Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors Salary in Iowa
Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in Iowa earned a median of $60,880 a year ($29.27 an hour) and a mean of $66,790 in May 2025. The median is 2.6% above the U.S. median of $59,350, ranking 19th of 52 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $60,880
- Median hourly
- $29.27
- Mean annual
- $66,790
- Jobs on record
- 3,530
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 Iowa compare on pay for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors?
Iowa ranks 19th of 52 states and territories. Alaska is highest at $80,770, $19,890 more than the Iowa median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vermont | 17 | $61,810 | +4% | 1,120 |
| 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 |
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 Iowa pay go further after prices?
Prices in Iowa run 12.2% below the U.S. average, so the $60,880 median buys about what $69,369 buys at average U.S. prices, above the $59,350 U.S. median. On this measure Iowa ranks 6th of 51, up from 19th 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 Iowa pay substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors the most?
Ames, IA is highest at $69,750, 14.6% above the Iowa median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Ames, IA | $69,750 | 130 |
| Iowa City, IA | $66,810 | 290 |
| Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $63,630 | 150 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $63,230 | 130 |
| Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $61,930 | 230 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $61,320 | 920 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $60,430 | 600 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $60,240 | 200 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $59,990 | 410 |
| Dubuque, IA | $57,530 | 90 |
| Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $57,180 | 360 |
| Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $52,300 | 160 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in Iowa 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 Iowa?
BLS counts 3,530 jobs in Iowa, 0.72% of the 491,930 in the U.S. That is the 31st largest count among the 51 states and territories with a published figure. That is 2.3 of every 1,000 jobs in Iowa, a location quotient of 0.72: the occupation's share of local jobs is 0.72 times its national share, so it is less concentrated here than in the U.S. as a whole.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025 and national file.
Related jobs in Iowa
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.