Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors Salary in South Carolina
Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in South Carolina earned a median of $52,370 a year ($25.18 an hour) and a mean of $55,880 in May 2025. The median is 11.8% below the U.S. median of $59,350, ranking 44th of 52 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $52,370
- Median hourly
- $25.18
- Mean annual
- $55,880
- Jobs on record
- 6,300
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 South Carolina compare on pay for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors?
South Carolina ranks 44th of 52 states and territories. Alaska is highest at $80,770, $28,400 more than the South Carolina median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana | 42 | $53,760 | -9% | 11,890 |
| 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 |
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 South Carolina pay go further after prices?
Prices in South Carolina run 6.3% below the U.S. average, so the $52,370 median buys about what $55,862 buys at average U.S. prices, below the $59,350 U.S. median. On this measure South Carolina ranks 39th of 51, up from 44th 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 South Carolina pay substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors the most?
Columbia, SC is highest at $58,920, 12.5% above the South Carolina median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Columbia, SC | $58,920 | 1,260 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $56,780 | 300 |
| Florence, SC | $55,340 | 200 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $54,760 | 1,070 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $53,260 | 890 |
| Southern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $53,190 | 220 |
| Northwestern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $52,180 | 160 |
| Northeastern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $51,490 | 260 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $49,630 | 200 |
| Sumter, SC | $49,030 | 120 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $43,810 | 550 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in South Carolina 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 South Carolina?
BLS counts 6,300 jobs in South Carolina, 1.3% of the 491,930 in the U.S. That is the 28th largest count among the 51 states and territories with a published figure. That is 2.7 of every 1,000 jobs in South Carolina, a location quotient of 0.86: the occupation's share of local jobs is 0.86 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 South Carolina
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.