SOC 21-1018 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors — Brownsville
Brownsville-Harlingen, TX · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Brownsville, TX comes to $69,770 a year, ahead of the national median of $59,350 by 17.6%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Brownsville, TX comes to $69,770 a year, ahead of the national median of $59,350 by 17.6%. Pay ranges from under $36,580 at the tenth percentile to more than $78,750 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $56,490 to $75,010.
The area has 340 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.68 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Within the state, Amarillo records the highest median at $67,630. Of the 311 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 70th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,580 | −38.4% |
| 25th | $56,490 | −4.8% |
| Median (50th) | $69,770 | +17.6% |
| 75th | $75,010 | +26.4% |
| 90th | $78,750 | +32.7% |
| Mean | $64,880 | +9.3% |
Other metro areas in Texas
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amarillo | $67,630 | 170 | |
| 2 | Houston | $67,370 | 5,050 | |
| 3 | Austin | $66,780 | 2,930 | |
| 4 | McAllen | $65,370 | 420 | |
| 5 | San Angelo | $63,560 | 70 | |
| 6 | Sherman | $62,700 | 80 | |
| 7 | Dallas | $62,560 | 5,000 | |
| 8 | El Paso | $62,510 | 760 | |
| 9 | Wichita Falls | $62,070 | 120 | |
| 10 | Laredo | $60,780 | 110 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Brownsville run 2.9% below the national average, so the median of $69,770 goes as far as $71,854 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 21.1% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$69,770as reported by BLSLocal price level
97.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$71,854US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $69,770 a year, 17.6% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $36,580 to $78,750 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 340 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Amarillo, at $67,630.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors in Brownsville, TX?
The median annual wage is $69,770, or $33.54 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 Brownsville, TX is 17.6% higher. 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 Brownsville, TX earns more than $78,750 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $36,580 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 Amarillo, at $67,630 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 340 jobs in this occupation in Brownsville, TX. 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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