Limited H-1B Opportunities for Substance Abuse Counselors Amidst Competitive Salaries
Explore H-1B visa filings for Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors. View sponsoring employers, salary data from 100 filings, and approval rates from DOL public records.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total H-1B Petitions | 100 |
| Approval Rate | 88% |
| Average Salary | $61,428 |
| Salary Range | $35,100 - $115,000 |
| Top Sponsor | Grace William Health Systems Inc |
| Primary Location | New York |
Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors is one of the H-1B visa categories with 20 filings and an average salary of $58,828. H-1B hiring for Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors is currently low, with only 20 positions reported for FY2025. The average salary offered is competitive, ranging from $58,828 to $72,800. Geographic concentration is minimal, with New York showing the highest number of positions (6).
| Total Filings | 100 |
| Approval Rate | 88% |
| Average Salary | $61,428 |
| Median Salary | $60,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $48,547 |
| 75th Percentile | $70,520 |
| Minimum Salary | $35,100 |
| Maximum Salary | $115,000 |
| 10th Percentile | $42,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $48,547 |
| Median (50th) | $60,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $70,520 |
| 90th Percentile | $83,200 |
| Average | $61,428 |
| Sample Size | 99 |
| Visa Class | Filings |
|---|---|
| H-1B | 91 |
| E-3 AUSTRALIAN | 6 |
| H-1B1 CHILE | 2 |
| H-1B1 SINGAPORE | 1 |
| Education Level | Filings |
|---|---|
| Not Specified | 100 |
| Employer | Filings | Avg Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Grace William Health Systems Inc | 6 | $49k |
| Richmond Children Center, Inc. | 6 | $62k |
| Hamilton-Madison House | 5 | $59k |
| Children's Crisis Treatment Center, Inc. | 5 | $84k |
| Heartview Foundation | 4 | $61k |
| Applied Behavior Institute, LLC | 4 | $73k |
| Greater Philadelphia Health Action, Inc. | 3 | $62k |
| The Devereux Foundation | 3 | $66k |
| THE DEVEREUX FOUNDATION | 3 | $69k |
| eXclusive Services Inc. | 3 | $43k |
| State | Filings |
|---|---|
| New York | 19 |
| California | 11 |
| Pennsylvania | 8 |
| Massachusetts | 8 |
| Texas | 7 |
| Illinois | 6 |
| Ohio | 5 |
| North Dakota | 4 |
| Oregon | 4 |
| Minnesota | 4 |
Focus on states with even a small number of postings and highlight transferable skills in counseling and behavioral health to stand out in this limited H-1B job market.
The average H-1B salary for Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors is $58,828, with a median of $61,339. The 25th-75th percentile range is $49,670 to $65,000.
Top H-1B sponsors for Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors include Richmond Children Center, Inc., Grace William Health Systems Inc, Applied Behavior Institute, LLC, Heartview Foundation, The Thresholds. A total of 9 employers have filed for this role.
There are 20 H-1B filings on record for Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors positions. 75.0% were certified.
The top states for H-1B Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors positions are New York (6), Oregon (3), Massachusetts (2), Maryland (2), North Dakota (2).
Yes, Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors is a qualifying occupation for H-1B visa sponsorship. There are 20 approved H-1B petitions for this role in the database.
H-1B Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors salaries range from $43,264 to $72,800. The median salary is $61,339.
The approval rate for Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors H-1B petitions is 75.0%. The total number of H-1B petitions (20) is significantly lower than the average salary range, suggesting a niche market for these roles.
The data indicates a very small sample size, with only 20 positions across all employers.
Focus on states with even a small number of postings and highlight transferable skills in counseling and behavioral health to stand out in this limited H-1B job market.
The salary range is broad, with the median salary ($61,339) falling within the lower half of the reported range.
The Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors occupation (SOC code 21-101100) is classified under the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system maintained by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The SOC system groups workers into occupational categories based on the type of work performed, providing a standardized framework for comparing wages, employment levels, and workforce trends across the United States.
Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors positions fall within the specialty occupation category required for H-1B visa sponsorship, meaning they typically require the theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge and at minimum a bachelor's degree or its equivalent in the specific specialty. Based on H-1B filing data, the most common education requirement for Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors positions is Not Specified (100 filings), followed by other degree levels.
Across 100 LCA filings tracked by H1BSalaryCheck, Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors positions show an average offered salary of $61,428, with a range from $35,100 at the entry level to $115,000 for senior positions. The largest concentration of H-1B filings for this role is in New York (19 filings) and California (11 filings).
Career outlook for Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors professionals is closely tied to industry demand for specialized skills. Employers sponsoring H-1B workers for this role are demonstrating that they could not find sufficient qualified U.S. workers to fill these positions, which often signals strong demand and competitive compensation. Workers in this occupation may also be eligible for other visa categories including L-1 intracompany transfers, O-1 extraordinary ability visas, or employment-based green card sponsorship through the PERM process.
To sponsor a foreign worker for an H-1B visa in a Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors role, U.S. employers must satisfy several requirements established by the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and enforced by both the Department of Labor (DOL) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS):
The position must qualify as a "specialty occupation," meaning it requires the theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge and at minimum a bachelor's degree or its equivalent in a specific specialty directly related to the position. For Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors roles, H-1B filings indicate that employers most commonly require a Not Specified degree. USCIS evaluates whether the position itself, not just the employer's preference, genuinely requires specialized education.
Employers must pay H-1B workers at least the prevailing wage for the occupation in the geographic area of employment, as determined by the DOL. The prevailing wage is based on four skill levels (Level 1 through Level 4) that reflect the complexity of the job duties and required experience. For Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors positions, the average offered salary of $61,428 exceeds prevailing wages by an average of 18.2%, with 62% of filings offering above the prevailing wage.
Before filing the H-1B petition, employers must obtain a certified LCA from the DOL. The LCA requires employers to attest to four conditions: (1) paying at least the prevailing wage or actual wage, whichever is higher; (2) providing working conditions that do not adversely affect similarly employed U.S. workers; (3) no strike or lockout at the worksite; and (4) proper notice of the filing to workers. The overall LCA approval rate for Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors positions is 88%.
The annual H-1B cap is set at 65,000 regular visas plus 20,000 for beneficiaries with U.S. master's degrees or higher (the "master's cap"). Certain employers, including institutions of higher education, nonprofit research organizations, and government research organizations, are exempt from the cap. Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors positions at cap-exempt employers can be filed at any time during the year, while cap-subject employers must participate in the annual H-1B lottery, typically held in March for the following fiscal year.
H-1B visas are initially granted for up to three years and can be extended for a maximum of six years total. Workers who have an approved I-140 immigrant petition (part of the green card process) may be eligible for extensions beyond the six-year limit under the American Competitiveness in the Twenty-First Century Act (AC21). The average contract duration for Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors H-1B filings is approximately 34 months.
Cities with the most H-1B filings for Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors positions.