SOC 21-1018 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors — Kentucky
Kentucky · 6 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Kentucky is $54,190 a year, trailing the national median of $59,350 by 8.7%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Kentucky is $54,190 a year, trailing the national median of $59,350 by 8.7%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $41,730 and $72,590. The lowest tenth earn under $35,150, while the highest tenth earn more than $83,070.
The area has 7,690 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.22 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Kentucky ranks number 41st out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Elizabethtown records the highest median at $58,720. Of the 699 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 368th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,150 | −40.8% |
| 25th | $41,730 | −29.7% |
| Median (50th) | $54,190 | −8.7% |
| 75th | $72,590 | +22.3% |
| 90th | $83,070 | +40.0% |
| Mean | $57,560 | −3.0% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Kentucky
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elizabethtown | $58,720 | 260 | |
| 2 | Paducah | $58,240 | 140 | |
| 3 | Lexington | $58,190 | 970 | |
| 4 | Bowling Green | $57,720 | 370 | |
| 5 | Owensboro | $51,770 | 220 | |
| 6 | Louisville/Jefferson County | $50,970 | 2,870 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Kentucky run 9.8% below the national average, so the median of $54,190 goes as far as $60,078 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 1.2% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$54,190as reported by BLSLocal price level
90.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$60,078US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $54,190 a year, 8.7% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $35,150 to $83,070 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 7,690 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 41st of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Elizabethtown, at $58,720.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors in Kentucky?
The median annual wage is $54,190, or $26.05 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 Kentucky is 8.7% 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 Kentucky earns more than $83,070 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $35,150 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 Elizabethtown, at $58,720 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 7,690 jobs in this occupation in Kentucky. 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.
Explore related data