Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors Salary
The median pay for a substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in Utah is $63,890/year ($30.72/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $106K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.54), that's roughly $64,837 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,350/month, about 32.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Utah. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $64K get you in Utah?
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What this looks like in Utah
Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors pay in Utah tracks closely to the national median, $64K locally vs. $59K nationwide, a 8% difference. Rent runs $1,350/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 98.54) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Utah
Entry-level substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $64K. Top earners bring in $106K or more, a $71K spread from bottom to top.
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors salary by metro in Utah
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Logan | $73K | +14% | 170 |
| St. George | $73K | +13% | 440 |
| Ogden | $70K | +9% | 1,070 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray | $63K | -1% | 2,720 |
| Provo-Orem-Lehi | $56K | -12% | 1,470 |
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 Utah 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 Utah?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $64K, rent takes 32.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,350/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,300/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 Utah?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors typically earn — is $35K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,125/month. At HUD’s $1,350/month FMR, rent would take 64% 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 Utah?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $64K locally vs. $59K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Utah compare to the national average for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors?
Utah pays $64K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s +8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.54), the purchasing-power equivalent is $65K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors make in Utah?
The median is $63,890 a year, that works out to about $31 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,410, and experienced substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors can clear $106,080. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $64K enough to live in Utah?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,197/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,350/month, which eats 32.2% 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 Utah?
Utah has a Regional Price Parity of 98.54 (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 $64,837 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.