Salary comparison
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors: Albany vs Lincoln
Albany, OR pays about 3.2% more for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors on paper — $78,910 vs $76,480. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Albany comes out ahead by $2,430 a year in real buying power.
Albany, OR
$78,910
$60,000
$100,470
$37.94
100
$78,910/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Lincoln, NE
$76,480
$55,010
$106,840
$36.77
100
$76,480/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $2,430 a year (3.2%) in favor of Albany. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Albany runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Lincoln sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Albany is the better deal by $2,430 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Lincoln to Albany for this role, the raise needs to beat 3.2% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.
Common questions
Where do substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors earn more, Albany or Lincoln?
Albany pays $78,910 on median — about 3.2% more than Lincoln ($76,480). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Albany. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Albany gives you roughly$78,910 of real buying power versus $76,480 in the other city.