Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors Salary
The median pay for a substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO is $62,810/year ($30.2/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $100K for experienced workers.
So what does $63K get you in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
About substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors
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Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in metros near Denver-Aurora-Centennial, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado Springs | $60K | , |
| Fort Collins-Loveland | $71K | , |
| Pueblo | $58K | , |
| Boulder | $75K | , |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
Entry-level substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $63K. Top earners bring in $100K or more, a $53K 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 states
Track substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Denver-Aurora-Centennial numbers change.
Related careers in Community & Social
Frequently asked questions
What’s the entry-level salary for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,827/month.
Is substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselor a high-paying job in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $63K locally vs. $59K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Denver-Aurora-Centennial compare to the national average for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors?
Denver-Aurora-Centennial pays $63K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s +6%.
How much do substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors make in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
The median is $62,810 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,110, and experienced substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors can clear $100,320. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $63K enough to live in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,145/month after taxes. Rent data is not available for this area.
How far does a substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors salary go in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
Denver-Aurora-Centennial has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors salary is worth about $62,810 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.