Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors salary · California
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors Salary in California
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors in California earn a median of $59,250 a year, which is $28.48 an hour. That is about the same as the national median of $59,350. The state employs 75,610.
California against the US May 2025
| Figure | California | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual | $59,250 | $59,350 |
| Median hourly | $28.48 | $28.53 |
| Mean annual | $69,080 | $64,440 |
| 10th percentile | $44,640 | $38,940 |
| 90th percentile | $111,080 | $97,590 |
| Employment | 75,610 | 491,930 |
How California compares
By median pay, California ranks 9 of the 12 states this site reports for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors. Ranking is on the published median only. It says nothing about how far that salary goes once housing, state income tax and commuting are paid, and those differences between states are frequently larger than the pay gap itself.
Other states for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors May 2025
| State | Median | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $68,910 | $33.13 | 14,250 |
| New Jersey | $62,820 | $30.20 | 14,210 |
| Texas | $62,630 | $30.11 | 21,400 |
| Colorado | $62,390 | $30.00 | 14,920 |
| Illinois | $60,730 | $29.20 | 20,250 |
| Massachusetts | $59,890 | $28.80 | 18,190 |
| Virginia | $59,880 | $28.79 | 17,940 |
| New York | $59,450 | $28.58 | 26,770 |
| Ohio | $58,360 | $28.06 | 18,020 |
| Florida | $56,790 | $27.30 | 29,750 |
| Pennsylvania | $52,010 | $25.01 | 30,620 |
Common questions
How much do substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors make in California?
The median salary for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in California is $59,250 a year, or $28.48 an hour. That is about the same as the national median of $59,350. California employs 75,610 of them.
Is California a good state to work as a substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselor?
On pay alone, California ranks 9 of the 12 states this site reports for the occupation, by median salary. Pay is only half the question though: a state with a higher median can still leave you with less once housing and taxes are counted, and this site does not adjust for cost of living.
What is the pay range for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in California?
The lowest-paid 10 percent earn $44,640 or less and the highest-paid 10 percent earn $111,080 or more. The middle half falls between $47,640 and $80,570.
Where these numbers come from
Published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 release, for SOC code 21-1018 in California. Nothing on this page is interpolated or averaged by this site. See the national substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors salary page for the full picture, or how to read these figures for what the survey covers.