California Median
$59,250
per year
Hourly Rate
$28.49
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+-0% vs US median
US median $59,350
State Rank
#30 of 51
75,610 employed here
How much do Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors make in California?
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors working in California earn a median salary of $59,250 per year, or about $28.49 per hour. That is 0% above the national median of $59,350 for this occupation.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $44,640 while the top 10% make $111,080 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $47,640 and $80,570 a year.
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,640 | $21.46 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $47,640 | $22.90 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $59,250 | $28.49 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $80,570 | $38.74 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $111,080 | $53.40 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 30th out of 51 states and territories for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors salary in other states
Alaska $80,770Oregon $74,590New Mexico $74,100Washington $68,910North Dakota $68,630Arizona $65,300Rhode Island $65,120Utah $63,890Nebraska $63,770Connecticut $63,590Idaho $63,360Wyoming $62,980New Jersey $62,820Texas $62,630Colorado $62,390Wisconsin $62,220Vermont $61,810Michigan $61,690Iowa $60,880Illinois $60,730District of Columbia $60,450Hawaii $60,090Maine $59,970Massachusetts $59,890Virginia $59,880Maryland $59,530Kansas $59,470New York $59,450Oklahoma $59,350Montana $59,000Georgia $58,960Minnesota $58,780Ohio $58,360Nevada $57,210Missouri $56,910Florida $56,790Delaware $56,020North Carolina $55,490New Hampshire $54,840Kentucky $54,190Indiana $53,760South Dakota $53,650South Carolina $52,370Pennsylvania $52,010Arkansas $51,580Tennessee $49,580West Virginia $49,430Alabama $47,310Mississippi $46,990Louisiana $37,910
Working as Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors in California
Nationally, about 492,000 people work as Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($59,250) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much do Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors make in California?
The median Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors salary in California is $59,250 per year, or about $28.49 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $44,640 at the entry level to $111,080 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors about 0% more than the national median of $59,350. California ranks 30th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $59,250 a year. About 75,610 Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.