Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors Salary in Colorado
Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in Colorado earned a median of $62,390 a year ($30.00 an hour) and a mean of $69,860 in May 2025. The median is 5.1% above the U.S. median of $59,350, ranking 15th of 52 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $62,390
- Median hourly
- $30.00
- Mean annual
- $69,860
- Jobs on record
- 14,920
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 Colorado compare on pay for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors?
Colorado ranks 15th of 52 states and territories. Alaska is highest at $80,770, $18,380 more than the Colorado median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | 13 | $62,820 | +6% | 14,210 |
| Texas | 14 | $62,630 | +6% | 21,400 |
| Colorado | 15 | $62,390 | +5% | 14,920 |
| Wisconsin | 16 | $62,220 | +5% | 8,340 |
| Vermont | 17 | $61,810 | +4% | 1,120 |
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 Colorado pay go further after prices?
Prices in Colorado run 3.1% above the U.S. average, so the $62,390 median buys about what $60,542 buys at average U.S. prices, above the $59,350 U.S. median. On this measure Colorado ranks 27th of 51, down from 15th 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 Colorado pay substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors the most?
Boulder, CO is highest at $75,020, 20.2% above the Colorado median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Boulder, CO | $75,020 | 620 |
| Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $72,200 | 320 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $71,120 | 900 |
| Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $66,510 | 550 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $62,810 | 8,480 |
| Eastern and Southern Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $61,850 | 340 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $59,740 | 2,230 |
| Greeley, CO | $59,580 | 410 |
| Pueblo, CO | $58,380 | 700 |
| Grand Junction, CO | $58,300 | 330 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in Colorado 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 Colorado?
BLS counts 14,920 jobs in Colorado, 3.0% of the 491,930 in the U.S. That is the 10th largest count among the 51 states and territories with a published figure. That is 5.2 of every 1,000 jobs in Colorado, a location quotient of 1.64: the occupation's share of local jobs is 1.64 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 Colorado 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 Colorado was $21.18 in May 2025, $6.02 above the $15.16 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 Colorado
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.