Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors Salary in California
As of May 2025, the median annual wage for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in California was $59,250 -0.2% vs national
California vs United States
| California | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual | $59,250 | $59,350 |
| Median hourly | $28.48 | $28.53 |
| Employment | 75,610 | 491,930 |
| Location quotient | 1.31 | 1.00 |
Data source: BLS OES state file (California) · U.S. BLS OES survey, May 2025
What this means
For career planning: entry-level pay (10th percentile) is about $44,640, median pay is $59,250, and experienced pay (90th percentile) reaches $111,080.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors salary in California?
The median annual wage in California is $59,250 ($28.48 per hour), per BLS OES May 2025 data.
How does California compare to the national average for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors?
The California median of $59,250 is 0.2% lower than the U.S. median of $59,350.
How many substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors work in California?
Approximately 75,610 are employed in California, per BLS OES.