Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors Salary in Kentucky
Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in Kentucky earned a median of $54,190 a year ($26.05 an hour) and a mean of $57,560 in May 2025. The median is 8.7% below the U.S. median of $59,350, ranking 41st of 52 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $54,190
- Median hourly
- $26.05
- Mean annual
- $57,560
- Jobs on record
- 7,690
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 Kentucky compare on pay for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors?
Kentucky ranks 41st of 52 states and territories. Alaska is highest at $80,770, $26,580 more than the Kentucky median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 39 | $55,490 | -7% | 10,300 |
| New Hampshire | 40 | $54,840 | -8% | 3,690 |
| Kentucky | 41 | $54,190 | -9% | 7,690 |
| Indiana | 42 | $53,760 | -9% | 11,890 |
| South Dakota | 43 | $53,650 | -10% | 1,710 |
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 Kentucky pay go further after prices?
Prices in Kentucky run 9.8% below the U.S. average, so the $54,190 median buys about what $60,105 buys at average U.S. prices, above the $59,350 U.S. median. On this measure Kentucky ranks 28th of 51, up from 41st 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 Kentucky pay substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors the most?
Elizabethtown, KY is highest at $58,720, 8.4% above the Kentucky median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Elizabethtown, KY | $58,720 | 260 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $58,240 | 140 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $58,190 | 970 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $57,720 | 370 |
| West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $54,070 | 270 |
| Owensboro, KY | $51,770 | 220 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $50,970 | 2,870 |
| South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $48,370 | 780 |
| Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $48,040 | 590 |
| East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $46,580 | 720 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in Kentucky 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 Kentucky?
BLS counts 7,690 jobs in Kentucky, 1.6% of the 491,930 in the U.S. That is the 23rd largest count among the 51 states and territories with a published figure. That is 3.8 of every 1,000 jobs in Kentucky, a location quotient of 1.22: the occupation's share of local jobs is 1.22 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 Kentucky
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.