Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors Salary in Washington
Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in Washington earned a median of $68,910 a year ($33.13 an hour) and a mean of $75,020 in May 2025. The median is 16.1% above the U.S. median of $59,350, ranking 4th of 52 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $68,910
- Median hourly
- $33.13
- Mean annual
- $75,020
- Jobs on record
- 14,250
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 Washington compare on pay for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors?
Washington ranks 4th of 52 states and territories. Alaska is highest at $80,770, $11,860 more than the Washington median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Arizona | 6 | $65,300 | +10% | 9,990 |
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 Washington pay go further after prices?
Prices in Washington run 7.0% above the U.S. average, so the $68,910 median buys about what $64,394 buys at average U.S. prices, above the $59,350 U.S. median. On this measure Washington ranks 15th of 51, down from 4th 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 Washington pay substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors the most?
Bellingham, WA is highest at $77,620, 12.6% above the Washington median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Bellingham, WA | $77,620 | 440 |
| Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area | $76,600 | 280 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $75,180 | 120 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $73,580 | 7,350 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $73,540 | 450 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $70,970 | 250 |
| Walla Walla, WA | $68,160 | 100 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $67,650 | 610 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $65,140 | 270 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $64,100 | 1,650 |
| Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $62,750 | 670 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $60,070 | 520 |
| Yakima, WA | $58,590 | 500 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in Washington 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 Washington?
BLS counts 14,250 jobs in Washington, 2.9% of the 491,930 in the U.S. That is the 11th largest count among the 51 states and territories with a published figure. That is 4.0 of every 1,000 jobs in Washington, a location quotient of 1.27: the occupation's share of local jobs is 1.27 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 Washington 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 Washington was $22.70 in May 2025, $5.57 above the $17.13 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 Washington
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.