Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors Salary in New Mexico
Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in New Mexico earned a median of $74,100 a year ($35.63 an hour) and a mean of $76,370 in May 2025. The median is 24.9% above the U.S. median of $59,350, ranking 3rd of 52 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $74,100
- Median hourly
- $35.63
- Mean annual
- $76,370
- Jobs on record
- 2,420
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 New Mexico compare on pay for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors?
New Mexico ranks 3rd of 52 states and territories. Alaska is highest at $80,770, $6,670 more than the New Mexico median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 1 | $80,770 | +36% | 1,290 |
| Oregon | 2 | $74,590 | +26% | 8,160 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $74,100 | +25% | 2,420 |
| Washington | 4 | $68,910 | +16% | 14,250 |
| North Dakota | 5 | $68,630 | +16% | 1,290 |
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 New Mexico pay go further after prices?
Prices in New Mexico run 7.8% below the U.S. average, so the $74,100 median buys about what $80,358 buys at average U.S. prices, above the $59,350 U.S. median. On this measure New Mexico ranks 1st of 51, up from 3rd 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 New Mexico pay substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors the most?
Las Cruces, NM is highest at $76,350, 3.0% above the New Mexico median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Las Cruces, NM | $76,350 | 310 |
| Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $75,940 | 310 |
| Santa Fe, NM | $74,100 | 180 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $73,990 | 1,280 |
| Farmington, NM | $73,070 | 120 |
| Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $65,250 | 210 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in New Mexico 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 New Mexico?
BLS counts 2,420 jobs in New Mexico, 0.49% of the 491,930 in the U.S. That is the 35th largest count among the 51 states and territories with a published figure. That is 2.8 of every 1,000 jobs in New Mexico, a location quotient of 0.88: the occupation's share of local jobs is 0.88 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 New Mexico
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.