Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors Salary in New Orleans-Metairie, LA
The median pay for a substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in New Orleans-Metairie, LA is $41,020/year ($19.72/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $71K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.6), which stretches that salary to about $44,298 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,331/month — about 47.6% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $41K get you in New Orleans-Metairie?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by New Orleans-Metairie’s Regional Price Parity (92.6). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction.
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Orleans-Metairie, LA
Entry-level substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $41K. Top earners bring in $71K or more, a $40K 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 New Orleans-Metairie numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors make in New Orleans-Metairie, LA?
The median is $41,020 a year, that works out to about $20 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $30,830, and experienced substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors can clear $70,610. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $41K enough to live in New Orleans-Metairie?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,814/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,331/month, which eats 47.3% 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 New Orleans-Metairie?
New Orleans-Metairie has a Regional Price Parity of 92.6 (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 $44,298 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.