Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors
AI displacement risk
1%
AI displacement pressure score for United States AI Work Index, combining global AI task overlap with local wages, employment trends, and demand signals.
483.5 current · 564.6 projected·Confidence high
Structural pressure, not a prediction of job loss. Displacement tends to arrive through slower hiring, wage compression and role redesign before layoffs.
Why This Score
Share of job tasks that overlap with current AI capabilities
Median annual wage
Projected employment change over 10 years
Typical preparation needed for this occupation
Occupation profile
No O*NET description published.
Task evidence
Task primitive coverage is not published for this occupation.
Scores combine AI task overlap, human advantages, and local demand. How it works
United States Now
Median Wage
USD 59,190
Employment 2024
483.5K
Projected Change (2024–34)
16.8%
Openings (2024–34)
48.3K
Wage distribution
Demand outlook
Employment of substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors is projected to grow 17 percent from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Role Profile
Requirements
Worker profile
Median age 35.7 · 164K employed
Under 25: 16% · 25–54: 70% · 55+: 15%
Related
No direct US role match is available yet for this occupation.
Source coverage
6/11 source families · O*NET 30.2 / OEWS 2024 / ORS 2025 / OOH 2025-08-28 / Projections 2024-34 / CPS 2025 / Anthropic task penetration
Data quality
Employment data available
Narrative & sources
Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors advise people on a range of issues, such as those relating to alcoholism, addictions, or depression.
Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors work in a variety of settings, such as mental health centers, community health centers, and private practice. Most work full time, although part-time work is common.
Education and training requirements vary for entering these occupations. Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors typically need at least a bachelor’s degree, whereas mental health counselors typically need a master’s degree and an internship. Some counselors need a state-issued license.
The median annual wage for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors was $59,190 in May 2024.
Employment of substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors is projected to grow 17 percent from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Important context
This score measures structural AI displacement pressure, not actual job losses. Local wages and demand data are specific to United States AI Work Index; the underlying AI task overlap analysis is consistent across all countries.