Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors Salary in North Dakota
Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in North Dakota earned a median of $68,630 a year ($33.00 an hour) and a mean of $67,940 in May 2025. The median is 15.6% above the U.S. median of $59,350, ranking 5th of 52 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $68,630
- Median hourly
- $33.00
- Mean annual
- $67,940
- Jobs on record
- 1,290
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 North Dakota compare on pay for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors?
North Dakota ranks 5th of 52 states and territories. Alaska is highest at $80,770, $12,140 more than the North Dakota median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | 3 | $74,100 | +25% | 2,420 |
| Washington | 4 | $68,910 | +16% | 14,250 |
| North Dakota | 5 | $68,630 | +16% | 1,290 |
| Arizona | 6 | $65,300 | +10% | 9,990 |
| Rhode Island | 7 | $65,120 | +10% | 2,170 |
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 North Dakota pay go further after prices?
Prices in North Dakota run 11.0% below the U.S. average, so the $68,630 median buys about what $77,148 buys at average U.S. prices, above the $59,350 U.S. median. On this measure North Dakota ranks 3rd of 51, up from 5th 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 North Dakota pay substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors the most?
East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area is highest at $74,420, 8.4% above the North Dakota median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $74,420 | 120 |
| West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $72,000 | 120 |
| Bismarck, ND | $70,810 | 360 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | $60,970 | 180 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | $60,130 | 610 |
| Minot, ND | $60,130 | 120 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in North Dakota 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 North Dakota?
BLS counts 1,290 jobs in North Dakota, 0.26% of the 491,930 in the U.S. That is the 47th largest count among the 51 states and territories with a published figure. That is 3.0 of every 1,000 jobs in North Dakota, a location quotient of 0.95: the occupation's share of local jobs is 0.95 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 North Dakota
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.