Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors Salary in Indianapolis, IN
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area earn a median $53,760 a year — 9% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $43,820 take-home, or $3,652 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors salary in Indianapolis, IN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,271
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,333
- Medicare (1.45%)$780
- Indiana income tax$1,556
- Take-home pay$43,820
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.95% state
Living in Indianapolis (Marion County)? City residents also pay Indianapolis (Marion County)’s County income tax — about $1,066 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $42,754 ($3,563 a month). Choose “Indianapolis (Marion County)” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
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 Indianapolis, IN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,370 | $18.93 | $32,682 | $2,723 |
| 25th percentile | $42,210 | $20.29 | $34,880 | $2,907 |
| Median (50th) | $53,760 | $25.85 | $43,820 | $3,652 |
| 75th percentile | $63,790 | $30.67 | $51,583 | $4,299 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $81,380 | $39.13 | $63,710 | $5,309 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Indiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $53,760 buys in Indianapolis, IN
Prices in Indianapolis, IN are 4.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 11% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors's $43,820 take-home pay has the buying power of $45,791 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Indianapolis, IN has 1.3× 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
Indianapolis, IN ranks #31 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 |
| 31 | Indianapolis, IN | $53,760 | $43,820 | $45,791 |
*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 Indianapolis, IN?
The median substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors salary in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area is $53,760 a year, or about $25.85 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $42,210 and $63,790.
What is a substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors’s take-home pay in Indianapolis, IN?
On the median $53,760 salary, a single filer living in Indiana takes home about $43,820 a year ($3,652 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,556 in Indiana taxes in 2026.
Is Indianapolis, IN a good place to work as a substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors?
Pay here is 9% below the national median of $59,350. Local prices are 4.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $45,791 would in a typical U.S. city. Indianapolis, IN ranks #31 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 Indianapolis, IN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Indianapolis, IN is $1,242 a month ($1,454 for two bedrooms) — 34% 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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