Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors Salary in Louisiana
Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in Louisiana earned a median of $37,910 a year ($18.22 an hour) and a mean of $45,030 in May 2025. The median is 36.1% below the U.S. median of $59,350, ranking lowest of 52 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $37,910
- Median hourly
- $18.22
- Mean annual
- $45,030
- Jobs on record
- 6,420
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 Louisiana compare on pay for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors?
Louisiana ranks 52nd of 52 states and territories. Alaska is highest at $80,770, $42,860 more than the Louisiana median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | 50 | $46,990 | -21% | 2,090 |
| Puerto Rico | 51 | $46,790 | -21% | 100 |
| Louisiana | 52 | $37,910 | -36% | 6,420 |
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 Louisiana pay go further after prices?
Prices in Louisiana run 11.8% below the U.S. average, so the $37,910 median buys about what $42,978 buys at average U.S. prices, below the $59,350 U.S. median. On this measure Louisiana ranks 51st 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 Louisiana pay substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors the most?
Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area is highest at $49,230, 29.9% above the Louisiana median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $49,230 | 180 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $48,100 | 410 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $46,840 | 840 |
| Monroe, LA | $45,310 | 420 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $42,140 | 1,580 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $38,610 | 350 |
| Lafayette, LA | $37,660 | 620 |
| Alexandria, LA | $37,150 | 300 |
| Hammond, LA | $36,750 | 130 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $36,520 | 600 |
| Central Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $36,350 | 220 |
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $34,470 | 470 |
| Northeast Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $32,580 | 260 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in Louisiana 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 Louisiana?
BLS counts 6,420 jobs in Louisiana, 1.3% of the 491,930 in the U.S. That is the 26th largest count among the 51 states and territories with a published figure. That is 3.3 of every 1,000 jobs in Louisiana, a location quotient of 1.05: the occupation's share of local jobs is 1.05 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.
Related jobs in Louisiana
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.