Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors Salary in Denver, CO
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn a median $62,810 a year — 6% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $50,593 take-home, or $4,216 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors salary in Denver, CO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,357
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,894
- Medicare (1.45%)$911
- Colorado income tax$2,055
- Take-home pay$50,593
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% 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 Denver, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,110 | $22.65 | $38,668 | $3,222 |
| 25th percentile | $52,500 | $25.24 | $42,762 | $3,564 |
| Median (50th) | $62,810 | $30.20 | $50,593 | $4,216 |
| 75th percentile | $82,340 | $39.59 | $63,842 | $5,320 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $100,320 | $48.23 | $75,699 | $6,308 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $62,810 buys in Denver, CO
Prices in Denver, CO are 5.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.47× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors's $50,593 take-home pay has the buying power of $47,827 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Denver, CO has 1.7× 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
Denver, CO ranks #19 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 |
| 19 | Denver, CO | $62,810 | $50,593 | $47,827 |
*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 Denver, CO?
The median substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors salary in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area is $62,810 a year, or about $30.20 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $52,500 and $82,340.
What is a substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors’s take-home pay in Denver, CO?
On the median $62,810 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $50,593 a year ($4,216 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,055 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Denver, CO a good place to work as a substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors?
Pay here is 6% above the national median of $59,350. Local prices are 5.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $47,827 would in a typical U.S. city. Denver, CO ranks #19 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 Denver, CO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Denver, CO is $1,754 a month ($2,089 for two bedrooms) — 42% 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%.