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Substance Abuse Counselor salary
Average substance abuse counselor salary
$43,069
How much does a substance abuse counselor make?
The average substance abuse counselor salary in the United States is $43,069. Substance abuse counselor salaries typically range between $27,000 and $67,000 yearly. The average hourly rate for substance abuse counselors is $20.71 per hour.
Substance abuse counselor salary is impacted by location, education, and experience. Substance abuse counselors earn the highest average salary in New Hampshire.
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Where can a Substance Abuse Counselor earn more?
Substance Abuse Counselor salary estimates from across the web
Average substance abuse counselor salary by state
The average substance abuse counselor salary in New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Montana are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average substance abuse counselor salary states are Texas, Louisiana, and South Carolina.
- State View
- County View
Highest paying states for substance abuse counselors
Rank  | State | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $53,249 | $25.60 |
| 2 | Montana | $53,972 | $25.95 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $54,686 | $26.29 |
| 4 | New Hampshire | $55,779 | $26.82 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $52,452 | $25.22 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $52,959 | $25.46 |
| 7 | Minnesota | $52,675 | $25.32 |
| 8 | Nebraska | $51,761 | $24.89 |
| 9 | Michigan | $49,045 | $23.58 |
| 10 | Maine | $47,671 | $22.92 |
| 11 | New York | $51,090 | $24.56 |
| 12 | Wyoming | $50,739 | $24.39 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $47,926 | $23.04 |
| 14 | Vermont | $52,552 | $25.27 |
| 15 | Delaware | $50,588 | $24.32 |
| 16 | Alaska | $47,449 | $22.81 |
| 17 | Arizona | $46,473 | $22.34 |
| 18 | Wisconsin | $50,090 | $24.08 |
| 19 | Washington | $47,373 | $22.78 |
| 20 | Ohio | $47,820 | $22.99 |
| 21 | Kentucky | $47,644 | $22.91 |
| 22 | Maryland | $46,528 | $22.37 |
| 23 | Iowa | $46,683 | $22.44 |
| 24 | Oregon | $46,743 | $22.47 |
| 25 | District of Columbia | $49,140 | $23.63 |
| 26 | Illinois | $46,109 | $22.17 |
| 27 | Idaho | $45,346 | $21.80 |
| 28 | Nevada | $47,050 | $22.62 |
| 29 | North Dakota | $45,982 | $22.11 |
| 30 | West Virginia | $46,792 | $22.50 |
| 31 | Hawaii | $45,971 | $22.10 |
| 32 | California | $44,768 | $21.52 |
| 33 | Colorado | $43,880 | $21.10 |
| 34 | Arkansas | $40,722 | $19.58 |
| 35 | Mississippi | $43,865 | $21.09 |
| 36 | New Mexico | $43,334 | $20.83 |
| 37 | Virginia | $46,681 | $22.44 |
| 38 | South Dakota | $40,831 | $19.63 |
| 39 | Utah | $42,497 | $20.43 |
| 40 | Kansas | $43,260 | $20.80 |
| 41 | Indiana | $38,239 | $18.38 |
| 42 | North Carolina | $41,517 | $19.96 |
| 43 | Georgia | $37,482 | $18.02 |
| 44 | Alabama | $39,957 | $19.21 |
| 45 | Missouri | $39,295 | $18.89 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $35,959 | $17.29 |
| 47 | Florida | $34,030 | $16.36 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $35,668 | $17.15 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $35,217 | $16.93 |
| 50 | Texas | $36,918 | $17.75 |
| 51 | Tennessee | $34,472 | $16.57 |
Highest paying cities for substance abuse counselors
The highest-paying cities for substance abuse counselors are Trenton, NJ, Boston, MA, and North Kingstown, RI.
| Rank | City | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trenton, NJ | $54,419 | $26.16 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $53,313 | $25.63 |
| 3 | North Kingstown, RI | $52,479 | $25.23 |
| 4 | Brentwood, NY | $51,206 | $24.62 |
| 5 | Casper, WY | $50,931 | $24.49 |
| 6 | Wilmington, DE | $50,852 | $24.45 |
| 7 | Milwaukee, WI | $50,060 | $24.07 |
| 8 | Cleveland, OH | $49,056 | $23.58 |
| 9 | Winchester, VA | $48,863 | $23.49 |
| 10 | Philadelphia, PA | $48,050 | $23.10 |
| 11 | Anchorage, AK | $47,496 | $22.83 |
| 12 | Baltimore, MD | $46,819 | $22.51 |
| 13 | Henderson, KY | $46,716 | $22.46 |
| 14 | San Francisco, CA | $45,204 | $21.73 |
| 15 | Denver, CO | $44,017 | $21.16 |
| 16 | Greenville, NC | $42,131 | $20.26 |
| 17 | Saint Louis, MO | $39,211 | $18.85 |
| 18 | Richmond, IN | $38,345 | $18.44 |
| 19 | Atlanta, GA | $37,681 | $18.12 |
| 20 | San Antonio, TX | $36,942 | $17.76 |
Substance Abuse Counselors are the most in-demand in these five cities:
Substance Abuse Counselor salary details
A substance abuse counselor's salary ranges from $27,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $67,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a substance abuse counselor's salary?
| Percentile | Annual Salary | Monthly Salary | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $67,000 | $5,583 | $32 |
| 75th Percentile | $54,000 | $4,500 | $26 |
| Average | $43,069 | $3,589 | $21 |
| 25th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
| 10th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
Highest paying substance abuse counselor jobs
The highest paying types of substance abuse counselors are licensed professional counselor, primary therapist, and licensed social worker.
| Job Title | Annual Salary | Monthly Salary | Hourly Rate | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mental Health Therapist | $50,259 | $4,188 | $24.16 | 114,386 |
| Primary Therapist | $59,826 | $4,985 | $28.76 | 85,127 |
| Family Therapist | $50,774 | $4,231 | $24.41 | 106,982 |
| Mental Health Clinician | $54,359 | $4,530 | $26.13 | 91,347 |
| Licensed Social Worker | $57,005 | $4,750 | $27.41 | 66,130 |
| Counselor Internship | $45,500 | $3,792 | $21.88 | 132,694 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for Substance Abuse Counselors, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Jennifer Kukis
Professor/Coordinate, Lorain County Community College
https://www.careerexplorer.com/careers/social-worker/salary/ohio/
In Ohio, Starting level social worker earnings begin at:
$15.23
per hour
$31,670
per year with a Bachelors Degree in Social Work, and around $13.00 for a Social Work Assistant with a two year degree in Human Services.
Top companies hiring substance abuse counselors now:
Which companies pay substance abuse counselors the most?
Substance abuse counselor salaries at Erlanger Health System and Wellpath are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average substance abuse counselor salary at companies like Hospital Sisters Health System and Favorite Healthcare Staffing are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average Salary | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Erlanger Health System | $66,404 | $31.93 |
| 2 | Wellpath | $61,008 | $29.33 |
| 3 | Hospital Sisters Health System | $53,687 | $25.81 |
| 4 | Favorite Healthcare Staffing | $53,582 | $25.76 |
| 5 | Berkshire Medical Center | $52,161 | $25.08 |
| 6 | New Seasons Market | $51,622 | $24.82 |
| 7 | MaineGeneral Health | $51,337 | $24.68 |
| 8 | County Of Los Angeles Public Library | $51,240 | $24.63 |
| 9 | Universal Health Services | $50,938 | $24.49 |
| 10 | Kaiser Permanente | $50,378 | $24.22 |
| 11 | Highland Rivers Health | $49,557 | $23.83 |
| 12 | Catholic Health East | $49,380 | $23.74 |
| 13 | Telecare | $49,200 | $23.65 |
| 14 | CITC | $48,987 | $23.55 |
| 15 | Community Action Organization | $48,886 | $23.50 |
| 16 | Devereux Arizona | $48,307 | $23.22 |
| 17 | Berkshire | $48,155 | $23.15 |
| 18 | Supportive Concepts for Families | $48,155 | $23.15 |
| 19 | Volunteers of America-Greater New York | $47,952 | $23.05 |
| 20 | Lifespan | $47,826 | $22.99 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Substance Abuse Counselor salary by industry
The average substance abuse counselor salary varies across industries:
- The average substance abuse counselor salary in the non profits industry is $41,273, the highest of any industry.
- The average substance abuse counselor salary in the finance industry is $40,184.
- Substance abuse counselors in the health care industry earn an average salary of $38,915, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for substance abuse counselors
| Rank | Industry | Average Salary | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Non Profits | $41,273 | $19.84 |
| 2 | Professional | $40,184 | $19.32 |
| 3 | Government | $39,639 | $19.06 |
| 4 | Health Care | $38,915 | $18.71 |
High Paying Substance Abuse Counselor Jobs
Substance Abuse Counselor salary trends
The average substance abuse counselor salary has risen by $6,446 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average substance abuse counselor earned $36,623 annually, but today, they earn $43,069 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for substance abuse counselors over the last decade.
Compare substance abuse counselor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average substance abuse counselor salary over time
Compare substance abuse counselor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
- National Average
- Columbus, OH
Substance Abuse Counselor salary by year
| Year | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $43,100 | $20.71 | +3.0% |
| 2024 | $41,800 | $20.08 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $40,800 | $19.60 | +2.4% |
| 2022 | $39,800 | $19.12 | +1.9% |
| 2021 | $39,000 | $18.75 | +2.7% |
Recently added substance abuse counselor salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date Added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen | Substance Abuse Counselor 115 | Plainfield, NJ | 12/17/2024 | $51,500 |
| Community Medical Services | Substance Abuse Counselor-Up To 3K | Milwaukee, WI | 12/16/2024 | $50,088 |
| Medical Billing Specialist In Willoughby, Ohio | Hybrid Substance USE Counselor | Marion, IN | 12/16/2024 | $50,000 |
| Medical Billing Specialist In Willoughby, Ohio | Substance USE Counselor | Lexington, KY | 12/16/2024 | $50,000 |
| Center Point Inc. | Substance Abuse Counselor/Case Manager | San Rafael, CA | 12/16/2024 | $58,436 |
| Mtc Job Corps Bu | Substance Abuse Counselor | Charleston, WV | 12/16/2024 | $54,262 |
| State of Ohio | Substance USE Counselor (Correctional Program Coordinator)-Toci | Toledo, OH | 12/15/2024 | $58,081 |
| The Community Action Organization of Western New York Inc. | Substance Abuse Counselor | Buffalo, NY | 12/15/2024 | $50,000 |
| Baart Programs | Certified Substance Abuse Counselor Day Shift | Los Angeles, CA | 12/15/2024 | $51,132 |
| Merakey | Substance Abuse Counselor-CIT-LAC-CAC-Plpc-Lmsw | Thibodaux, LA | 12/15/2024 | $45,914 |
Substance Abuse Counselor salary FAQs
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