Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors Salary in Worcester, MA
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors in the Worcester, MA metro area earn a median $57,950 a year — 2% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $46,065 take-home, or $3,839 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors salary in Worcester, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,774
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,593
- Medicare (1.45%)$840
- Massachusetts income tax$2,678
- Take-home pay$46,065
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.00% 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 Worcester, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,630 | $20.01 | $33,768 | $2,814 |
| 25th percentile | $46,450 | $22.33 | $37,400 | $3,117 |
| Median (50th) | $57,950 | $27.86 | $46,065 | $3,839 |
| 75th percentile | $71,110 | $34.19 | $55,520 | $4,627 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $88,840 | $42.71 | $67,107 | $5,592 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $57,950 buys in Worcester, MA
Prices in Worcester, MA are 2.5% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.13× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors's $46,065 take-home pay has the buying power of $44,932 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Worcester, MA has 2.2× the national concentration of substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors, adjusted for cost of living
Worcester, MA ranks #34 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 |
| 34 | Worcester, MA | $57,950 | $46,065 | $44,932 |
*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.
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors salaries elsewhere in Massachusetts
- Boston, MA — $62,130
Frequently asked questions
How much does a substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors make in Worcester, MA?
The median substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors salary in the Worcester, MA metro area is $57,950 a year, or about $27.86 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $46,450 and $71,110.
What is a substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors’s take-home pay in Worcester, MA?
On the median $57,950 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $46,065 a year ($3,839 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,678 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Worcester, MA a good place to work as a substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors?
Pay here is 2% below the national median of $59,350. Local prices are 2.5% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $44,932 would in a typical U.S. city. Worcester, MA ranks #34 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 Worcester, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Worcester, MA is $1,558 a month ($1,997 for two bedrooms) — 41% 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%.