Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors Hourly Wage in California (2024)

The median hourly wage for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors in California is $27.92/hour, based on 2024 BLS data.

Data: BLS OEWS 2024 • California hourly wage data • Updated 2026-04-06

Entry-Level (P10)
$18.83
/hour
Median (P50)
$27.92
/hour
Senior (P90)
$51.96
/hour

Annual Salary Equivalent

$58,080
Based on 2,080 work hours/year (40 hours/week, 52 weeks/year). View annual salary page.

California vs National Average

Entry-Level (P10)
$18.83
National: $17.57
+7.2%
Median (P50)
$27.92
National: $25.98
+7.5%
Senior (P90)
$51.96
National: $40.94
+26.9%

Hourly Wage Breakdown by Percentile

Percentile Hourly Rate Weekly (×40h) Monthly (×173.3h) Annual (×2,080h)
Entry-Level (P10) $18.83 $753 $3263 $39,160
Q1 (P25) $21.88 $875 $3792 $45,500
Median (P50) $27.92 $1117 $4840 $58,080
Q3 (P75) $39.03 $1561 $6765 $81,180
Senior (P90) $51.96 $2078 $9006 $108,070

Note: Weekly = hourly × 40 hours. Monthly = hourly × 173.3 hours (avg). Annual = hourly × 2,080 hours.

Highest-Paying States for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors

#1
$34.07
$34.07/hr
+31.1%
#2
$30.9
$30.9/hr
+18.9%
#3
$30.28
$30.28/hr
+16.6%
#4
$30.23
$30.23/hr
+16.4%
#5
$29.87
$29.87/hr
+15.0%
#6
$29.84
$29.84/hr
+14.9%
#7
$29.44
$29.44/hr
+13.3%
#8
$28.97
$28.97/hr
+11.5%
#9
$28.72
$28.72/hr
+10.5%
#10
$28.37
$28.37/hr
+9.2%

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average hourly wage for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors in California?

The median hourly wage for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors in California is $27.92/hour (2024 BLS data). This equals approximately $58,080.0 per year based on 2,080 work hours.

How does California Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors hourly pay compare to national average?

The median hourly rate for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors in California is $27.92/hr compared to the national average of $25.98/hr — higher by $1.94/hr.

What is the entry-level hourly rate for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors in California?

Entry-level Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors professionals in California earn approximately $18.83/hour (10th percentile), which equals $39,160.0/year. Senior-level professionals earn $51.96/hour.

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

Senior-level Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors professionals in California (90th percentile) earn approximately $51.96/hour, or $108,070.0/year.

How is hourly wage calculated from annual salary?

Hourly wages are calculated by dividing annual salary by 2,080 hours (52 weeks × 40 hours/week). This is the standard full-time conversion used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Related Salary Pages

Data Source

Hourly wage data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024. This data reflects median and percentile wages for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors (SOC 211018) in California.

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