Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors Salary in Chicago, IL
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $61,600 a year — 4% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $48,771 take-home, or $4,064 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,212
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,819
- Medicare (1.45%)$893
- Illinois income tax$2,904
- Take-home pay$48,771
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $43,010 | $20.68 | $34,754 | $2,896 |
| 25th percentile | $47,770 | $22.97 | $38,343 | $3,195 |
| Median (50th) | $61,600 | $29.62 | $48,771 | $4,064 |
| 75th percentile | $82,950 | $39.88 | $63,224 | $5,269 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $114,770 | $55.18 | $84,034 | $7,003 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $61,600 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors's $48,771 take-home pay has the buying power of $47,079 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors jobs are about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.09).
Best-paying cities for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #24 of 42 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Houston, TX | $67,370 | $56,225 | $57,006 |
| 2 | Austin, TX | $66,780 | $55,810 | $56,910 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $73,580 | $60,594 | $54,523 |
| 4 | Portland, OR | $75,420 | $56,118 | $53,233 |
| 5 | Kansas City, MO | $60,690 | $49,029 | $52,980 |
| 6 | Cleveland, OH | $59,630 | $49,235 | $52,421 |
| 7 | Phoenix, AZ | $66,020 | $53,785 | $52,059 |
| 8 | Milwaukee, WI | $61,960 | $50,020 | $51,600 |
| 24 | Chicago, IL | $61,600 | $48,771 | $47,079 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 42 metros →
About the job: substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors
- Typical education
- Master's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Internship/residency
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +18.4% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors make in Chicago, IL?
The median substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $61,600 a year, or about $29.62 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $47,770 and $82,950.
What is a substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $61,600 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $48,771 a year ($4,064 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,904 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors?
Pay here is 4% above the national median of $59,350. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $47,079 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #24 of 42 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 38% of a median substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- Healthcare Social Worker — $71,430
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers — $64,790
- Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors — $64,730
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker — $57,720
- Rehabilitation Counselor — $49,350
- Social and Human Service Assistant — $47,180