Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors Salary in Illinois
Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in Illinois earned a median of $60,730 a year ($29.20 an hour) and a mean of $68,530 in May 2025. The median is 2.3% above the U.S. median of $59,350, ranking 20th of 52 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $60,730
- Median hourly
- $29.20
- Mean annual
- $68,530
- Jobs on record
- 20,250
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 Illinois compare on pay for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors?
Illinois ranks 20th of 52 states and territories. Alaska is highest at $80,770, $20,040 more than the Illinois median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 18 | $61,690 | +4% | 10,100 |
| Iowa | 19 | $60,880 | +3% | 3,530 |
| Illinois | 20 | $60,730 | +2% | 20,250 |
| District of Columbia | 21 | $60,450 | +2% | 1,260 |
| Hawaii | 22 | $60,090 | +1% | 2,110 |
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 Illinois pay go further after prices?
Prices in Illinois are about at the U.S. average, so the $60,730 median buys about what $60,756 buys at average U.S. prices, above the $59,350 U.S. median. On this measure Illinois ranks 25th of 51, down from 20th 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 Illinois pay substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors the most?
Champaign-Urbana, IL is highest at $68,300, 12.5% above the Illinois median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $68,300 | 310 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $61,600 | 15,580 |
| Springfield, IL | $59,450 | 270 |
| Kankakee, IL | $59,440 | 130 |
| Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $58,640 | 330 |
| West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $57,520 | 490 |
| Peoria, IL | $57,350 | 560 |
| South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $56,830 | 470 |
| Bloomington, IL | $55,890 | 280 |
| Rockford, IL | $53,670 | 460 |
| East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $52,320 | 360 |
| Decatur, IL | $51,740 | 130 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in Illinois 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 Illinois?
BLS counts 20,250 jobs in Illinois, 4.1% of the 491,930 in the U.S. That is the 6th largest count among the 51 states and territories with a published figure. That is 3.3 of every 1,000 jobs in Illinois, a location quotient of 1.05: the occupation's share of local jobs is 1.05 times its national share, so it is about as concentrated here as in the U.S. as a whole.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025 and national file.
How does the Illinois 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 Illinois was $20.68 in May 2025, $5.68 above the $15.00 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 Illinois
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.