Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other vs. Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors: Who Earns More?
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors out-earn Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other by $3K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other land at $56,730 and Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors at $59,350. The education gap is real: community and social service specialists, all other programs typically require master's degree, while substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselor programs require master's degree. Top-paying state for Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other is Wyoming ($73,270); for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors it's Alaska ($80,770).
Pay by state
States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other median pay.
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.
Common questions
Who earns more, Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other or Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors?
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors earn more nationally. The median is $56,730 for Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other versus $59,350 for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors, a difference of $3K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.
Which has better job growth, Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other or Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors?
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors has the better 10-year outlook at 16.8% projected growth, compared to 4.6% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.
Which requires more education, Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other or Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors?
Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other typically requires master's degree. Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors requires master's degree. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.
Where do Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other get paid the most?
Wyoming is the top-paying state for Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other at $73,270/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.
How does Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other vs. Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors pay differ by state?
The gap varies significantly by state. In Wyoming, Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other earn $73,270 vs. $62,980 for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.