Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors Salary in Nebraska
Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in Nebraska earned a median of $63,770 a year ($30.66 an hour) and a mean of $70,220 in May 2025. The median is 7.4% above the U.S. median of $59,350, ranking 9th of 52 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $63,770
- Median hourly
- $30.66
- Mean annual
- $70,220
- Jobs on record
- 2,170
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 Nebraska compare on pay for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors?
Nebraska ranks 9th of 52 states and territories. Alaska is highest at $80,770, $17,000 more than the Nebraska median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | 7 | $65,120 | +10% | 2,170 |
| Utah | 8 | $63,890 | +8% | 6,320 |
| Nebraska | 9 | $63,770 | +7% | 2,170 |
| Connecticut | 10 | $63,590 | +7% | 7,540 |
| Idaho | 11 | $63,360 | +7% | 2,990 |
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 Nebraska pay go further after prices?
Prices in Nebraska run 9.9% below the U.S. average, so the $63,770 median buys about what $70,775 buys at average U.S. prices, above the $59,350 U.S. median. On this measure Nebraska ranks 5th of 51, up from 9th 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 Nebraska pay substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors the most?
Lincoln, NE is highest at $76,480, 19.9% above the Nebraska median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Lincoln, NE | $76,480 | 560 |
| Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $72,320 | 110 |
| South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $64,590 | 250 |
| Northwest Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $62,850 | 70 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $60,650 | 1,140 |
| Grand Island, NE | $60,320 | 100 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in Nebraska 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 Nebraska?
BLS counts 2,170 jobs in Nebraska, 0.44% of the 491,930 in the U.S. That is the 37th largest count among the 51 states and territories with a published figure. That is 2.1 of every 1,000 jobs in Nebraska, a location quotient of 0.67: the occupation's share of local jobs is 0.67 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.
How does the Nebraska 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 Nebraska was $20.38 in May 2025, $5.38 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 Nebraska
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.