Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors Salary
The median pay for a substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT is $68,140/year ($32.76/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $45K at the entry level to $106K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.86), so that salary is closer to $63,766 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,511/month, about 56.4% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $68K get you in Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury’s Regional Price Parity (106.86). 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.
About substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury sits well above the national pay line for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors, local pay runs about 15% higher than the U.S. median of $59K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,511/month, which is 56.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 7% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.86), so groceries and services cost more too. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in metros near Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford | $61K | $60K |
| New Haven | $63K | $60K |
| Waterbury-Shelton | $66K | $66K |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic | $64K | $64K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT
Entry-level substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors (10th percentile) start around $45K. Mid-career wages sit at $68K. Top earners bring in $106K or more, a $61K 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
View Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $81K | +36% | 1,290 |
| Oregon | $75K | +26% | 8,160 |
| New Mexico | $74K | +25% | 2,420 |
| Washington | $69K | +16% | 14,250 |
| North Dakota | $69K | +16% | 1,290 |
| Arizona | $65K | +10% | 9,990 |
| Rhode Island | $65K | +10% | 2,170 |
| Utah | $64K | +8% | 6,320 |
| Nebraska | $64K | +7% | 2,170 |
| Connecticut | $64K | +7% | 7,540 |
| Idaho | $63K | +7% | 2,990 |
| Wyoming | $63K | +6% | 910 |
| New Jersey | $63K | +6% | 14,210 |
| Texas | $63K | +6% | 21,400 |
| Colorado | $62K | +5% | 14,920 |
| Wisconsin | $62K | +5% | 8,340 |
| Vermont | $62K | +4% | 1,120 |
| Michigan | $62K | +4% | 10,100 |
| Iowa | $61K | +3% | 3,530 |
| Illinois | $61K | +2% | 20,250 |
| District of Columbia | $60K | +2% | 1,260 |
| Hawaii | $60K | +1% | 2,110 |
| Maine | $60K | +1% | 1,930 |
| Massachusetts | $60K | +1% | 18,190 |
| Virginia | $60K | +1% | 17,940 |
| Maryland | $60K | +0% | 9,730 |
| Kansas | $59K | +0% | 2,600 |
| New York | $59K | +0% | 26,770 |
| Oklahoma | $59K | +0% | 5,150 |
| California | $59K | -0% | 75,610 |
| Montana | $59K | -1% | 1,820 |
| Georgia | $59K | -1% | 9,600 |
| Minnesota | $59K | -1% | 7,110 |
| Ohio | $58K | -2% | 18,020 |
| Nevada | $57K | -4% | 1,810 |
| Missouri | $57K | -4% | 8,130 |
| Florida | $57K | -4% | 29,750 |
| Delaware | $56K | -6% | 1,700 |
| North Carolina | $55K | -7% | 10,300 |
| New Hampshire | $55K | -8% | 3,690 |
| Kentucky | $54K | -9% | 7,690 |
| Indiana | $54K | -9% | 11,890 |
| South Dakota | $54K | -10% | 1,710 |
| South Carolina | $52K | -12% | 6,300 |
| Pennsylvania | $52K | -12% | 30,620 |
| Arkansas | $52K | -13% | 2,570 |
| Tennessee | $50K | -16% | 9,040 |
| West Virginia | $49K | -17% | 2,100 |
| Alabama | $47K | -20% | N/A |
| Mississippi | $47K | -21% | 2,090 |
| Louisiana | $38K | -36% | 6,420 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury numbers change.
Related careers in Community & Social
Frequently asked questions
Can a substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselor afford a 2BR apartment alone in Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $68K, rent takes 56.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,511/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,300/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors typically earn — is $45K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,674/month. At HUD’s $2,511/month FMR, rent would take 94% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselor a high-paying job in Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury?
Local pay is 15% above the national median — $68K here vs. $59K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 7% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury compare to the national average for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors?
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury pays $68K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s +15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $64K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors make in Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT?
The median is $68,140 a year, that works out to about $33 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $44,570, and experienced substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors can clear $105,970. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $68K enough to live in Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,419/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,511/month, which eats 56.8% 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 Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury?
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury has a Regional Price Parity of 106.86 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors salary is worth about $63,766 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.