Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors Salary in Mississippi
Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in Mississippi earned a median of $46,990 a year ($22.59 an hour) and a mean of $52,130 in May 2025. The median is 20.8% below the U.S. median of $59,350, ranking 50th of 52 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $46,990
- Median hourly
- $22.59
- Mean annual
- $52,130
- Jobs on record
- 2,090
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 Mississippi compare on pay for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors?
Mississippi ranks 50th of 52 states and territories. Alaska is highest at $80,770, $33,780 more than the Mississippi median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Virginia | 48 | $49,430 | -17% | 2,100 |
| Alabama | 49 | $47,310 | -20% | not published |
| 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 Mississippi pay go further after prices?
Prices in Mississippi run 13.0% below the U.S. average, so the $46,990 median buys about what $54,041 buys at average U.S. prices, below the $59,350 U.S. median. On this measure Mississippi ranks 45th of 51, up from 50th 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 Mississippi pay substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors the most?
Lower West Mississippi nonmetropolitan area is highest at $52,490, 11.7% above the Mississippi median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Lower West Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $52,490 | 100 |
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $49,180 | 210 |
| Jackson, MS | $47,380 | 760 |
| Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $46,040 | 350 |
| West Delta Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $44,240 | 160 |
| Hattiesburg, MS | $38,300 | 80 |
| Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $36,330 | 240 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in Mississippi 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 Mississippi?
BLS counts 2,090 jobs in Mississippi, 0.42% of the 491,930 in the U.S. That is the 40th largest count among the 51 states and territories with a published figure. That is 1.8 of every 1,000 jobs in Mississippi, a location quotient of 0.57: the occupation's share of local jobs is 0.57 times its national share, so it is less concentrated here than in the U.S. as a whole.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025 and national file.
Related jobs in Mississippi
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.