Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors Salary
The median pay for a substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in Walla Walla, WA is $68,160/year ($32.77/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $46K at the entry level to $105K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.52), that's roughly $69,184 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,550/month, about 32.7% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $68K get you in Walla Walla?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Walla Walla’s Regional Price Parity (98.52). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors
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What this looks like in Walla Walla
Walla Walla sits well above the national pay line for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors, local pay runs about 15% higher than the U.S. median of $59K. Rent runs $1,550/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 98.52) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in metros near Walla Walla, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $74K | $66K |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | $64K | $64K |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater | $68K | $65K |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard | $60K | $57K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Walla Walla, WA
Entry-level substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors (10th percentile) start around $46K. Mid-career wages sit at $68K. Top earners bring in $105K or more, a $59K 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
View Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $81K | +36% | 1,290 |
| Oregon | $75K | +26% | 8,160 |
| New Mexico | $74K | +25% | 2,420 |
| Washington | $69K | +16% | 14,250 |
| North Dakota | $69K | +16% | 1,290 |
| Arizona | $65K | +10% | 9,990 |
| Rhode Island | $65K | +10% | 2,170 |
| Utah | $64K | +8% | 6,320 |
| Nebraska | $64K | +7% | 2,170 |
| Connecticut | $64K | +7% | 7,540 |
| Idaho | $63K | +7% | 2,990 |
| Wyoming | $63K | +6% | 910 |
| New Jersey | $63K | +6% | 14,210 |
| Texas | $63K | +6% | 21,400 |
| Colorado | $62K | +5% | 14,920 |
| Wisconsin | $62K | +5% | 8,340 |
| Vermont | $62K | +4% | 1,120 |
| Michigan | $62K | +4% | 10,100 |
| Iowa | $61K | +3% | 3,530 |
| Illinois | $61K | +2% | 20,250 |
| District of Columbia | $60K | +2% | 1,260 |
| Hawaii | $60K | +1% | 2,110 |
| Maine | $60K | +1% | 1,930 |
| Massachusetts | $60K | +1% | 18,190 |
| Virginia | $60K | +1% | 17,940 |
| Maryland | $60K | +0% | 9,730 |
| Kansas | $59K | +0% | 2,600 |
| New York | $59K | +0% | 26,770 |
| Oklahoma | $59K | +0% | 5,150 |
| California | $59K | -0% | 75,610 |
| Montana | $59K | -1% | 1,820 |
| Georgia | $59K | -1% | 9,600 |
| Minnesota | $59K | -1% | 7,110 |
| Ohio | $58K | -2% | 18,020 |
| Nevada | $57K | -4% | 1,810 |
| Missouri | $57K | -4% | 8,130 |
| Florida | $57K | -4% | 29,750 |
| Delaware | $56K | -6% | 1,700 |
| North Carolina | $55K | -7% | 10,300 |
| New Hampshire | $55K | -8% | 3,690 |
| Kentucky | $54K | -9% | 7,690 |
| Indiana | $54K | -9% | 11,890 |
| South Dakota | $54K | -10% | 1,710 |
| South Carolina | $52K | -12% | 6,300 |
| Pennsylvania | $52K | -12% | 30,620 |
| Arkansas | $52K | -13% | 2,570 |
| Tennessee | $50K | -16% | 9,040 |
| West Virginia | $49K | -17% | 2,100 |
| Alabama | $47K | -20% | N/A |
| Mississippi | $47K | -21% | 2,090 |
| Louisiana | $38K | -36% | 6,420 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
Can a substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselor afford a 2BR apartment alone in Walla Walla?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $68K, rent takes 33% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,550/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,400/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 Walla Walla?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors typically earn — is $46K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,754/month. At HUD’s $1,550/month FMR, rent would take 56% 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 Walla Walla?
Local pay is 15% above the national median — $68K here vs. $59K nationally.
How does Walla Walla compare to the national average for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors?
Walla Walla pays $68K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s +15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.52), the purchasing-power equivalent is $69K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors make in Walla Walla, WA?
The median is $68,160 a year, that works out to about $33 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $45,900, and experienced substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors can clear $105,010. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $68K enough to live in Walla Walla?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,695/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,550/month, which eats 33% 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 Walla Walla?
Walla Walla has a Regional Price Parity of 98.52 (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 $69,184 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.