Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors Salary in Portland, OR
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area earn a median $75,420 a year — 27% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $56,118 take-home, or $4,677 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors salary in Portland, OR. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$7,762
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,676
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,094
- Oregon income tax$5,770
- Take-home pay$56,118
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 8.75% state
The Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro spans Oregon, Washington. 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 Portland, OR
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,970 | $24.50 | $39,504 | $3,292 |
| 25th percentile | $59,630 | $28.67 | $45,705 | $3,809 |
| Median (50th) | $75,420 | $36.26 | $56,118 | $4,677 |
| 75th percentile | $91,050 | $43.77 | $65,746 | $5,479 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $109,330 | $52.56 | $77,007 | $6,417 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Oregon resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $75,420 buys in Portland, OR
Prices in Portland, OR are 5.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.25× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors's $56,118 take-home pay has the buying power of $53,233 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Portland, OR has 1.2× 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
Portland, OR ranks #4 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 |
*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 Portland, OR?
The median substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors salary in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area is $75,420 a year, or about $36.26 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $59,630 and $91,050.
What is a substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors’s take-home pay in Portland, OR?
On the median $75,420 salary, a single filer living in Oregon takes home about $56,118 a year ($4,677 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,770 in Oregon taxes in 2026.
Is Portland, OR a good place to work as a substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors?
Pay here is 27% above the national median of $59,350. Local prices are 5.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $53,233 would in a typical U.S. city. Portland, OR ranks #4 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 Portland, OR?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Portland, OR is $1,677 a month ($1,922 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%.