Social and Human Service Assistants vs. Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors: Who Earns More?
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors out-earn Social and Human Service Assistants by $13K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Social and Human Service Assistants land at $45,930 and Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors at $59,350. The education gap is real: social and human service assistant programs typically require master's degree, while substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselor programs require master's degree. Top-paying state for Social and Human Service Assistants is District of Columbia ($59,460); 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 Social and Human Service Assistants median pay.
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.
Common questions
Who earns more, Social and Human Service Assistants or Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors?
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors earn more nationally. The median is $45,930 for Social and Human Service Assistants versus $59,350 for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors, a difference of $13K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.
Which has better job growth, Social and Human Service Assistants 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 6.4% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.
Which requires more education, Social and Human Service Assistants or Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors?
Social and Human Service Assistants 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 Social and Human Service Assistants get paid the most?
District of Columbia is the top-paying state for Social and Human Service Assistants at $59,460/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.
How does Social and Human Service Assistants vs. Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors pay differ by state?
The gap varies significantly by state. In Washington, Social and Human Service Assistants earn $54,770 vs. $68,910 for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.