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Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors Salary in California

What Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors earn in California, labor market by labor market, and what is left after taxes and living costs in 9 counties.

Average in CA
$59,033
local median wages, weighted
Rank among states
13 of 17
published states
Workers in state
72,610
BLS employment estimate
Wage areas
3
9 counties

Pay by labor market in California

Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors pay by wage area in California
Wage areaMedian wageTake-home payMargin per yearLargest county
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$68,400$54,330$17,239Alameda County, CA
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$57,880$47,066$16,995Riverside County, CA
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$51,910$42,627$4,192Los Angeles County, CA

Counties ranked by what is left after the basics

Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors in California counties, by yearly margin
#CountyMedian wageTake-home payMargin per year
1Alameda County, CA$68,400$54,330$17,239
2Contra Costa County, CA$68,400$54,330$17,239
3Riverside County, CA$57,880$47,066$16,995
4San Bernardino County, CA$57,880$47,066$16,995
5San Francisco County, CA$68,400$54,330$8,683
6San Mateo County, CA$68,400$54,330$8,683
7Marin County, CA$68,400$54,330$8,683
8Los Angeles County, CA$51,910$42,627$4,192
9Orange County, CA$51,910$42,627$1,696

Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors pay in California

The employment-weighted average of local median wages for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors in California is $59,033, based on 72,610 workers. Among the 17 states with published data, that ranks number 13. The BLS national median for the occupation is $59,350, so California averages 0.5% below it.

Inside California, pay depends on the labor market. The highest local median is $68,400 in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA area and the lowest is $51,910 in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, a difference of $16,490 across 3 wage areas.

Cost of living for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors in California

We compare 9 California counties after federal, Social Security, Medicare and state taxes and the four basics: a one-bedroom rental, food, home energy and gasoline. Alameda County, CA leaves the largest yearly margin, $17,239. Orange County, CA leaves the smallest, $1,696. The median wage covers all four basics in 9 of the 9 counties.

Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors in other states

The states with the highest average local median wages for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors are Washington ($71,709), District of Columbia ($65,270), Arizona ($65,137) and Colorado ($63,281).

Frequently asked questions: Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors in California

How much do Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors earn in California?

The employment-weighted average of local median wages is $59,033, from $51,910 to $68,400 depending on the labor market.

Which California county is best for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors?

Alameda County, CA leaves the largest yearly margin after taxes and the four basics ($17,239). Contra Costa County, CA follows at $17,239.