SOC 21-1018 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors — Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage here is $58,790 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $59,350.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage here is $58,790 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $59,350. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $47,570 and $77,880. The lowest tenth earn under $45,120, while the highest tenth earn more than $102,200.
The area has 530 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 5.3 of every thousand jobs. Within the state, San Luis Obispo records the highest median at $80,770. Of the 328 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 210th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $45,120 | −24.0% |
| 25th | $47,570 | −19.8% |
| Median (50th) | $58,790 | −0.9% |
| 75th | $77,880 | +31.2% |
| 90th | $102,200 | +72.2% |
| Mean | $66,700 | +12.4% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Luis Obispo | $80,770 | 350 | |
| 2 | Salinas | $73,940 | 620 | |
| 3 | El Centro | $73,620 | 220 | |
| 4 | Hanford | $72,960 | 190 | |
| 5 | Stockton | $72,770 | 1,260 | |
| 6 | San Jose | $72,550 | 2,550 | |
| 7 | San Francisco | $68,400 | 9,520 | |
| 8 | Vallejo | $66,940 | 670 | |
| 9 | Oxnard | $64,910 | 1,330 | |
| 10 | Santa Rosa | $63,980 | 870 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Santa Cruz run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $58,790 buys what $53,107 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 10.5% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$58,790as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$53,107US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $58,790 a year, 0.9% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $45,120 to $102,200 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 530 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Luis Obispo, at $80,770.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors in Santa Cruz, CA?
The median annual wage is $58,790, or $28.27 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 Santa Cruz, CA is 0.9% lower. 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 Santa Cruz, CA earns more than $102,200 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $45,120 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 San Luis Obispo, at $80,770 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 530 jobs in this occupation in Santa Cruz, CA. 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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