Directors, Religious Activities and Education vs. Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors: Who Earns More?
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors out-earn Directors, Religious Activities and Education by $7K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Directors, Religious Activities and Education land at $52,100 and Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors at $59,350. The education gap is real: directors, religious activities and education programs typically require master's degree, while substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselor programs require master's degree. Top-paying state for Directors, Religious Activities and Education is Alabama ($79,310); 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 Directors, Religious Activities and Education median pay.
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.
Common questions
Who earns more, Directors, Religious Activities and Education or Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors?
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors earn more nationally. The median is $52,100 for Directors, Religious Activities and Education versus $59,350 for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors, a difference of $7K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.
Which has better job growth, Directors, Religious Activities and Education 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 2.1% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.
Which requires more education, Directors, Religious Activities and Education or Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors?
Directors, Religious Activities and Education 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 Directors, Religious Activities and Education get paid the most?
Alabama is the top-paying state for Directors, Religious Activities and Education at $79,310/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.
How does Directors, Religious Activities and Education vs. Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors pay differ by state?
The gap varies significantly by state. In Texas, Directors, Religious Activities and Education earn $75,420 vs. $62,630 for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.