Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors pay in South Carolina
$55,880avg. a year
$26.86 an hour · 6,300 employed
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors in South Carolina earn an average of $55,880 a year. That is $8,560 (13%) less than the U.S. average of $64,440. The best-paying metro area is Columbia, SC at $60,430.
$52,370Median pay
$26.86Average hourly
+26%Avg. pay since 2020
#45Of 50 states + D.C.
Top-paying South Carolina metro areas
Average pay for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors by metro area. Swipe to see all 10.
11,260 jobs
Columbia, SC
$60,430
$29.05 an hour
21,070 jobs
Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC
$60,260
$28.97 an hour
3300 jobs
Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC
$59,270
$28.50 an hour
43,380 jobs
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
$59,000
$28.36 an hour
5510 jobs
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC
$58,280
$28.02 an hour
6890 jobs
Charleston-North Charleston, SC
$56,940
$27.38 an hour
7120 jobs
Sumter, SC
$56,000
$26.92 an hour
8200 jobs
Florence, SC
$55,940
$26.89 an hour
9200 jobs
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC
$52,230
$25.11 an hour
10550 jobs
Spartanburg, SC
$46,870
$22.53 an hour
Why people trust JobPayFacts
Official government dataEvery number comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey of employers, not self-reported salaries.
Every state and city830 jobs across all 50 states, D.C. and 199 large metro areas.
Updated every yearNew figures each spring when BLS releases them. This site uses May 2025 data.
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors pay in South Carolina, charted
Pay over time
South Carolina, annual wage, May of each year
AverageMedian
Where South Carolina substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors work
Employment by metro area, May 2025
Average pay by state
May 2025 · South Carolina highlighted · tap a state
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Under $59k$59k–$64k$64k–$69k$69k+South Carolina
South Carolina vs. neighbors
Average pay, May 2025
| Area | Avg. pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $64,440 | $30.98 |
| South Carolina | $55,880 | $26.86 |
| Georgia | $61,310 | $29.48 |
| North Carolina | $59,160 | $28.44 |
Related jobs in South Carolina
- Social and Human Service Assistants$42,180
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers$53,860
- Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$62,000
- Healthcare Social Workers$62,020
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers$43,820
- Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other$53,540
Average pay, South Carolina, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS
Questions and answers
How much do substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors make in South Carolina?
The average is $55,880 a year, and the median is $52,370. That is $8,560 (13%) less than the U.S. average of $64,440.
What is the hourly wage in South Carolina?
$26.86 an hour on average; the median is $25.18.
Where in South Carolina do they earn the most?
Columbia, SC ($60,430), followed by Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC ($60,260). The lowest average among 10 metro areas with data is Spartanburg, SC ($46,870).
How does South Carolina rank?
South Carolina ranks #45 of 51 states (including D.C.) with published data for this job, by average pay.
Sources and notes. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (trend: May 2020–May 2025), occupation code 21-1018. State rank compares average pay across states with published data. Metro figures cover metropolitan statistical areas; a metro area can cross state lines. See also the national substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors page. Wages are gross pay before taxes and don't include overtime premiums, tips, bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers aren't included. Year-to-year changes can partly reflect survey method changes, so treat the trend as a guide. How we use the data. JobPayFacts isn't affiliated with BLS.