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Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors: Entry-Level vs Senior Salary in Illinois (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

How does Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors salary grow from entry-level to senior in Illinois? State salary progression based on 2025 BLS data.

154% career growth potential

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 • Illinois salary data • Updated 2026-05-19

Entry-Level (P10)
$43,010
$3,584/mo
Mid-Career (Median)
$60,730
$5,061/mo
Senior (P90)
$109,100
$9,092/mo

Illinois vs National Average

Entry-Level (P10)
$43,010
National: $40,692
+5.7%
Mid-Career (Median)
$60,730
National: $59,385
+2.3%
Senior (P90)
$109,100
National: $92,415
+18.1%

Salary Progression: Entry-Level to Senior

The salary range for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors in Illinois spans from $43,010 at entry-level to $109,100 at senior level — a difference of $66,090 per year.

P10
$43K
P25
$47K
Median
$60K
P75
$80K
P90
$109K

Career Growth Premium: +154%

Senior Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselorss in Illinois earn $66,090 more per year than entry-level professionals.

Annual Difference
+$66,090
Monthly Difference
+$5,508
Hourly Difference
+$31.77
Growth Multiple
2.5x

Detailed Salary Breakdown by Experience Level

Complete percentile breakdown showing how Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors salary increases with experience in Illinois, from entry-level (10th percentile) to senior (90th percentile).

Experience Level Percentile Annual Salary Monthly Hourly
Entry-Level P10 $43,010 $3,584 $20.68
Early Career P25 $47,390 $3,949 $22.78
Mid-Career Median $60,730 $5,061 $29.20
Experienced P75 $80,070 $6,672 $38.50
Senior / Expert P90 $109,100 $9,092 $52.45
Key Insight

Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors in Illinois shows strong salary progression over a career. Entry-level professionals start around $43,010, while senior-level professionals earn $109,100 — a 154% increase. The biggest salary jump typically occurs between mid-career ($60,730) and experienced level ($80,070), suggesting that specialization and leadership responsibilities are the key drivers of higher pay.

How Illinois Compares to Other States

Where does Illinois rank for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors senior-level salaries? Compare Illinois's P90 pay to other top-paying states.

1
$114,650
Entry: $58K
+97%
2
$113,420
Entry: $48K
+132%
3
$111,080
Entry: $44K
+149%
4
$110,580
Entry: $47K
+134%
5
$109,610
Entry: $42K
+159%
6
$109,100
Entry: $43K
+154%
7
$107,980
Entry: $43K
+151%
8
$106,080
Entry: $35K
+200%
9
$104,790
Entry: $48K
+116%
10
$104,310
Entry: $40K
+157%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the entry-level salary for a Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors?

Entry-level Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselorss (10th percentile) earn approximately $43,010 per year, or $3,584 per month. Early-career professionals (25th percentile) earn around $47,390. Based on 2025 BLS OEWS data across all U.S. states.

How much does a senior Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors make?

Senior Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselorss (90th percentile) earn approximately $109,100 per year. Experienced professionals (75th percentile) earn around $80,070. This represents a career premium of 154% over entry-level pay.

What is the salary growth potential for a Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors?

The career salary growth potential for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselorss is 154%. Entry-level professionals start at $43,010, while senior-level can earn up to $109,100 — a difference of $66,090 per year.

Which state pays the highest salary for senior Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselorss?

The highest-paying state for senior Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselorss is Illinois, where 90th-percentile salaries reach $109,100 per year. See the full state-by-state comparison above.

How are entry-level and senior Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors salaries determined?

We use BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2025 data. The 10th percentile (P10) approximates entry-level pay — the salary that 90% of workers earn more than. The 90th percentile (P90) approximates senior/expert-level pay — only 10% of workers earn above this threshold. National averages are computed across all reporting U.S. states.

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About This Data

Salary percentile data for Illinois from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. P10 approximates entry-level compensation; P90 approximates senior/expert-level compensation. State averages differ from national averages due to regional variations in cost of living, demand, and workforce composition. Actual salaries vary based on employer, experience, education, certifications, and specific location within Illinois.

Our Methodology · Data Sources · Source: BLS OEWS

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