Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors Salary in Albuquerque, NM
The median pay for a substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in Albuquerque, NM is $71,480/year ($34.37/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $52K at the entry level to $93K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 95.55), that's roughly $74,809 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,464/month — about 31.2% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $71K get you in Albuquerque?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Albuquerque’s Regional Price Parity (95.55). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Albuquerque, NM
Entry-level substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors (10th percentile) start around $52K. Mid-career wages sit at $71K. Top earners bring in $93K or more, a $41K spread from bottom to top.
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $79K | +34% | 1,060 |
| New Mexico | $71K | +20% | 2,070 |
| Oregon | $70K | +18% | 6,410 |
| North Dakota | $66K | +12% | 1,180 |
| District of Columbia | $66K | +12% | 980 |
| Utah | $66K | +11% | 4,720 |
| Idaho | $65K | +10% | 2,130 |
| New Jersey | $65K | +9% | 14,640 |
| Nebraska | $64K | +9% | 1,980 |
| Washington | $64K | +8% | 13,150 |
| Arizona | $64K | +8% | 8,970 |
| Connecticut | $63K | +6% | 6,470 |
| Wisconsin | $62K | +6% | 9,450 |
| New York | $62K | +5% | 22,450 |
| Wyoming | $62K | +4% | 840 |
| California | $61K | +4% | 63,110 |
| Maine | $61K | +3% | 1,610 |
| Iowa | $61K | +3% | 3,030 |
| Texas | $61K | +2% | 19,520 |
| Vermont | $60K | +2% | 1,150 |
| Illinois | $60K | +1% | 18,170 |
| Michigan | $60K | +1% | 11,090 |
| Nevada | $59K | +0% | 2,240 |
| Massachusetts | $59K | -0% | 17,950 |
| Minnesota | $59K | -1% | 7,910 |
| Montana | $59K | -1% | 1,900 |
| Oklahoma | $59K | -1% | 4,460 |
| New Hampshire | $59K | -1% | 3,100 |
| Virginia | $58K | -1% | 16,860 |
| Pennsylvania | $58K | -1% | 26,510 |
| Maryland | $58K | -2% | 8,180 |
| Kansas | $58K | -2% | 2,410 |
| Ohio | $57K | -4% | 16,690 |
| Florida | $57K | -4% | 24,680 |
| Missouri | $57K | -4% | 7,500 |
| North Carolina | $56K | -5% | 8,930 |
| Georgia | $55K | -7% | 8,680 |
| Hawaii | $54K | -8% | 1,580 |
| South Dakota | $53K | -10% | 1,510 |
| Kentucky | $52K | -13% | 8,030 |
| South Carolina | $51K | -14% | 4,680 |
| Arkansas | $50K | -16% | 2,860 |
| Rhode Island | $50K | -16% | 1,560 |
| Delaware | $50K | -16% | 1,240 |
| Indiana | $49K | -17% | 10,400 |
| Alabama | $49K | -17% | 3,340 |
| Tennessee | $48K | -19% | 7,310 |
| Mississippi | $47K | -21% | 2,220 |
| West Virginia | $47K | -21% | 1,970 |
| Louisiana | $40K | -32% | 6,600 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Albuquerque numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors make in Albuquerque, NM?
The median is $71,480 a year, that works out to about $34 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $52,000, and experienced substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors can clear $92,520. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $71K enough to live in Albuquerque?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,680/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,464/month, which eats 31.3% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors salary go in Albuquerque?
Albuquerque has a Regional Price Parity of 95.55 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors salary is worth about $74,809 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.