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Salary comparison

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 Counselorss out-earn Community and Social Service Specialists, All Others by $3K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Community and Social Service Specialists, All Others land at $56,730 and Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselorss 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 Others is Wyoming ($73,270); for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselorss it's Alaska ($80,770).

Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors
Median salary
$56,730
$59,350
Hourly rate
$27.28/hr
$28.53/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$37,310
$38,940
Senior level (90th %)
$84,210
$97,590
Education required
Master's degree
Master's degree
U.S. employment
107,730
491,930
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
16.8%
Category
Community & Social
Community & Social
Top-paying state
Wyoming
Alaska

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other median pay.

State
Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors
Wyoming
$73,270
$62,980
Washington
$64,340
$68,910
Rhode Island
$63,510
$65,120
North Dakota
$63,490
$68,630
New Jersey
$61,910
$62,820
Oregon
$56,770
$74,590
Alaska
$56,730
$80,770
Colorado
$55,490
$62,390
Connecticut
$53,840
$63,590
Nebraska
$53,170
$63,770
Arizona
$52,410
$65,300
Idaho
$50,390
$63,360
New Mexico
$48,820
$74,100
Texas
$48,400
$62,630
Utah
$46,230
$63,890

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Community and Social Service Specialists, All Others or Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselorss?

Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselorss earn more nationally. The median is $56,730 for Community and Social Service Specialists, All Others versus $59,350 for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselorss, 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?

BLS Employment Projections data is not available for one or both occupations. Check the individual career pages for current outlook figures.

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 Others get paid the most?

Wyoming is the top-paying state for Community and Social Service Specialists, All Others 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 Others earn $73,270 vs. $62,980 for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselorss. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other salary breakdownView →Full Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors salary breakdownView →Best cities for Community and Social Service Specialists, All Others by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselorss by take-home payExplore →How to become a community and social service specialists, all otherGuide →How to become a substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselorsGuide →