$ PaycheckDecoded

Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors Salary

Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors earn a median $59,350 a year nationally. Community and Social Service Occupations

U.S. median
$59,350
$28.53 per hour
Range
$38,940 – $97,590
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
491,930
across the U.S.

Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors take-home pay calculator

Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.

Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors
Deductions, kids & local tax

2026 tax year. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

Your take-home pay
$49,868
per year · effective tax rate 16.0%
$4,156Monthly
$2,078Twice a month
$1,918Every 2 weeks
$23.97Hourly
  • Federal income tax$4,942
  • Social Security (6.2%)$3,680
  • Medicare (1.45%)$861
  • Texas income tax$0
  • Take-home pay$49,868

Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state

Pay by experience

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-home (no state tax)
10th percentile (entry level)$38,940$18.72$33,468
25th percentile$47,100$22.64$40,025
Median (50th)$59,350$28.53$49,868
75th percentile$76,530$36.79$62,669
90th percentile (top earners)$97,590$46.92$77,485

Best cities for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors (after tax & cost of living)

#Metro areaMedianTake-homeReal value*Jobs
1Lincoln, NE$76,480$60,033$65,552560
2Anchorage, AK$81,120$65,898$62,510810
3Bellingham, WA$77,620$63,436$61,389440
4Albuquerque, NM$73,990$58,570$61,3001,280
5Kennewick, WA$73,540$60,565$60,518450
6St. George, UT$72,510$57,544$59,128440
7El Paso, TX$62,510$52,407$58,287760
8Houston, TX$67,370$56,225$57,0065,050
9Austin, TX$66,780$55,810$56,9102,930
10Lansing, MI$67,510$53,705$56,537790
11Salem, OR$78,870$58,244$56,193560
12Boulder, CO$75,020$59,014$56,096620
13Fort Collins, CO$71,120$56,442$55,812900
14Fargo, ND$60,130$50,494$55,567610
15Ogden, UT$69,590$55,621$55,4281,070
16Mankato, MN$63,460$50,378$55,388500
17Davenport, IA$60,430$49,091$55,109600
18Seattle, WA$73,580$60,594$54,5237,350
19Olympia, WA$67,650$56,422$54,424610
20Des Moines, IA$61,320$49,772$54,277920
21Bend, OR$75,470$56,149$54,194590
22Stockton, CA$72,770$56,468$53,7341,260
23Lynchburg, VA$60,220$47,918$53,622780
24Grand Rapids, MI$64,100$51,211$53,5981,130
25Spokane, WA$64,100$53,684$53,4991,650

*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).

Highest-paying cities

Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors salary by state

StateMedianTake-homeRangeJobs
Alaska $80,770$65,652 $58,240 – $114,6501,290
Oregon $74,590$55,607 $49,860 – $102,8308,160
New Mexico $74,100$58,642 $48,900 – $113,4202,420
Washington $68,910$57,308 $47,220 – $110,58014,250
North Dakota $68,630$57,032 $43,270 – $86,6301,290
Arizona $65,300$53,225 $44,520 – $95,2109,990
Rhode Island $65,120$52,679 $43,960 – $98,4402,170
Utah $63,890$51,607 $35,410 – $106,0806,320
Nebraska $63,770$51,397 $42,400 – $109,6102,170
Connecticut $63,590$51,338 $44,080 – $99,5407,540
Idaho $63,360$50,840 $36,400 – $98,7602,990
Wyoming $62,980$52,784 $36,960 – $103,150910
New Jersey $62,820$50,733 $40,630 – $104,31014,210
Texas $62,630$52,503 $37,650 – $95,91021,400
Colorado $62,390$50,274 $44,060 – $100,02014,920
Wisconsin $62,220$50,217 $46,510 – $94,6408,340
Vermont $61,810$50,208 $47,820 – $80,6901,120
Michigan $61,690$49,377 $38,490 – $94,40010,100
Iowa $60,880$49,435 $44,450 – $102,8903,530
Illinois $60,730$48,115 $43,010 – $109,10020,250
District of Columbia $60,450$48,269 $43,060 – $107,9801,260
Hawaii $60,090$47,426 $48,460 – $104,7902,110
Maine $59,970$47,500 $43,310 – $89,2201,930
Massachusetts $59,890$47,527 $43,180 – $96,20018,190
Virginia $59,880$47,665 $39,730 – $100,04017,940
Maryland $59,530$47,548 $44,050 – $91,9809,730
Kansas $59,470$47,445 $37,910 – $85,8602,600
New York $59,450$47,335 $42,410 – $90,59026,770
Oklahoma $59,350$47,742 $35,350 – $92,8705,150
California $59,250$47,413 $44,640 – $111,08075,610
Montana $59,000$47,570 $36,840 – $83,6401,820
Georgia $58,960$47,117 $37,390 – $90,9809,600
Minnesota $58,780$46,936 $45,250 – $77,3207,110
Ohio $58,360$48,250 $39,010 – $83,73018,020
Nevada $57,210$48,148 $42,920 – $98,0101,810
Missouri $56,910$46,170 $37,650 – $89,4008,130
Florida $56,790$47,811 $39,430 – $84,41029,750
Delaware $56,020$44,760 $36,940 – $80,7101,700
North Carolina $55,490$45,061 $37,440 – $86,01010,300
New Hampshire $54,840$46,244 $38,480 – $81,0503,690
Kentucky $54,190$43,943 $35,150 – $83,0707,690
Indiana $53,760$43,820 $37,580 – $83,20011,890
South Dakota $53,650$45,288 $39,210 – $67,0101,710
South Carolina $52,370$42,274 $35,010 – $81,4206,300
Pennsylvania $52,010$42,373 $36,280 – $81,97030,620
Arkansas $51,580$41,826 $35,760 – $100,2702,570
Tennessee $49,580$42,018 $34,950 – $76,6209,040
West Virginia $49,430$40,402 $36,990 – $73,3602,100
Alabama $47,310$38,093 $34,420 – $76,510—
Mississippi $46,990$38,789 $32,770 – $77,3102,090
Louisiana $37,910$31,890 $29,860 – $65,7206,420

Frequently asked questions

How much does a substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors make?

The national median salary for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors is $59,350 a year ($28.53 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $38,940 and the top 10% earn over $97,590. Source: BLS, May 2025.

Which state pays substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors the most?

Alaska has the highest median pay at $80,770. After taxes and local prices, Lincoln, NE offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.

How many substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors are there in the U.S.?

About 491,930 people work as substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors nationwide.

All 165 cities