Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors Salary
The median pay for a substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in South Dakota is $53,650/year ($25.79/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $67K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $59,684 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,017/month, or 27.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across South Dakota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $54K get you in South Dakota?
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What this looks like in South Dakota
Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors pay in South Dakota tracks closely to the national median, $54K locally vs. $59K nationwide, a 10% difference. Rent runs $1,017/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.89 (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, South Dakota
Entry-level substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $54K. Top earners bring in $67K or more, a $28K spread from bottom to top.
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors salary by metro in South Dakota
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls | $57K | +6% | 760 |
| Rapid City | $48K | -11% | 350 |
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 South Dakota 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 South Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $54K, rent takes 27% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,017/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 South Dakota?
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 $2,353/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 43% 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 South Dakota?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $54K locally vs. $59K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does South Dakota compare to the national average for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors?
South Dakota pays $54K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s -10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), 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 South Dakota?
The median is $53,650 a year, that works out to about $26 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,210, and experienced substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors can clear $67,010. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $54K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,762/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 27% 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 South Dakota?
South Dakota has a Regional Price Parity of 89.89 (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 $59,684 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.