Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors: Entry-Level vs Senior Salary in Iowa (2024)

How does Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors salary grow from entry-level to senior in Iowa? State salary progression based on 2024 BLS data.

114% career growth potential

Data: BLS OEWS 2024 • Iowa salary data • Updated 2026-04-06

Entry-Level (P10)
$38,570
$3,214/mo
Mid-Career (Median)
$59,000
$4,917/mo
Senior (P90)
$82,620
$6,885/mo

Iowa vs National Average

Entry-Level (P10)
$38,570
National: $36,541
+5.6%
Mid-Career (Median)
$59,000
National: $54,035
+9.2%
Senior (P90)
$82,620
National: $85,164
-3.0%

Salary Progression: Entry-Level to Senior

The salary range for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors in Iowa spans from $38,570 at entry-level to $82,620 at senior level — a difference of $44,050 per year.

P10
$38K
P25
$47K
Median
$59K
P75
$75K
P90
$82K

Career Growth Premium: +114%

Senior Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselorss in Iowa earn $44,050 more per year than entry-level professionals.

Annual Difference
+$44,050
Monthly Difference
+$3,671
Hourly Difference
+$21.18
Growth Multiple
2.1x

Detailed Salary Breakdown by Experience Level

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

Experience Level Percentile Annual Salary Monthly Hourly
Entry-Level P10 $38,570 $3,214 $18.54
Early Career P25 $47,560 $3,963 $22.87
Mid-Career Median $59,000 $4,917 $28.37
Experienced P75 $75,560 $6,297 $36.33
Senior / Expert P90 $82,620 $6,885 $39.72
Key Insight

Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors in Iowa has a moderate salary progression with a 114% growth from entry-level ($38,570) to senior ($82,620). While the growth potential is steady, professionals looking to maximize earnings may benefit from specialization, advanced certifications, or gaining experience in higher-paying states. The gap between median ($59,000) and P90 ($82,620) shows there is still room for meaningful growth beyond mid-career.

How Iowa Compares to Other States

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

1
$113,520
Entry: $29K
+288%
2
$108,070
Entry: $39K
+176%
3
$106,390
Entry: $32K
+224%
4
$104,000
Entry: $36K
+182%
5
$103,590
Entry: $46K
+123%
6
$102,710
Entry: $37K
+176%
7
$99,700
Entry: $39K
+150%
8
$99,380
Entry: $42K
+135%
9
$99,290
Entry: $45K
+116%
10
$98,920
Entry: $39K
+151%

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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 $38,570 per year, or $3,214 per month. Early-career professionals (25th percentile) earn around $47,560. Based on 2024 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 $82,620 per year. Experienced professionals (75th percentile) earn around $75,560. This represents a career premium of 114% 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 114%. Entry-level professionals start at $38,570, while senior-level can earn up to $82,620 — a difference of $44,050 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 Iowa, where 90th-percentile salaries reach $82,620 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) 2024 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.

Related Salary Pages

About This Data

Salary percentile data for Iowa from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024. 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 Iowa.

Our Methodology · Data Sources · Source: BLS OEWS

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