Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors Salary
The median pay for a substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in Ohio is $58,360/year ($28.06/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $84K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.45), which stretches that salary to about $63,816 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,188/month, about 31% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Ohio. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $58K get you in Ohio?
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What this looks like in Ohio
Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors pay in Ohio tracks closely to the national median, $58K locally vs. $59K nationwide, a 2% difference. Rent runs $1,188/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.45 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% 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, Ohio
Entry-level substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $58K. Top earners bring in $84K or more, a $45K spread from bottom to top.
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors salary by metro in Ohio
12 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akron | $60K | +3% | 1,070 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek | $60K | +2% | 1,090 |
| Cleveland | $60K | +2% | 2,860 |
| Columbus | $59K | +2% | 3,890 |
| Sandusky | $59K | +0% | 70 |
| Cincinnati | $59K | +0% | 3,460 |
| Toledo | $58K | -0% | 1,080 |
| Lima | $57K | -2% | 120 |
| Canton-Massillon | $57K | -3% | 400 |
| Youngstown-Warren | $56K | -4% | 840 |
| Springfield | $56K | -4% | 140 |
| Mansfield | $54K | -8% | 200 |
Showing 1–10 of 12 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Ohio 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 Ohio?
Yes — at the median salary of $58K, rent takes 29.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,188/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in Ohio?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,341/month. At HUD’s $1,188/month FMR, rent would take 51% 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 Ohio?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $58K locally vs. $59K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Ohio compare to the national average for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors?
Ohio pays $58K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s -2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.45), the purchasing-power equivalent is $64K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors make in Ohio?
The median is $58,360 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,010, and experienced substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors can clear $83,730. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $58K enough to live in Ohio?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,002/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,188/month, which eats 29.7% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors salary go in Ohio?
Ohio has a Regional Price Parity of 91.45 (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 $63,816 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.