Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors Salary in Massachusetts
Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in Massachusetts earned a median of $59,890 a year ($28.80 an hour) and a mean of $65,380 in May 2025. The median is 0.9% above the U.S. median of $59,350, ranking 24th of 52 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $59,890
- Median hourly
- $28.80
- Mean annual
- $65,380
- Jobs on record
- 18,190
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 Massachusetts compare on pay for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors?
Massachusetts ranks 24th of 52 states and territories. Alaska is highest at $80,770, $20,880 more than the Massachusetts median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 22 | $60,090 | +1% | 2,110 |
| Maine | 23 | $59,970 | +1% | 1,930 |
| Massachusetts | 24 | $59,890 | +1% | 18,190 |
| Virginia | 25 | $59,880 | +1% | 17,940 |
| Maryland | 26 | $59,530 | +0% | 9,730 |
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 Massachusetts pay go further after prices?
Prices in Massachusetts run 5.8% above the U.S. average, so the $59,890 median buys about what $56,630 buys at average U.S. prices, below the $59,350 U.S. median. On this measure Massachusetts ranks 37th of 51, down from 24th 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 Massachusetts pay substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors the most?
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH is highest at $62,130, 3.7% above the Massachusetts median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $62,130 | 11,150 |
| Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area | $62,030 | 290 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $61,880 | 440 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $58,810 | 590 |
| Springfield, MA | $58,750 | 1,790 |
| Worcester, MA | $57,950 | 2,460 |
| Pittsfield, MA | $55,100 | 440 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts?
BLS counts 18,190 jobs in Massachusetts, 3.7% of the 491,930 in the U.S. That is the 7th largest count among the 51 states and territories with a published figure. That is 5.0 of every 1,000 jobs in Massachusetts, a location quotient of 1.58: the occupation's share of local jobs is 1.58 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 Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts was $20.76 in May 2025, $5.76 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 Massachusetts
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.