Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors Salary in Phoenix, AZ
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area earn a median $66,020 a year — 11% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $53,785 take-home, or $4,482 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors salary in Phoenix, AZ. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,742
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,093
- Medicare (1.45%)$957
- Arizona income tax$1,442
- Take-home pay$53,785
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.50% state
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 Phoenix, AZ
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,590 | $21.44 | $37,102 | $3,092 |
| 25th percentile | $52,240 | $25.12 | $43,058 | $3,588 |
| Median (50th) | $66,020 | $31.74 | $53,785 | $4,482 |
| 75th percentile | $78,160 | $37.58 | $62,070 | $5,173 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $95,270 | $45.80 | $73,679 | $6,140 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Arizona resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $66,020 buys in Phoenix, AZ
Prices in Phoenix, AZ are 3.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.21× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors's $53,785 take-home pay has the buying power of $52,059 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 Phoenix, AZ as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.06).
Best-paying cities for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors, adjusted for cost of living
Phoenix, AZ ranks #7 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 |
*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 Phoenix, AZ?
The median substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors salary in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area is $66,020 a year, or about $31.74 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $52,240 and $78,160.
What is a substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors’s take-home pay in Phoenix, AZ?
On the median $66,020 salary, a single filer living in Arizona takes home about $53,785 a year ($4,482 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,442 in Arizona taxes in 2026.
Is Phoenix, AZ a good place to work as a substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors?
Pay here is 11% above the national median of $59,350. Local prices are 3.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $52,059 would in a typical U.S. city. Phoenix, AZ ranks #7 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 Phoenix, AZ?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Phoenix, AZ is $1,583 a month ($1,839 for two bedrooms) — 35% 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%.