Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors Salary in Seattle, WA
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median $73,580 a year — 24% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $60,594 take-home, or $5,049 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors salary in Seattle, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$7,358
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,562
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,067
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$60,594
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% 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 Seattle, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,440 | $24.25 | $42,709 | $3,559 |
| 25th percentile | $58,460 | $28.11 | $49,153 | $4,096 |
| Median (50th) | $73,580 | $35.38 | $60,594 | $5,049 |
| 75th percentile | $95,140 | $45.74 | $75,761 | $6,313 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $114,400 | $55.00 | $89,310 | $7,443 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $73,580 buys in Seattle, WA
Prices in Seattle, WA are 11.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors's $60,594 take-home pay has the buying power of $54,523 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 Seattle, WA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.11).
Best-paying cities for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors, adjusted for cost of living
Seattle, WA ranks #3 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 Seattle, WA?
The median substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors salary in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $73,580 a year, or about $35.38 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $58,460 and $95,140.
What is a substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors’s take-home pay in Seattle, WA?
On the median $73,580 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $60,594 a year ($5,049 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Seattle, WA a good place to work as a substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors?
Pay here is 24% above the national median of $59,350. Local prices are 11.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $54,523 would in a typical U.S. city. Seattle, WA ranks #3 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 Seattle, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Seattle, WA is $2,022 a month ($2,379 for two bedrooms) — 40% 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 Seattle, WA
- Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors — $87,280
- Healthcare Social Worker — $83,550
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers — $75,280
- Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other — $70,630
- Rehabilitation Counselor — $58,580
- Social and Human Service Assistant — $58,090