Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors Salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
The median pay for a substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $61,150/year ($29.4/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $44K at the entry level to $114K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.59), that's roughly $59,031 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,781/month — about 44.3% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $61K get you in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Chicago-Naperville-Elgin’s Regional Price Parity (103.59). 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, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Entry-level substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors (10th percentile) start around $44K. Mid-career wages sit at $61K. Top earners bring in $114K or more, a $70K 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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median is $61,150 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $44,330, and experienced substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors can clear $114,400. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $61K enough to live in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,012/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,781/month, which eats 44.4% 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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin has a Regional Price Parity of 103.59 (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 $59,031 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.