Substance Abuse Counselor Salary
Substance abuse counselors help individuals recovering from drug and alcohol addiction through therapy and treatment programs.
Substance Abuse Counselor Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level substance abuse counselors earn around $33,000 per year, while mid-career professionals earn $51,000. Senior-level substance abuse counselors can earn $78,000 or more.
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Check Your Rate — No Credit Impact →Salary Percentile Breakdown
The salary range for substance abuse counselors varies significantly. The bottom 10% earn $30,000, while the top 10% earn $82,000.
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $30,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $38,000 |
| 50th Percentile (Median) | $49,710 |
| 75th Percentile | $65,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $82,000 |
Substance Abuse Counselor Salary by State
Substance Abuse Counselor salaries vary significantly by state due to cost of living, demand, and industry concentration. The highest paying state is Hawaii at $88,484, while Mississippi offers the lowest at $40,265.
| State | Median | |
|---|---|---|
| #1 Hawaii | $88,484 | Details → |
| #2 California | $72,577 | Details → |
| #3 Massachusetts | $71,085 | Details → |
| #4 Alaska | $64,126 | Details → |
| #5 New York | $63,132 | Details → |
| #6 New Jersey | $59,652 | Details → |
| #7 Washington | $59,155 | Details → |
| #8 Connecticut | $57,664 | Details → |
| #9 Maryland | $56,669 | Details → |
| #10 Oregon | $55,675 | Details → |
| #11 New Hampshire | $53,687 | Details → |
| #12 Rhode Island | $53,687 | Details → |
| #13 Colorado | $53,190 | Details → |
| #14 Virginia | $52,693 | Details → |
| #15 Delaware | $51,201 | Details → |
| #16 Vermont | $51,201 | Details → |
| #17 Minnesota | $50,207 | Details → |
| #18 Florida | $49,710 | Details → |
| #19 Maine | $49,710 | Details → |
| #20 Nevada | $49,213 | Details → |
| #21 Pennsylvania | $49,213 | Details → |
| #22 Arizona | $48,219 | Details → |
| #23 Illinois | $48,219 | Details → |
| #24 Utah | $48,219 | Details → |
| #25 Texas | $46,727 | Details → |
| #26 Wisconsin | $46,727 | Details → |
| #27 Georgia | $46,230 | Details → |
| #28 Montana | $46,230 | Details → |
| #29 Idaho | $45,733 | Details → |
| #30 North Carolina | $45,733 | Details → |
| #31 Ohio | $45,733 | Details → |
| #32 Louisiana | $45,236 | Details → |
| #33 New Mexico | $45,236 | Details → |
| #34 Tennessee | $45,236 | Details → |
| #35 Indiana | $44,739 | Details → |
| #36 Michigan | $44,739 | Details → |
| #37 Nebraska | $44,739 | Details → |
| #38 North Dakota | $44,739 | Details → |
| #39 Wyoming | $44,739 | Details → |
| #40 Iowa | $44,242 | Details → |
| #41 South Carolina | $44,242 | Details → |
| #42 Missouri | $43,745 | Details → |
| #43 South Dakota | $43,745 | Details → |
| #44 Alabama | $43,248 | Details → |
| #45 Kansas | $43,248 | Details → |
| #46 Kentucky | $43,248 | Details → |
| #47 Oklahoma | $41,756 | Details → |
| #48 Arkansas | $40,762 | Details → |
| #49 West Virginia | $40,762 | Details → |
| #50 Mississippi | $40,265 | Details → |
Stand Out from the Competition
85% of recruiters say a professionally written resume increases interview rates by 40%. Stand out from 338,100 other Substance Abuse Counselors.
Get a Professional Resume →Key Responsibilities
- ● Assess patients' substance use and mental health
- ● Develop treatment plans
- ● Conduct individual and group therapy
- ● Monitor patient progress
- ● Connect patients with support resources
Top Skills
Education Required
Bachelor's degree
Job Outlook
Much faster than average — projected 22% growth over the next decade
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