SOC 21-1018 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors — Albuquerque
Albuquerque, NM · 3 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Albuquerque, NM comes to $73,990 a year, ahead of the national median of $59,350 by 24.7%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Albuquerque, NM comes to $73,990 a year, ahead of the national median of $59,350 by 24.7%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $60,330 and $93,560. The lowest tenth earn under $48,900, while the highest tenth earn more than $113,430.
The area has 1,280 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.00 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Las Cruces leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $76,350. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 148th of 498 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $48,900 | −17.6% |
| 25th | $60,330 | +1.7% |
| Median (50th) | $73,990 | +24.7% |
| 75th | $93,560 | +57.6% |
| 90th | $113,430 | +91.1% |
| Mean | $78,100 | +31.6% |
Other metro areas in New Mexico
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Las Cruces | $76,350 | 310 | |
| 2 | Santa Fe | $74,100 | 180 | |
| 3 | Farmington | $73,070 | 120 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Albuquerque run 7.8% below the national average, so the median of $73,990 goes as far as $80,249 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 35.2% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$73,990as reported by BLSLocal price level
92.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$80,249US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $73,990 a year, 24.7% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $48,900 to $113,430 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,280 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Las Cruces, at $76,350.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors in Albuquerque, NM?
The median annual wage is $73,990, or $35.57 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $59,350, so pay in Albuquerque, NM is 24.7% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Albuquerque, NM earns more than $113,430 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $48,900 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Las Cruces, at $76,350 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,280 jobs in this occupation in Albuquerque, NM. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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