Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors Salary in Tennessee
Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in Tennessee earned a median of $49,580 a year ($23.84 an hour) and a mean of $53,720 in May 2025. The median is 16.5% below the U.S. median of $59,350, ranking 47th of 52 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $49,580
- Median hourly
- $23.84
- Mean annual
- $53,720
- Jobs on record
- 9,040
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 Tennessee compare on pay for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors?
Tennessee ranks 47th of 52 states and territories. Alaska is highest at $80,770, $31,190 more than the Tennessee median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 45 | $52,010 | -12% | 30,620 |
| Arkansas | 46 | $51,580 | -13% | 2,570 |
| Tennessee | 47 | $49,580 | -16% | 9,040 |
| West Virginia | 48 | $49,430 | -17% | 2,100 |
| Alabama | 49 | $47,310 | -20% | not published |
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 Tennessee pay go further after prices?
Prices in Tennessee run 8.1% below the U.S. average, so the $49,580 median buys about what $53,968 buys at average U.S. prices, below the $59,350 U.S. median. On this measure Tennessee ranks 46th of 51, up from 47th 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 Tennessee pay substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors the most?
Chattanooga, TN-GA is highest at $55,270, 11.5% above the Tennessee median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $55,270 | 600 |
| Morristown, TN | $50,990 | 50 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $50,810 | 3,440 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $50,260 | 1,560 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $49,220 | 250 |
| Knoxville, TN | $48,910 | 1,060 |
| East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $48,510 | 180 |
| West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $48,260 | 250 |
| Johnson City, TN | $46,980 | 220 |
| Jackson, TN | $46,520 | 420 |
| South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $46,010 | 150 |
| North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $45,660 | 310 |
| Cleveland, TN | $44,820 | 110 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $43,970 | 590 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in Tennessee 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 Tennessee?
BLS counts 9,040 jobs in Tennessee, 1.8% of the 491,930 in the U.S. That is the 19th largest count among the 51 states and territories with a published figure. That is 2.8 of every 1,000 jobs in Tennessee, a location quotient of 0.87: the occupation's share of local jobs is 0.87 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 Tennessee
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.