Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors pay range in San Francisco
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,050 a year or less, while the top 10% make $132,510 or more. The middle half of substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in San Francisco earn between $55,190 and $107,320.
- $48K10th
- $55K25th
- $68KMedian
- $107K75th
- $133K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $82,100 | $6,842 | $39.47 |
| Median | $68,400 | $5,700 | $32.88 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $55,190 | $4,599 | $26.53 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $107,320 | $8,943 | $51.60 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors pay in San Francisco vs. California and the U.S.
Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in San Francisco earn 19% more than the California average ($69,080) and 27% more than the U.S. average ($64,440). At the median the gap is +15% against the U.S. median of $59,350.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $82,100 | $68,400 | $48,050 | $132,510 | 9,520 |
| California | $69,080 | $59,250 | $44,640 | $111,080 | 75,610 |
| United States | $64,440 | $59,350 | $38,940 | $97,590 | 491,930 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors salary after taxes in San Francisco
On the average salary of $82,100, a single filer in San Francisco takes home about $63,044 a year, or $5,254 a month and $2,425 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Francisco a good place for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Francisco area are 16% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 115.6), so the average $82,100 buys what about $71,013 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in San Francisco ($74,260). A typical home costs $1,149,215, or 14.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors salary in other California cities
San Francisco ranks 1st of 25 California metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- San Francisco$82,100
- San Luis Obispo$79,630
- San Jose$78,710
- Vallejo$78,600
- Stockton$77,970
- Santa Rosa$76,770
- Sacramento$73,840
- Salinas$73,390
- Modesto$72,430
- El Centro$72,420
All Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors salaries in California
Highest-paying cities for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors
Fairbanks, AK pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($89,720).
- Fairbanks, AK$89,720
- Anchorage, AK$87,320
- Albany, OR$82,260
- San Francisco, CA$82,100
- Lincoln, NE$80,510
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors salary by city
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Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors salary in San Francisco: questions
How much do substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors make an hour in San Francisco?
$39.47 an hour on average, and $32.89 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors salary in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,050 a year and the 25th percentile is $55,190, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors take-home pay in San Francisco?
About $63,044 a year ($5,254 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $82,100. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors earn more in San Francisco than elsewhere?
The average here is 27% more than the U.S. average for this job ($64,440).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 21-1018; area San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (41860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.8%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.27, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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