SOC 21-1018 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors — Texas
Texas · 10 metro areas compared
At $62,630, median pay for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors in Texas tracks the national median of $59,350 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $62,630, median pay for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors in Texas tracks the national median of $59,350 closely. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $45,290 and $79,200. The lowest tenth earn under $37,650, while the highest tenth earn more than $95,910.
The area has 21,400 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.48 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Among the 51 states with published data for this occupation, Texas ranks 14th by median wage. Brownsville leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $69,770. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 321st of 794 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,650 | −36.6% |
| 25th | $45,290 | −23.7% |
| Median (50th) | $62,630 | +5.5% |
| 75th | $79,200 | +33.4% |
| 90th | $95,910 | +61.6% |
| Mean | $65,180 | +9.8% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Texas
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brownsville | $69,770 | 340 | |
| 2 | Amarillo | $67,630 | 170 | |
| 3 | Houston | $67,370 | 5,050 | |
| 4 | Austin | $66,780 | 2,930 | |
| 5 | McAllen | $65,370 | 420 | |
| 6 | San Angelo | $63,560 | 70 | |
| 7 | Sherman | $62,700 | 80 | |
| 8 | Dallas | $62,560 | 5,000 | |
| 9 | El Paso | $62,510 | 760 | |
| 10 | Wichita Falls | $62,070 | 120 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Texas run 2.9% below the national average, so the median of $62,630 goes as far as $64,501 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 8.7% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$62,630as reported by BLSLocal price level
97.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$64,501US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $62,630 a year, 5.5% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $37,650 to $95,910 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 21,400 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 14th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Brownsville, at $69,770.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors in Texas?
The median annual wage is $62,630, or $30.11 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 Texas is 5.5% 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 Texas earns more than $95,910 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $37,650 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 Brownsville, at $69,770 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 21,400 jobs in this occupation in Texas. 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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