Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors Salary
The median pay for a substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in Louisiana is $37,910/year ($18.22/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $30K at the entry level to $66K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.28), which stretches that salary to about $43,435 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,191/month, about 46.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Louisiana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $38K get you in Louisiana?
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What this looks like in Louisiana
Pay for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in Louisiana runs about 36% below the U.S. median of $59K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,191/month, which is 45.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.28 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 13% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselorss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Louisiana
Entry-level substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors (10th percentile) start around $30K. Mid-career wages sit at $38K. Top earners bring in $66K or more, a $36K spread from bottom to top.
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors salary by metro in Louisiana
10 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shreveport-Bossier City | $48K | +27% | 410 |
| Baton Rouge | $47K | +24% | 840 |
| Monroe | $45K | +20% | 420 |
| New Orleans-Metairie | $42K | +11% | 1,580 |
| Lake Charles | $39K | +2% | 350 |
| Lafayette | $38K | -1% | 620 |
| Alexandria | $37K | -2% | 300 |
| Hammond | $37K | -3% | 130 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux | $37K | -4% | 600 |
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington | $34K | -9% | 470 |
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 Louisiana 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 Louisiana?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $38K, rent takes 45.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,191/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/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 Louisiana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors typically earn — is $30K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,792/month. At HUD’s $1,191/month FMR, rent would take 66% 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 Louisiana?
Local pay runs 36% below the national median — $38K here vs. $59K nationally. Cost of living is 13% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Louisiana compare to the national average for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors?
Louisiana pays $38K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s -36%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.28), the purchasing-power equivalent is $43K — below the national median.
How much do substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors make in Louisiana?
The median is $37,910 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $29,860, and experienced substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors can clear $65,720. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $38K enough to live in Louisiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,615/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,191/month, which eats 45.5% 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 Louisiana?
Louisiana has a Regional Price Parity of 87.28 (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 $43,435 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.