Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors · Tennessee

Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors Salary in Tennessee

Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors in Tennessee earn a median annual wage of $49,580 —16.5% below the national median of $59,350. That ranks TN #47 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$49,580
Median hourly
$23.84
Entry level (P10)
$34,950
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$76,620
90th percentile
Employment
9,040
2.8 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
-16.5%
U.S. $59,350

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$34,950
$39,160
$49,580
$61,160
$34,950$49,580$76,620
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $49,580.

Employment concentration (0.87×) is close to the national average.

Highest-paying states for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors

All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. Tennessee is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1Alaska$80,770$38.831,2901.26
2Oregon$74,590$35.868,1601.31
3New Mexico$74,100$35.632,4200.88
4Washington$68,910$33.1314,2501.27
5North Dakota$68,630$33.001,2900.95
6Arizona$65,300$31.399,9900.97
7Rhode Island$65,120$31.312,1701.37
8Utah$63,890$30.726,3201.15
9Nebraska$63,770$30.662,1700.67
10Connecticut$63,590$30.577,5401.41

Related occupations in Tennessee

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Tennessee.

Frequently asked questions

How much do substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors make in Tennessee?

The median annual wage for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in Tennessee is $49,580, or $23.84 per hour. That is 16.5% below the national median of $59,350.

What is the entry-level substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors salary in Tennessee?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $34,950 per year ($16.80/hour). The 25th percentile is $39,160.

How many people work as substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in Tennessee?

About 9,040 people work in this occupation in Tennessee, or 2.8 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is Tennessee a good state for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors?

Tennessee ranks #47 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment concentration (0.87x) is close to the national average.

Which state pays substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors the most?

Alaska has the highest median wage at $80,770 per year, followed by Oregon ($74,590) and New Mexico ($74,100).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes