Substance abuse counselors employed in the United States typically report earning salaries in the range from $25,007 to $48,141 a year including bonuses according to the salary information provided by Payscale.
These professionals are also known as chemical dependency counselors (LCDC), alcohol and drug counselors (LADC or CADC), certified addiction professionals (CAP), or alcohol and other drug abuse counselors (CADC). Their job title usually depends on their professional certification or license.
The average annual salary for these professionals varies depending on skill set and area of specialty among other factors.
Substance abuse counselors who specialize in case management typically earn between $25,975 and $48,447 a year, those specializing in facilitator roles make between $26,680 and $50,152 annually, and professionals specializing in counseling earn an average pay in the range from $25,845 to $47,706 a year according to the salary figures reported by Payscale. Substance abuse counselors employed by the Colonial Management Group are generally paid an annual income in the range from $30,500 to $46,000 according to Payscale’s salary data.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports a good job outlook for this profession, with a faster than average growth rate (27%) and 23,400 new jobs estimated in the period between 2010 and 2020.
Average salary
The average salary for substance abuse counselors working in the United States is $33,726 a year according to Payscale, $40,000 a year according to Indeed, and $38,700 a year according to Recruiter.com.
The Bureau of Labor Statististcs (BLS) reports a mean annual salary of $40,920 and a median yearly wage of $38,520. 10% of the best paid substance abuse counselors earn $60,000 a year or more, and the 10% on the lower end of the pay scale make $25,140 a year or less. The middle 50% of substance abuse counselors typically earn an annual pay in the range from $30,850 to $48,330.
The average annual salary for these professionals can vary considerably from industry to industry. Based on the salary data reported by the BLS, the top paying industries for substance abuse counselors are universities, colleges, and professional schools, where counselors earn $55,320 a year on average, followed by other schools and instruction, where the average yearly wage for this occupation is $54,050, and nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities), where substance abuse counselors earn $53,700 a year on average. Counselors employed by civic and social organizations earn $52,800 a year on average and those working at elementary and secondary schools are paid an average annual income of $51,300 according to the data provided by the BLS.
Substance abuse counselors working at outpatient care centers earn around $39,240 a year, those employed by the local government make $46,250 a year on average, and professionals working at general medical and surgical hospitals are paid around $49,450 annually.
Counselors working in residential intellectual and developmental disability, mental health, and substance abuse facilities earn around $36,580 a year and professionals working in individual and family services make $39,100 a year on average. Substance abuse counselors employed at other residential care facilities are paid around $37,790 a year and those employed at psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals earn an average yearly pay of $44,630 according to the BLS.
Starting salary
The average starting salary for substance abuse counselors in their first year of practice is typically in the range from $24,658 to $46,052 a year according to the salary figures reported by Payscale.
Counselors with less than a year of experience generally earn an hourly salary in the range from $8.83 to $19.65 according to Payscale.
Salary by state
Substance abuse counselors’ annual pay depends on location among other factors and can vary significantly from state to state. Counselors employed in New York generally earn salaries in the range from $25,286 to $53,366 a year, those based in Florida typically make between $24,786 and $44.698 annually, and professionals working in California are paid between $24,854 and $64,089 a year.
Substance abuse counselors employed in North Carolina make between $25,748 and $48,229 a year, and those working in Texas are generally paid between $24,381 and $48,677 a year. Professionals based in Illinois typically report earning an annual income in the range from $24,485 to $40,764 and those employed in Virginia are paid between $25,731 and $59,291 a year according to the salary data reported by Payscale.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reveals that the states with the highest average annual income for these professionals are Michigan, where substance abuse counselors earn $51,290 a year on average, followed by Alaska, where the median salary for this occupation is $50,270, and New Jersey, where counselors earn an average income of $49,990.
Other states with a high average income are Connecticut, where substance abuse counselors earn around $47,180 annually, and Wisconsin, where they earn a median annual wage of $46,800 according to the salary figures reported by the BLS.
Substance abuse counselors employed in California earn $37,180 a year on average, those based in New York make $44,510 a year on average, and professionals working in Florida earn an average annual salary of $42,010. Counselors employed in Pennsylvania are paid around $38,690 a year, those based in Texas make $36,850 a year on average, and professionals working in Idaho earn around $39,760 annually. Substance abuse counselors based in Rhode Island earn an average yearly income of $33,530, those working in South Dakota are paid $35,870 a year on average, and professionals employed in Montana are paid $35,760 a year on average according to the BLS.
The top paying states for substance abuse counselors, as reported by Recruiter.com, are Hawaii ($56,320), New Jersey ($54,970), Utah ($46,760), Maine ($46,440), Wisconsin ($45,840), Minnesota ($43,630), and Virginia ($43,520).
The states with the lowest average annual income for substance abuse counselors are Mississippi ($30,200), Colorado ($34,150), Arkansas ($34,670), South Dakota ($34,700), Kentucky ($34,830), and Kansas ($34,920).
Salary by city
Substance abuse counselors’ yearly salaries also vary from city to city. Counselors employed in New York generally earn between $24,307 and $56,618 a year, those working in Chicago are paid between $23,672 and $41,718 a year, and professionals based in Los Angeles typically earn an annual pay in the range from $28,800 to $49,579. Substance abuse counselors working in Baltimore make between $30,588 and $39,019 annually, and those employed in Dallas earn an annual income in the range from $24,030 to $32,985 a year.
Professionals based in Philadelphia are paid between $29,774 and $38,527 a year and those working in Asheville typically earn salaries in the range from $39,305 to $45,865 a year according to the salary figures reported by Payscale.
Salary range
Substance abuse counselors working in the U.S generally earn salaries in the range from $24,000 to $36,000 a year according to the salary data reported by Recruiter.com.
Substance abuse counselors’ annual salary depends on a number of factors, including work experience. Counselors with 1 to 4 years of experience typically make between $24,898 and $41,621 a year and those with 5 to 9 years of experience are generally paid between $27,373 and $48,316 annually. Professionals with 10 to 19 years of work experience under their belt report earning an income in the range from $30,096 to $52,156 a year, and those with 20 or more years of experience typically earn between $29,896 and $78,297 a year according to Payscale’s salary data.
Professional certification is another factor that can significantly affect a substance abuse counselor’s yearly income. Counselors with the qualification of Certified Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Counselor (CADC) typically earn an annual pay in the range from $25,406 to $47,661, those with the certification of Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) generally make between $25,342 and $51,037 a year, and professionals with the qualification of Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC) are usually paid between $27,383 and $51,820 annually.
Substance abuse counselors with the qualification of Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor I (CADC I) are typically paid between $27,491 and $50,868 a year, those with the qualification of Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAS) make between $26,425 and $48,589 annually, and professionals with the certification of Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC) generally report earning salaries in the range from $27,054 to $51,738 a year according to Payscale’s salary figures.
Substance abuse counselors with the certification of Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC) are generally paid an income in the range from $25,035 to $48,112 a year and those with the qualification of Certified Addiction Professional (CAP) typically make between $24,886 and $54,929 annually. Counselors with the certification of Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) are paid between $30,063 and $54,631 a year and those with a certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) earn an annual pay in the range from $24,444 to $46,850 according to the salary data reported by Payscale.
Substance abuse counselors’ annual pay can also vary considerably from industry to industry. Based on Payscale’s salary figures, professionals employed at substance abuse prevention centers generally make between $24,563 and $48,530 annually, those working in the rehabilitation sector typically earn between $25,732 and $48,281 a year, and counselors working in counseling services are usually paid an annual income in the range from $25,339 to $41,837.
Substance abuse counselors employed at residential substance abuse facilities make between $24,910 and $48,590 a year, those working in the health care industry are paid between $29,436 and $53,404 a year, and professionals working at substance abuse treatment hospitals typically report earning an annual salary in the range from $25,694 to $50,258. Substance abuse counselors working at correctional facilities or prisons generally report earning a yearly income in the range from $26,553 to $48,936 according to Payscale.
Women generally make between $25,431 and $46,810 annualy and men are typically paid between $25,992 and $53,044 a year.
Substance abuse counselors’ salaries also vary depending on the type of employer. Counselors working for non-profit organizations earn an income in the range from $25,526 to $43,534 a year, those employed by companies are paid between $24,807 and $49,198 annually, and professionals working for the state or local government typically earn an annual pay in the range from $25,579 to $49,104. Counselors employed by the federal government generally earn a yearly income in the range from $28,939 to $80,409 according to Payscale’s data.
Substance abuse counselors working for private practices and firms are usually paid between $24,017 and $48,309 annually, those employed at hospitals earn salaries in the range from $29,752 to $56,640 a year, and professionals employed by foundations and trusts typically make between $28,250 and $67,500 a year.
Counselors working for other organizations report earning salaries in the range from $29,153 to $43,342 a year, those working as contractors generally make between $28,486 and $38,929 annually, and professionals who are self-employed typically earn an annual income in the range from $25,341 to $48,834 according to the salary statistics reported by Payscale.
Hourly rate
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports a mean hourly salary of $19.67 and a median hourly pay of $18.52 for this occupation. 10% of substance abuse counselors working in the U.S. are paid $12.08 per hour or less, and the 10% on the higher end of the pay scale earn an hourly wage of $28.85 or more. The middle 50% of substance abuse counselors are typically offered an hourly rate in the range from $14.83 to $23.23.
The hourly rate for these professionals varies from industry to industry. Substance abuse counselors employed at outpatient care centers earn $18.87 per hour on average, those working in individual and family services are paid $18.80 per hour on average, and professionals employed by the local government earn an average hourly salary of $22.23 according to the salary data reported by the BLS.
Substance abuse counselors working at residential intellectual and developmental disability, mental health, and substance abuse facilities are paid around $17.59 per hour, and professionals employed at general medical and surgical hospitals earn a median hourly pay of $23.77. Counselors working at psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals make $21.46 per hour on average, those employed by other residential care facilities are paid $18.17 per hour on average, and professionals employed by universities, colleges, and professional schools earn an average hourly wage of $26.60.
Substance abuse counselors working at nursing care facilities earn around $25.82 per hour, those employed at elementary and secondary schools make $24.66 per hour on average, and professionals working in other schools and instruction are paid an average hourly wage of $25.99. Counselors employed by civic and social organizations earn a median hourly salary of $25.38 according to the BLS.
The average hourly wage for substance abuse counselors also varies from state to state. Counselors employed in New York earn $21.40 per hour on average, those based in California make $17.88 per hour on average, and professionals working in Texas earn an average hourly pay of $17.71. Substance abuse counselors based in Florida earn around $20.20 per hour, those employed in Pennsylvania are paid $18.60 per hour on average, and professionals working in Montana make around $17.19 per hour according to the salary data provided by the BLS.
Substance abuse counselors employed in Rhode Island earn $16.12 per hour on average, those working in Idaho are paid $19.12 per hour on average, and professionals based in South Dakota earn a median hourly wage of $17.25. Counselors in Michigan earn around $24.66 per hour, those working in Connecticut are paid around $22.68 per hour, and professionals employed in New Jersey earn $24.03 per hour on average. Substance abuse counselors based in Alaska make $24.17 per hour on average and those employed in Wisconsin earn an average hourly pay of $22.50 according to the BLS.
Substance abuse counselors’ hourly wage also depends on work experience. Based on Payscale’s salary figures, counselors with 1 to 4 years of experience typically make between $10.30 and $20.71 per hour and those with 5 to 9 years of experience earn an hourly pay in the range from $12.27 to $22.59. Professionals with 10 to 19 years of experience are typically paid between $12.30 and $21.39 per hour and those with 20 or more years of work experience under their belt report earning an hourly salary in the range from $16.34 to $20.73 according to Payscale’s salary data.
Women typically make between $10.82 and $21.22 per hour and men are generally paid an hourly wage in the range from $10.82 to $21.47.
In terms of industry, substance abuse counselors working in the counseling services sector typically make between $10.18 and $22.02 per hour, those employed in the health care industry are generally paid between $10.93 and $23.04 per hour and professionals working at substance abuse prevention centers typically earn an hourly pay in the range from $11.34 to $22.54 according to Payscale.
Counselors employed at drug and alcohol treatment hospitals earn an hourly wage in the range from $11.39 to $20.51 and those working in residential substance abuse facilities are generally paid between $9.86 and $21.21 per hour. Professionals working at prisons or correctional facilities report being offered an hourly rate in the range from $12.65 to $15.72 and those employed at long-term care or rehabilitation facilities typically earn between $13.75 and $15.56 per hour based on Payscale’s salary data.
Benefits
Substance abuse counselors usually get a wide range of benefits and perks along with their annual salary and bonuses, and their benefits packages can sometimes reflect their yearly earnings.
Counselors who have paid vacations and holidays generally report earning an annual salary in the range from $26,226 to $49,736 and those who have paid sick leave typically make between $25,827 and $49,920 annually. Professionals who have life and disability insurance are paid between $25,822 and $49,132 a year, those who are allowed to dress casually at work typically earn salaries in the range from $26,069 to $49,809 a year, and counselors who get reimbursement for professional education, training, tuition, or certification generally earn a yearly income in the range from $28,817 to $52,683 according to Payscale’s salary figures.
Substance abuse counselors who have 401(k) plans as part of their benefits package typically make between $26,862 and $48,941 a year and those who have 403(b) plans generally report earning salaries in the range from $27,858 to $44,073 a year according to Payscale.
The most popular perks and benefits among substance abuse counselors, as reported by Payscale, are paid vacations and holidays, 401(k), paid sick leave, life and disability insurance, casual dress and atmosphere at work, reimbursement for education, training, tuition, and certification, and 403(b) plans.
Other income factors
Academic degree is another factor that can affect a substance abuse counselor’s annual salary. Counselors with a bachelor’s degree generally earn between $24,900 and $46,080 a year. Professionals with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology typically make between $26,079 and $42,904 a year, those with a BA in Criminal Justice are paid between $25,434 and $37,125 annually, and counselors with a BA in Sociology make between $30,000 and $35,900 a year.
Counselors with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Psychology earn a yearly income in the range from $24,547 to $50,335, those with a BSc in Human Services are generally paid between $26,840 and $37,340 a year, and professionals with a BSc in Criminal Justice typically make between $25,434 and $37,125 annually.
Substance abuse counselors with an associate’s degree generally report earning salaries in the range from $24,393 to $47,000 a year.
Counselors with a Master of Arts (MA) in Counseling typically earn between $27,168 and $49,711 a year and those with an MA in Mental Health Counseling are usually paid between $27,116 and $34,427 annually. Professionals with a Master of Science (MS) in Psychology generally make between $29,479 and $40,695 a year, those with an MS in Counseling earn salaries in the range from $28,496 to $35,613 a year, and counselors with an MS in Mental Health Counseling are usually paid an income in the range from $29,770 to $42,680 a year.
Substance abuse counselors with a Master of Social Work (MSW) in Social Work (SW) are generally paid an income in the range from $29,932 to $48,415 a year, and those with an MSW in Clinical Social Work typically make between $32,722 and $58,326 a year according to Payscale’s salary data.
Substance abuse counselors’ salaries can also vary depending on the size of the company or organization that employs them. Counselors working for organizations that employ between 1 and 9 people generally report earning an annual income in the range from $25,747 to $48,414 a year, those working for organizations with 10 to 49 employees typically make between $24,695 and $49,856 annually, and professionals working for organizations that employ 50 to 199 people earn between $26,388 and $51,435 a year.
Substance abuse counselors working for organizations with 200 to 599 employees make between $25,039 and $44,252 a year, those working for companies with 600 to 1,999 employees are paid between $22,785 and $41,157 annually, and professionals working for organizations that employ between 2,000 and 4,999 people typically earn salaries in the range from $27,229 to $51,600 a year according to the salary statistics provided by Payscale.
The number of hospital beds can also affect a substance abuse counselor’s annual pay. Counselors employed at institutions with less than 50 hospital beds generally earn between $24,514 and $45,388 annually and those working at institutions with 50 to 99 beds are typically paid between $25,698 and $44,004 a year.
Professionals employed by institutions with 100 to 299 hospital beds usually earn salaries in the range from $26,346 to $60,000 a year and those working at institutions with 500 or more hospital beds generally report earning an annual income in the range from $30,038 to $47,166 according to Payscale.
Substance abuse counselors’ salaries also vary depending on hospital setting. Counselors working at physicians’ offices and private practices typically earn between $24,221 and $46,991 a year, those working in community and home health are generally paid between $27,705 and $48,165 a year, and professionals employed at general hospitals earn salaries in the range from $24,688 to $54,945 a year.
Substance abuse counselors working at schools generally report earning an annual income in the range from $25,500 to $39,928, those employed by the military are paid between $40,976 and $70,000 annually, and professionals working in other settings typically make between $25,078 and $46,213 a year according to Payscale’s salary report.