Prevailing Wage for Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors
The prevailing wage for Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors under SOC 21-1011 is set by DOL using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data. Whether your job title reads Addictions Counselor, Chemical Dependency Counselor, or Case Manager, DOL assigns four experience-based wage levels, and the floor shifts considerably depending on which U.S. metro the worksite is in.
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Level 1 applies to entry-level counselors with limited professional experience, typically new graduates or those completing supervised hours toward licensure. Work is closely supervised, caseloads are straightforward, and independent clinical judgment is minimal.
Level 2 is the most common filing level for substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors. It fits professionals who hold a relevant credential, carry an independent caseload, and apply standard counseling protocols without close supervision on routine cases.
Level 3 covers experienced counselors who handle complex co-occurring disorder cases, provide clinical supervision to junior staff, or lead group treatment programs. They exercise substantial independent judgment and may train newer colleagues.
Level 4 applies to fully competent senior professionals who set clinical standards, oversee program design, or hold lead responsibility for treatment teams. Roles at this level often include titles like Clinical Director or Senior Behavioral Health Counselor.
Prevailing Wage for Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for this role and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Watch for nonprofit versus for-profit wage gaps
Community health centers and nonprofit treatment agencies dominate hiring for this occupation and frequently file at Level 1 or Level 2. For-profit behavioral health networks and hospital systems tend to file at Level 2 or Level 3, so employer type meaningfully shifts which floor applies to your offer.
Confirm your licensure aligns with the filed level
Employers sometimes file an LCA at Level 1 for a role that requires a Licensed Professional Counselor or CADC credential. Licensed status typically places a counselor at Level 2 or above under DOL definitions, and a mismatch can create compliance exposure during an audit.
Factor in Alaska and Hawaii worksite premiums
Anchorage and Fairbanks consistently post the highest prevailing wages for this occupation nationally, well above mainland metros at every level. If you are considering a remote or multi-site role, the worksite listed on the LCA, not your home address, determines which metro wage applies.
Find sponsors with a history in behavioral health
Migrate Mate shows which employers have actually sponsored counselors and behavioral health professionals before, so you can focus on organizations with documented H-1B or green card filing history in this occupation rather than cold-applying to agencies that have never navigated sponsorship.
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Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 21-1011.00 alongside Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Addictions Counselor Prevailing Wage
Addictions Counselor Prevailing Wage
Addictions Counselor positions fall under SOC 21-1011.00 (Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Case Manager Prevailing Wage
Case Manager Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Case Manager for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 21-1011.00 (Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADAC) Prevailing Wage
Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADAC) Prevailing Wage
Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADAC) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 21-1011.00 (Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Chemical Dependency Counselor (CD Counselor) Prevailing Wage
Chemical Dependency Counselor (CD Counselor) Prevailing Wage
Chemical Dependency Counselor (CD Counselor) positions fall under SOC 21-1011.00 (Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Chemical Dependency Professional Prevailing Wage
Chemical Dependency Professional Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Chemical Dependency Professional for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 21-1011.00 (Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Clinical Counselor Prevailing Wage
Clinical Counselor Prevailing Wage
Clinical Counselor is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 21-1011.00 (Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Counselor Prevailing Wage
Counselor Prevailing Wage
Counselor positions fall under SOC 21-1011.00 (Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Drug and Alcohol Treatment Specialist (DATS) Prevailing Wage
Drug and Alcohol Treatment Specialist (DATS) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Drug and Alcohol Treatment Specialist (DATS) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 21-1011.00 (Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Prevention Specialist Prevailing Wage
Prevention Specialist Prevailing Wage
Prevention Specialist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 21-1011.00 (Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Substance Abuse Counselor (SA Counselor) Prevailing Wage
Substance Abuse Counselor (SA Counselor) Prevailing Wage
Substance Abuse Counselor (SA Counselor) positions fall under SOC 21-1011.00 (Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors?
DOL calculates prevailing wages using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across hundreds of U.S. metro areas. For SOC 21-1011, these surveys capture actual wages paid by employers in the occupation, then DOL converts the results into four wage levels corresponding to entry through fully competent experience. Employers sponsoring a foreign worker must pay at or above the level that matches the position's duties and required experience.
What do the four wage levels mean, and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
DOL defines Level 1 as entry-level work under close supervision, Level 2 as qualified independent practice, Level 3 as experienced work involving complex cases or supervisory duties, and Level 4 as fully competent senior or lead scope. To identify your level, compare the job description your employer files on the LCA against those definitions. If the posting requires licensure and an independent caseload, Level 2 is the minimum defensible filing level, and USCIS or DOL may challenge a Level 1 LCA for a licensed counselor role.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same counselor role vary so much between cities?
DOL anchors prevailing wages to the metropolitan statistical area where the work is actually performed, using OES survey data that reflects local employer pay practices. A substance abuse counselor position in Anchorage draws on Alaska wage surveys, while the same title in Lake Charles draws on Louisiana data. The employer lists the specific worksite on the LCA, and that address locks in the applicable metro wage. Markets with high costs of living, strong union presence, or concentrated hospital systems tend to produce higher OES survey results and therefore higher prevailing wage floors.
What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer sponsoring an H-1B, E-3, or PERM green card must attest on the LCA that the offered wage meets or exceeds the prevailing wage for the occupation and worksite. If the offered salary falls short, the LCA should not be certified, and OFLC can investigate or debar employers who underpay. For the sponsored worker, an underpaid LCA creates compliance risk that can affect visa renewals and green card filings. If your offer appears below the floor, ask the employer to clarify which level they intend to file at before accepting.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a counselor role at a specific U.S. location?
The primary tool is the OFLC Wage Search, which lets you enter the SOC code 21-1011, select a metro area, and retrieve the four-level wage table for that location. Cross-reference with BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data for the same metro to confirm the underlying survey figures. Migrate Mate can supplement this by showing you which employers in behavioral health have active sponsorship histories, helping you identify organizations already familiar with LCA requirements for this occupation.
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