Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors Salary in Maryland
Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in Maryland earned a median of $59,530 a year ($28.62 an hour) and a mean of $63,720 in May 2025. The median is about level with the U.S. median of $59,350, ranking 26th of 52 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $59,530
- Median hourly
- $28.62
- Mean annual
- $63,720
- Jobs on record
- 9,730
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 Maryland compare on pay for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors?
Maryland ranks 26th of 52 states and territories. Alaska is highest at $80,770, $21,240 more than the Maryland median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 24 | $59,890 | +1% | 18,190 |
| Virginia | 25 | $59,880 | +1% | 17,940 |
| Maryland | 26 | $59,530 | +0% | 9,730 |
| Kansas | 27 | $59,470 | +0% | 2,600 |
| New York | 28 | $59,450 | +0% | 26,770 |
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 Maryland pay go further after prices?
Prices in Maryland run 5.0% above the U.S. average, so the $59,530 median buys about what $56,717 buys at average U.S. prices, below the $59,350 U.S. median. On this measure Maryland ranks 36th of 51, down from 26th 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 Maryland pay substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors the most?
Lexington Park, MD is highest at $63,820, 7.2% above the Maryland median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Lexington Park, MD | $63,820 | 140 |
| Maryland nonmetropolitan area | $62,610 | 370 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $58,070 | 380 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $57,750 | 5,160 |
| Salisbury, MD | $53,480 | 220 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in Maryland 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 Maryland?
BLS counts 9,730 jobs in Maryland, 2.0% of the 491,930 in the U.S. That is the 17th largest count among the 51 states and territories with a published figure. That is 3.5 of every 1,000 jobs in Maryland, 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 Maryland 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 Maryland was $21.18 in May 2025, $6.18 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 Maryland
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.