Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors Salary in Pennsylvania
Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in Pennsylvania earned a median of $52,010 a year ($25.01 an hour) and a mean of $57,170 in May 2025. The median is 12.4% below the U.S. median of $59,350, ranking 45th of 52 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $52,010
- Median hourly
- $25.01
- Mean annual
- $57,170
- Jobs on record
- 30,620
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 Pennsylvania compare on pay for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors?
Pennsylvania ranks 45th of 52 states and territories. Alaska is highest at $80,770, $28,760 more than the Pennsylvania median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota | 43 | $53,650 | -10% | 1,710 |
| South Carolina | 44 | $52,370 | -12% | 6,300 |
| Pennsylvania | 45 | $52,010 | -12% | 30,620 |
| Arkansas | 46 | $51,580 | -13% | 2,570 |
| Tennessee | 47 | $49,580 | -16% | 9,040 |
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 Pennsylvania pay go further after prices?
Prices in Pennsylvania run 2.4% below the U.S. average, so the $52,010 median buys about what $53,304 buys at average U.S. prices, below the $59,350 U.S. median. On this measure Pennsylvania ranks 48th of 51, down from 45th 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 Pennsylvania pay substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors the most?
Lebanon, PA is highest at $59,510, 14.4% above the Pennsylvania median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Lebanon, PA | $59,510 | 200 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $58,140 | 14,920 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $57,210 | 1,330 |
| Reading, PA | $55,690 | 840 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $55,520 | 1,550 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $54,290 | 6,110 |
| State College, PA | $53,540 | 400 |
| Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $53,130 | 730 |
| York-Hanover, PA | $51,470 | 800 |
| Gettysburg, PA | $51,330 | 110 |
| Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $50,370 | 1,000 |
| Erie, PA | $49,820 | 770 |
| Chambersburg, PA | $49,570 | 210 |
| Lancaster, PA | $49,060 | 1,200 |
| Johnstown, PA | $48,560 | 270 |
| Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $48,430 | 840 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $46,810 | 1,470 |
| Williamsport, PA | $46,380 | 270 |
| Altoona, PA | $46,260 | 510 |
| Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $45,270 | 830 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania?
BLS counts 30,620 jobs in Pennsylvania, 6.2% of the 491,930 in the U.S. That is the 2nd largest count among the 51 states and territories with a published figure. That is 5.0 of every 1,000 jobs in Pennsylvania, a location quotient of 1.60: the occupation's share of local jobs is 1.60 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.
Related jobs in Pennsylvania
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.