Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors Salary in Wisconsin
Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in Wisconsin earned a median of $62,220 a year ($29.91 an hour) and a mean of $68,280 in May 2025. The median is 4.8% above the U.S. median of $59,350, ranking 16th of 52 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $62,220
- Median hourly
- $29.91
- Mean annual
- $68,280
- Jobs on record
- 8,340
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 Wisconsin compare on pay for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors?
Wisconsin ranks 16th of 52 states and territories. Alaska is highest at $80,770, $18,550 more than the Wisconsin median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Michigan | 18 | $61,690 | +4% | 10,100 |
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 Wisconsin pay go further after prices?
Prices in Wisconsin run 5.9% below the U.S. average, so the $62,220 median buys about what $66,125 buys at average U.S. prices, above the $59,350 U.S. median. On this measure Wisconsin ranks 10th of 51, up from 16th 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 Wisconsin pay substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors the most?
Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area is highest at $68,660, 10.4% above the Wisconsin median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $68,660 | 400 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $67,450 | 300 |
| Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $64,690 | 130 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | $64,560 | 230 |
| Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $64,340 | 470 |
| Madison, WI | $64,250 | 1,500 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $63,820 | 150 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $62,460 | 330 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $62,190 | 130 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $61,960 | 2,360 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $61,810 | 220 |
| South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $61,490 | 290 |
| Wausau, WI | $61,240 | 250 |
| Appleton, WI | $60,380 | 480 |
| Kenosha, WI | $60,300 | 170 |
| Green Bay, WI | $59,930 | 510 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $59,800 | 110 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin?
BLS counts 8,340 jobs in Wisconsin, 1.7% of the 491,930 in the U.S. That is the 20th largest count among the 51 states and territories with a published figure. That is 2.8 of every 1,000 jobs in Wisconsin, a location quotient of 0.90: the occupation's share of local jobs is 0.90 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 Wisconsin
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.