Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors Salary
The median pay for a substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in Kentucky is $54,190/year ($26.05/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $83K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.23), which stretches that salary to about $60,058 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,110/month, about 31.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Kentucky. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $54K get you in Kentucky?
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What this looks like in Kentucky
Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors pay in Kentucky tracks closely to the national median, $54K locally vs. $59K nationwide, a 9% difference. Rent runs $1,110/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.23 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Kentucky
Entry-level substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $54K. Top earners bring in $83K or more, a $48K spread from bottom to top.
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors salary by metro in Kentucky
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elizabethtown | $59K | +8% | 260 |
| Paducah | $58K | +7% | 140 |
| Lexington-Fayette | $58K | +7% | 970 |
| Bowling Green | $58K | +7% | 370 |
| Owensboro | $52K | -4% | 220 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $51K | -6% | 2,870 |
Compare to other states
Track substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Kentucky numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselor afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kentucky?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $54K, rent takes 30.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,110/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/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 Kentucky?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors typically earn — is $35K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,109/month. At HUD’s $1,110/month FMR, rent would take 53% 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 Kentucky?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $54K locally vs. $59K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does Kentucky compare to the national average for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors?
Kentucky pays $54K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s -9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.23), the purchasing-power equivalent is $60K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors make in Kentucky?
The median is $54,190 a year, that works out to about $26 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,150, and experienced substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors can clear $83,070. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $54K enough to live in Kentucky?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,618/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,110/month, which eats 30.7% 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 Kentucky?
Kentucky has a Regional Price Parity of 90.23 (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 $60,058 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.