure Florida ranks 43rd of 51, down from 37th 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 Florida pay substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors the most?
Jacksonville, FL is highest at $61,260, 7.9% above the Florida median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville, FL | $61,260 | 2,030 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $61,200 | 740 |
| Punta Gorda, FL | $60,880 | 180 |
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | $58,870 | 500 |
| Tallahassee, FL | $58,240 | 470 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $57,290 | 10,240 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $56,710 | 3,270 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $56,580 | 750 |
| South Florida nonmetropolitan area | $56,020 | 170 |
| North Florida nonmetropolitan area | $55,720 | 290 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $55,570 | 4,370 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $55,270 | 360 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $55,220 | 750 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $54,820 | 430 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $54,630 | 1,080 |
| Ocala, FL | $53,820 | 430 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $53,420 | 620 |
| Gainesville, FL | $51,280 | 390 |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $50,580 | 300 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $49,910 | 780 |
| Wildwood-The Villages, FL | $49,500 | 80 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | $49,120 | 90 |
| Sebring, FL | $46,550 | 100 |
| Homosassa Springs, FL | $46,480 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in Florida 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 Florida?
BLS counts 29,750 jobs in Florida, 6.0% of the 491,930 in the U.S. That is the 3rd largest count among the 51 states and territories with a published figure. That is 3.0 of every 1,000 jobs in Florida, a location quotient of 0.95: the occupation's share of local jobs is 0.95 times its national share, so it is about as concentrated here as in the U.S. as a whole.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025 and national file.
How does the Florida 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 Florida was $18.96 in May 2025, $3.96 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 Florida
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.