Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors Salary
The median pay for a substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in Michigan is $61,690/year ($29.66/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $94K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.89), which stretches that salary to about $65,705 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,272/month, about 31.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Michigan. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $62K get you in Michigan?
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What this looks like in Michigan
Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors pay in Michigan tracks closely to the national median, $62K locally vs. $59K nationwide, a 4% difference. Rent runs $1,272/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% 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, Michigan
Entry-level substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $62K. Top earners bring in $94K or more, a $56K spread from bottom to top.
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors salary by metro in Michigan
15 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midland | $73K | +19% | 130 |
| Niles | $73K | +19% | 80 |
| Muskegon-Norton Shores | $69K | +12% | 170 |
| Battle Creek | $68K | +11% | 140 |
| Lansing-East Lansing | $68K | +9% | 790 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage | $67K | +8% | 370 |
| Ann Arbor | $65K | +6% | 320 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood | $64K | +4% | 1,130 |
| Traverse City | $62K | +0% | 130 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn | $61K | -1% | 4,290 |
| Monroe | $60K | -2% | 110 |
| Flint | $58K | -6% | 360 |
| Saginaw | $56K | -9% | 370 |
| Jackson | $54K | -13% | 70 |
| Bay City | $38K | -39% | 350 |
Showing 1–10 of 15 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Michigan 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 Michigan?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $62K, rent takes 31.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,272/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/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 Michigan?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors typically earn — is $38K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,309/month. At HUD’s $1,272/month FMR, rent would take 55% 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 Michigan?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $62K locally vs. $59K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Michigan compare to the national average for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors?
Michigan pays $62K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s +4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $66K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors make in Michigan?
The median is $61,690 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,490, and experienced substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors can clear $94,400. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $62K enough to live in Michigan?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,082/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,272/month, which eats 31.2% 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 Michigan?
Michigan has a Regional Price Parity of 93.89 (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 $65,705 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.