Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors Salary in California
Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in California earned a median of $59,250 a year ($28.48 an hour) and a mean of $69,080 in May 2025. The median is about level with the U.S. median of $59,350, ranking 30th of 52 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $59,250
- Median hourly
- $28.48
- Mean annual
- $69,080
- Jobs on record
- 75,610
Grey needle: U.S. median, $59,350 a year.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state file, May 2025. Wage and salary jobs only; the self-employed are not counted. OEWS pay excludes overtime, shift differentials and non-production bonuses. Confirm any figure on bls.gov/oes. Latest BLS release: May 2025, published May 15, 2026; checked November 10, 2026.
How does California compare on pay for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors?
California ranks 30th of 52 states and territories. Alaska is highest at $80,770, $21,520 more than the California median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 28 | $59,450 | +0% | 26,770 |
| Oklahoma | 29 | $59,350 | 0% | 5,150 |
| California | 30 | $59,250 | -0% | 75,610 |
| Montana | 31 | $59,000 | -1% | 1,820 |
| Georgia | 32 | $58,960 | -1% | 9,600 |
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025. Rank 1 is the highest median among 52 states and territories with a published figure. See every state.
Does California pay go further after prices?
Prices in California run 10.7% above the U.S. average, so the $59,250 median buys about what $53,513 buys at average U.S. prices, below the $59,350 U.S. median. On this measure California ranks 47th of 51, down from 30th before the adjustment.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025; BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024. The adjustment divides pay by the state's price level.
Which areas in California pay substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors the most?
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA is highest at $80,770, 36.3% above the California median.
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in California is shown; an area that crosses state lines is listed under the first state in its BLS title.
How many substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors work in California?
BLS counts 75,610 jobs in California, 15.4% of the 491,930 in the U.S. That is the largest count among the 51 states and territories with a published figure. That is 4.2 of every 1,000 jobs in California, a location quotient of 1.31: the occupation's share of local jobs is 1.31 times its national share, so it is more concentrated here than in the U.S. as a whole.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025 and national file.
How does the California minimum wage compare with pay for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors?
The 10th-percentile hourly pay for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in California was $21.46 in May 2025, $4.56 above the $16.90 minimum wage that applies there now. The pay figure dates from May 2025 and the minimum wage is the current rate, so the two are not from the same date.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, State Minimum Wage Laws, updated 2026-11-05; BLS OEWS state file, May 2025, 10th-percentile hourly wage.
Related jobs in California
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.