Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors vs. Child, Family, and School Social Workers: Who Earns More?
Child, Family, and School Social Workers out-earn Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors by $200 a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors land at $59,350 and Child, Family, and School Social Workers at $59,550. The education gap is real: substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselor programs typically require master's degree, while child, family, and school social worker programs require bachelor's degree. Top-paying state for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors is Alaska ($80,770); for Child, Family, and School Social Workers it's Connecticut ($78,970).
Pay by state
States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors median pay.
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.
Common questions
Who earns more, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors or Child, Family, and School Social Workers?
Child, Family, and School Social Workers earn more nationally. The median is $59,350 for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors versus $59,550 for Child, Family, and School Social Workers, a difference of $200. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.
Which has better job growth, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors or Child, Family, and School Social Workers?
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors has the better 10-year outlook at 16.8% projected growth, compared to 3.4% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.
Which requires more education, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors or Child, Family, and School Social Workers?
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors typically requires master's degree. Child, Family, and School Social Workers requires bachelor's degree. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.
Where do Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors get paid the most?
Alaska is the top-paying state for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors at $80,770/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.
How does Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors vs. Child, Family, and School Social Workers pay differ by state?
The gap varies significantly by state. In Oregon, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors earn $74,590 vs. $64,130 for Child, Family, and School Social Workers. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.