Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors Salary in South Dakota
Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in South Dakota earned a median of $53,650 a year ($25.79 an hour) and a mean of $54,760 in May 2025. The median is 9.6% below the U.S. median of $59,350, ranking 43rd of 52 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $53,650
- Median hourly
- $25.79
- Mean annual
- $54,760
- Jobs on record
- 1,710
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 Dakota compare on pay for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors?
South Dakota ranks 43rd of 52 states and territories. Alaska is highest at $80,770, $27,120 more than the South Dakota median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | 41 | $54,190 | -9% | 7,690 |
| 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 |
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 Dakota pay go further after prices?
Prices in South Dakota run 11.4% below the U.S. average, so the $53,650 median buys about what $60,563 buys at average U.S. prices, above the $59,350 U.S. median. On this measure South Dakota ranks 26th of 51, up from 43rd 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 Dakota pay substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors the most?
Sioux Falls, SD-MN is highest at $57,080, 6.4% above the South Dakota median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $57,080 | 760 |
| West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $56,120 | 180 |
| East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $52,020 | 470 |
| Rapid City, SD | $47,620 | 350 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in South 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 South Dakota?
BLS counts 1,710 jobs in South Dakota, 0.35% of the 491,930 in the U.S. That is the 44th largest count among the 51 states and territories with a published figure. That is 3.7 of every 1,000 jobs in South Dakota, a location quotient of 1.18: the occupation's share of local jobs is 1.18 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 South Dakota
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.