Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors Salary in Philadelphia, PA
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area earn a median $58,140 a year — 2% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $47,111 take-home, or $3,926 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors salary in Philadelphia, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,797
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,605
- Medicare (1.45%)$843
- Pennsylvania income tax$1,785
- Take-home pay$47,111
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.07% state
Living in Philadelphia? City residents also pay Philadelphia’s Resident Wage Tax — about $2,174 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $44,936 ($3,745 a month). Choose “Philadelphia” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro spans Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
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 Philadelphia, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,940 | $17.76 | $30,727 | $2,561 |
| 25th percentile | $45,600 | $21.92 | $37,420 | $3,118 |
| Median (50th) | $58,140 | $27.95 | $47,111 | $3,926 |
| 75th percentile | $70,720 | $34.00 | $56,410 | $4,701 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $86,740 | $41.70 | $67,189 | $5,599 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $58,140 buys in Philadelphia, PA
Prices in Philadelphia, PA are 2.6% 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 $47,111 take-home pay has the buying power of $45,937 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Philadelphia, PA has 1.6× 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
Philadelphia, PA ranks #30 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 |
| 30 | Philadelphia, PA | $58,140 | $47,111 | $45,937 |
*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 Pennsylvania
- Pittsburgh, PA — $54,290
Frequently asked questions
How much does a substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors make in Philadelphia, PA?
The median substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors salary in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area is $58,140 a year, or about $27.95 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $45,600 and $70,720.
What is a substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors’s take-home pay in Philadelphia, PA?
On the median $58,140 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $47,111 a year ($3,926 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,785 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Philadelphia, PA 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 2.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $45,937 would in a typical U.S. city. Philadelphia, PA ranks #30 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 Philadelphia, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Philadelphia, PA is $1,520 a month ($1,810 for two bedrooms) — 39% 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 Philadelphia, PA
- Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors — $66,190
- Healthcare Social Worker — $65,990
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers — $55,930
- Social and Human Service Assistant — $45,370