SOC 21-1018 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors — Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge, LA · 9 metro areas compared
The median wage for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors in Baton Rouge, LA is $46,840 per year, 21.1% below the national median of $59,350.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors in Baton Rouge, LA is $46,840 per year, 21.1% below the national median of $59,350. Pay ranges from under $30,920 at the tenth percentile to more than $75,970 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $35,300 to $62,200.
Employment stands at 840, or 2.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Shreveport leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $48,100. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 322nd of 491 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $30,920 | −47.9% |
| 25th | $35,300 | −40.5% |
| Median (50th) | $46,840 | −21.1% |
| 75th | $62,200 | +4.8% |
| 90th | $75,970 | +28.0% |
| Mean | $49,800 | −16.1% |
Other metro areas in Louisiana
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shreveport | $48,100 | 410 | |
| 2 | Monroe | $45,310 | 420 | |
| 3 | New Orleans | $42,140 | 1,580 | |
| 4 | Lake Charles | $38,610 | 350 | |
| 5 | Lafayette | $37,660 | 620 | |
| 6 | Alexandria | $37,150 | 300 | |
| 7 | Hammond | $36,750 | 130 | |
| 8 | Houma | $36,520 | 600 | |
| 9 | Slidell | $34,470 | 470 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Baton Rouge run 11.8% below the national average, so the median of $46,840 goes as far as $53,107 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 10.5% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$46,840as reported by BLSLocal price level
88.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$53,107US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $46,840 a year, 21.1% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $30,920 to $75,970 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 840 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Shreveport, at $48,100.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors in Baton Rouge, LA?
The median annual wage is $46,840, or $22.52 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $59,350, so pay in Baton Rouge, LA is 21.1% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Baton Rouge, LA earns more than $75,970 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $30,920 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Shreveport, at $48,100 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 840 jobs in this occupation in Baton Rouge, LA. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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