Reading Wage Data for Behavioral Health Roles

Compensation conversations go better when you start from a credible benchmark instead of a guess.

Where the numbers come from

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) every year. It reports percentile wages for occupations such as substance abuse, behavioral disorder and mental health counselors; marriage and family therapists; and mental health and substance abuse social workers.

How to read percentiles

• The 50th percentile (median) means half of workers earn more and half earn less.
• The 25th and 75th percentiles show a typical range. They are not a floor or a ceiling.
• National figures hide large regional differences. Check state and metro data when it is available.

What wage data can't tell you

OEWS does not account for your license level, specialty, caseload, benefits, or whether a role is salaried or fee-for-service. Treat it as one input, not your answer.

Know Your Worth™ shows these sourced benchmarks next to your private inputs. Every number carries a source label, and your compensation stays private.