SOC 21-1018 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors — Tennessee
Tennessee · 10 metro areas compared
In Tennessee the median wage is $49,580.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Tennessee the median wage is $49,580. That is 16.5% lower than the national median of $59,350. Pay ranges from under $34,950 at the tenth percentile to more than $76,620 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $39,160 to $61,160.
Employment stands at 9,040, or 2.8 jobs per thousand held locally. Tennessee ranks number 47th out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Chattanooga records the highest median at $55,270. Of the 730 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 416th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,950 | −41.1% |
| 25th | $39,160 | −34.0% |
| Median (50th) | $49,580 | −16.5% |
| 75th | $61,160 | +3.0% |
| 90th | $76,620 | +29.1% |
| Mean | $53,720 | −9.5% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Tennessee
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chattanooga | $55,270 | 600 | |
| 2 | Morristown | $50,990 | 50 | |
| 3 | Nashville | $50,810 | 3,440 | |
| 4 | Memphis | $50,260 | 1,560 | |
| 5 | Kingsport | $49,220 | 250 | |
| 6 | Knoxville | $48,910 | 1,060 | |
| 7 | Johnson City | $46,980 | 220 | |
| 8 | Jackson | $46,520 | 420 | |
| 9 | Cleveland | $44,820 | 110 | |
| 10 | Clarksville | $43,970 | 590 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Tennessee run 8.1% below the national average, so the median of $49,580 goes as far as $53,950 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 9.1% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$49,580as reported by BLSLocal price level
91.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$53,950US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $49,580 a year, 16.5% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $34,950 to $76,620 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 9,040 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 47th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Chattanooga, at $55,270.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors in Tennessee?
The median annual wage is $49,580, or $23.84 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 Tennessee is 16.5% 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 Tennessee earns more than $76,620 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $34,950 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 Chattanooga, at $55,270 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 9,040 jobs in this occupation in Tennessee. 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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