Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors Salary in Washington, DC
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median $65,270 a year — 10% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $51,828 take-home, or $4,319 a month.
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Pre-filled with the median substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors salary in Washington, DC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,652
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,047
- Medicare (1.45%)$946
- District of Columbia income tax$2,796
- Take-home pay$51,828
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.50% state
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro spans District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia. 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 Washington, DC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,520 | $22.37 | $37,934 | $3,161 |
| 25th percentile | $50,870 | $24.46 | $41,168 | $3,431 |
| Median (50th) | $65,270 | $31.38 | $51,828 | $4,319 |
| 75th percentile | $83,370 | $40.08 | $63,363 | $5,280 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $104,170 | $50.08 | $76,228 | $6,352 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, District of Columbia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $65,270 buys in Washington, DC
Prices in Washington, DC are 8.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors's $51,828 take-home pay has the buying power of $47,600 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors jobs are about as common in Washington, DC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.91).
Best-paying cities for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors, adjusted for cost of living
Washington, DC ranks #20 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 |
| 20 | Washington, DC | $65,270 | $51,828 | $47,600 |
*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 Washington, DC?
The median substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors salary in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $65,270 a year, or about $31.38 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $50,870 and $83,370.
What is a substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors’s take-home pay in Washington, DC?
On the median $65,270 salary, a single filer living in District of Columbia takes home about $51,828 a year ($4,319 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,796 in District of Columbia taxes in 2026.
Is Washington, DC a good place to work as a substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors?
Pay here is 10% above the national median of $59,350. Local prices are 8.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $47,600 would in a typical U.S. city. Washington, DC ranks #20 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 Washington, DC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Washington, DC is $1,990 a month ($2,223 for two bedrooms) — 46% 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 Washington, DC
- Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors — $77,420
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers — $75,550
- Social and Human Service Assistant — $48,370
- Rehabilitation Counselor — $48,290