State comparison · 2025
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors salary: California vs New Mexico
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors in New Mexico earn a median of $74,100. In California, $59,250. After cost-of-living, the gap is 33.4% — not 20%.
Nominal pay gap
-20%
California vs New Mexico
COL-adjusted gap
-33.4%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
California
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors
- Median
- $59,250
- p25
- $47,640
- p75
- $80,570
- p10
- $44,640
- p90
- $111,080
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 110.7
New Mexico
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors
- Median
- $74,100
- p25
- $60,300
- p75
- $89,800
- p10
- $48,900
- p90
- $113,420
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 92.2
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities (overall index). Hiring velocity from DOL OFLC public disclosure data, recent 180 days vs prior. See methodology.