Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors Salary
The median pay for a substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in Wisconsin is $62,220/year ($29.91/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $95K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.33), which stretches that salary to about $65,960 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,202/month, or 29.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Wisconsin. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $62K get you in Wisconsin?
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What this looks like in Wisconsin
Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors pay in Wisconsin tracks closely to the national median, $62K locally vs. $59K nationwide, a 5% difference. Rent runs $1,202/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.33 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% 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, Wisconsin
Entry-level substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $62K. Top earners bring in $95K or more, a $48K spread from bottom to top.
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors salary by metro in Wisconsin
13 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oshkosh-Neenah | $67K | +8% | 300 |
| Janesville-Beloit | $65K | +4% | 230 |
| Madison | $64K | +3% | 1,500 |
| Sheboygan | $64K | +3% | 150 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska | $62K | +0% | 330 |
| Fond du Lac | $62K | -0% | 130 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $62K | -0% | 2,360 |
| Eau Claire | $62K | -1% | 220 |
| Wausau | $61K | -2% | 250 |
| Appleton | $60K | -3% | 480 |
| Kenosha | $60K | -3% | 170 |
| Green Bay | $60K | -4% | 510 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant | $60K | -4% | 110 |
Showing 1–10 of 13 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin?
Yes — at the median salary of $62K, rent takes 29% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,202/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 Wisconsin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,791/month. At HUD’s $1,202/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 Wisconsin?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $62K locally vs. $59K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Wisconsin compare to the national average for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors?
Wisconsin pays $62K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s +5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.33), the purchasing-power equivalent is $66K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors make in Wisconsin?
The median is $62,220 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $46,510, and experienced substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors can clear $94,640. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $62K enough to live in Wisconsin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,148/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,202/month, which eats 29% 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 Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has a Regional Price Parity of 94.33 (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 $65,960 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.