Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors Salary in Hartford, CT
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors in the Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT metro area earn a median $61,400 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $49,677 take-home, or $4,140 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors salary in Hartford, CT. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,188
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,807
- Medicare (1.45%)$890
- Connecticut income tax$1,838
- Take-home pay$49,677
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.50% 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 Hartford, CT
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $43,080 | $20.71 | $35,781 | $2,982 |
| 25th percentile | $47,460 | $22.82 | $39,103 | $3,259 |
| Median (50th) | $61,400 | $29.52 | $49,677 | $4,140 |
| 75th percentile | $78,560 | $37.77 | $61,351 | $5,113 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $97,690 | $46.97 | $73,757 | $6,146 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Connecticut resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $61,400 buys in Hartford, CT
Prices in Hartford, CT are 2.7% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.10× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors's $49,677 take-home pay has the buying power of $48,349 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Hartford, CT 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
Hartford, CT ranks #17 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 |
| 17 | Hartford, CT | $61,400 | $49,677 | $48,349 |
*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 Hartford, CT?
The median substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors salary in the Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT metro area is $61,400 a year, or about $29.52 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $47,460 and $78,560.
What is a substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors’s take-home pay in Hartford, CT?
On the median $61,400 salary, a single filer living in Connecticut takes home about $49,677 a year ($4,140 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,838 in Connecticut taxes in 2026.
Is Hartford, CT a good place to work as a substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $59,350. Local prices are 2.7% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $48,349 would in a typical U.S. city. Hartford, CT ranks #17 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 Hartford, CT?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Hartford, CT is $1,477 a month ($1,865 for two bedrooms) — 36% 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%.
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