Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors vs. Social and Human Service Assistants: 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. Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors land at $59,350 and Social and Human Service Assistants at $45,930. The education gap is real: substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselor programs typically require master's degree, while social and human service assistant programs require master's degree. Top-paying state for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors is Alaska ($80,770); for Social and Human Service Assistants it's District of Columbia ($59,460).
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 Social and Human Service Assistants?
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors earn more nationally. The median is $59,350 for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors versus $45,930 for Social and Human Service Assistants, a difference of $13K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.
Which has better job growth, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors or Social and Human Service Assistants?
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, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors or Social and Human Service Assistants?
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors typically requires master's degree. Social and Human Service Assistants requires master'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. Social and Human Service Assistants pay differ by state?
The gap varies significantly by state. In Alaska, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors earn $80,770 vs. $47,360 for Social and Human Service Assistants. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.