What is the average Substance Abuse Counselor salary in the US?

The national median Substance Abuse Counselor salary is $50,000 per year. Entry-level positions start around $38,000, while senior professionals earn $85,000 or more.

Which city pays Substance Abuse Counselors the most?

New York City offers the highest median Substance Abuse Counselor salary at $94K per year among the cities we track. However, high-cost cities like San Francisco and New York often have lower purchasing power once cost of living is factored in.

How fast are Substance Abuse Counselor salaries growing?

Substance Abuse Counselor salaries are growing at 6.5% annually, above the national average wage growth rate.

Mental Health35% remote-eligible+6.5% YoY growth

Substance Abuse Counselor Salary
by City (2026)

Help individuals overcome addiction through counseling, support, and treatment planning. National median: $50K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$50K

Top 10% earn

$85K

Entry level

$38K

Salary growth

+6.5%/yr

Substance Abuse Counselor salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
New York City, NY	$71K	$94K	$122K	187	6.85%
Cambridge, MA	$70K	$93K	$120K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$70K	$93K	$120K	185	11%
Bellevue, WA	$67K	$88K	$114K	175	None ✓
Irvine, CA	$65K	$86K	$112K	172	9.3%
Yonkers, NY	$63K	$83K	$107K	165	6.85%
Bethesda, MD	$63K	$83K	$107K	165	5.75%
Kirkland, WA	$62K	$81K	$105K	162	None ✓
Stamford, CT	$60K	$79K	$103K	158	6.99%
Hilo, HI	$59K	$78K	$101K	155	11%
Santa Ana, CA	$57K	$75K	$98K	150	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$56K	$74K	$96K	148	9.3%
Rockville, MD	$56K	$74K	$96K	148	5.75%
Alexandria, VA	$55K	$73K	$94K	145	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$55K	$73K	$94K	145	10.75%
San Francisco, CA	$53K	$70K	$91K	224	9.3%
Paterson, NJ	$53K	$70K	$91K	140	10.75%
Chula Vista, CA	$52K	$69K	$90K	138	9.3%
Edison, NJ	$52K	$69K	$90K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$52K	$69K	$90K	138	None ✓
San Jose, CA	$51K	$68K	$88K	210	9.3%
Oakland, CA	$49K	$65K	$85K	185	9.3%
Boston, MA	$49K	$65K	$85K	162	5%
Washington, DC	$49K	$65K	$85K	152	8.5%
Los Angeles, CA	$48K	$63K	$81K	163	9.3%
Jersey City, NJ	$48K	$63K	$81K	162	10.75%
San Diego, CA	$46K	$61K	$79K	148	9.3%
Seattle, WA	$46K	$61K	$79K	150	None ✓
Newark, NJ	$46K	$61K	$79K	155	10.75%
New Haven, CT	$46K	$61K	$79K	122	6.99%
Arlington, VA	$46K	$60K	$78K	148	5.75%
Nashua, NH	$46K	$60K	$78K	120	None ✓
Honolulu, HI	$46K	$60K	$78K	192	11%
Frisco, TX	$45K	$59K	$77K	118	None ✓
Long Beach, CA	$45K	$59K	$77K	155	9.3%
Riverside, CA	$45K	$59K	$77K	118	9.3%
Naperville, IL	$45K	$59K	$77K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$45K	$59K	$77K	118	None ✓
Worcester, MA	$45K	$59K	$77K	120	5%
Lowell, MA	$45K	$59K	$77K	118	5%
Gresham, OR	$45K	$59K	$77K	118	9.9%
Baltimore, MD	$45K	$59K	$77K	115	5.75%
Bridgeport, CT	$45K	$59K	$77K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$45K	$59K	$77K	118	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$45K	$59K	$77K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$45K	$59K	$77K	118	5.99%
Anchorage, AK	$45K	$59K	$77K	128	None ✓
Sacramento, CA	$44K	$57K	$75K	128	9.3%
Hialeah, FL	$44K	$57K	$75K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$44K	$57K	$75K	115	None ✓
Lakewood, CO	$44K	$57K	$75K	115	4.55%
Ann Arbor, MI	$44K	$57K	$75K	115	4.25%
Philadelphia, PA	$44K	$57K	$75K	110	3.07%
Portland, OR	$44K	$57K	$75K	130	9.9%
Frederick, MD	$44K	$57K	$75K	115	5.75%
Portland, ME	$44K	$57K	$75K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$44K	$57K	$75K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$44K	$57K	$75K	115	5.99%
Pembroke Pines, FL	$43K	$56K	$73K	112	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$43K	$56K	$73K	107	4.95%
Denver, CO	$43K	$56K	$73K	118	4.55%
Fort Collins, CO	$43K	$56K	$73K	112	4.55%
Cary, NC	$43K	$56K	$73K	112	4.75%
Hartford, CT	$43K	$56K	$73K	118	6.99%
Dallas, TX	$42K	$55K	$72K	96	None ✓
Miami, FL	$42K	$55K	$72K	123	None ✓
Tacoma, WA	$42K	$55K	$72K	128	None ✓
Minneapolis, MN	$42K	$55K	$72K	106	6.8%
Eugene, OR	$42K	$55K	$72K	110	9.9%
Houston, TX	$41K	$54K	$70K	91	None ✓
Plano, TX	$41K	$54K	$70K	105	None ✓
Round Rock, TX	$41K	$54K	$70K	108	None ✓
Gilbert, AZ	$41K	$54K	$70K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$41K	$54K	$70K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$41K	$54K	$70K	108	4.55%
Atlanta, GA	$41K	$54K	$70K	99	5.75%
Durham, NC	$41K	$54K	$70K	100	4.75%
Nashville, TN	$41K	$54K	$70K	102	None ✓
St. Paul, MN	$41K	$54K	$70K	104	6.8%
Boise, ID	$41K	$54K	$70K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$41K	$54K	$70K	108	6.6%
Austin, TX	$40K	$53K	$68K	110	None ✓
Fort Worth, TX	$40K	$53K	$68K	93	None ✓
Irving, TX	$40K	$53K	$68K	97	None ✓
McKinney, TX	$40K	$53K	$68K	108	None ✓
Stockton, CA	$40K	$53K	$68K	105	9.3%
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$40K	$53K	$68K	118	None ✓
Scottsdale, AZ	$40K	$53K	$68K	118	2.5%
Aurora, CO	$40K	$53K	$69K	112	4.55%
Springfield, MA	$40K	$53K	$68K	105	5%
Raleigh, NC	$40K	$53K	$68K	102	4.75%
Pittsburgh, PA	$40K	$53K	$68K	90	3.07%
Salem, OR	$40K	$53K	$68K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$40K	$53K	$68K	105	None ✓
Salt Lake City, UT	$40K	$53K	$68K	105	4.85%
Meridian, ID	$40K	$53K	$68K	105	5.8%
San Antonio, TX	$39K	$51K	$66K	87	None ✓
Arlington, TX	$39K	$51K	$66K	94	None ✓
Garland, TX	$39K	$51K	$66K	91	None ✓
Carrollton, TX	$39K	$51K	$66K	102	None ✓
Tampa, FL	$39K	$51K	$66K	102	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$39K	$51K	$66K	100	2.5%
Charlotte, NC	$39K	$51K	$66K	100	4.75%
Missoula, MT	$39K	$51K	$66K	102	6.75%
Denton, TX	$38K	$50K	$65K	100	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$38K	$50K	$65K	100	9.3%
Orlando, FL	$38K	$50K	$65K	100	None ✓
Cape Coral, FL	$38K	$50K	$65K	100	None ✓
Chandler, AZ	$38K	$50K	$65K	105	2.5%
Peoria, AZ	$38K	$50K	$65K	100	2.5%
Richmond, VA	$38K	$50K	$65K	98	5.75%
Madison, WI	$38K	$50K	$65K	102	5.3%
Rochester, MN	$38K	$50K	$65K	100	6.8%
Las Vegas, NV	$38K	$50K	$65K	102	None ✓
Reno, NV	$38K	$50K	$65K	108	None ✓
Provo, UT	$38K	$50K	$65K	100	4.85%
West Jordan, UT	$38K	$50K	$65K	100	4.85%
Overland Park, KS	$38K	$50K	$65K	100	5.7%
Dover, DE	$38K	$50K	$65K	100	6.6%
Fresno, CA	$37K	$49K	$64K	102	9.3%
Rochester, NY	$37K	$49K	$64K	90	6.85%
Albany, NY	$37K	$49K	$64K	98	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$37K	$49K	$64K	93	None ✓
St. Petersburg, FL	$37K	$49K	$64K	105	None ✓
Port St. Lucie, FL	$37K	$49K	$64K	98	None ✓
Mesa, AZ	$37K	$49K	$64K	98	2.5%
Virginia Beach, VA	$37K	$49K	$64K	98	5.75%
Chesapeake, VA	$37K	$49K	$64K	98	5.75%
Columbus, OH	$37K	$49K	$64K	90	3.99%
Milwaukee, WI	$37K	$49K	$64K	90	5.3%
North Las Vegas, NV	$37K	$49K	$64K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$37K	$49K	$64K	98	4.85%
Orem, UT	$37K	$49K	$64K	98	4.85%
Charleston, SC	$37K	$49K	$64K	105	6.5%
Nampa, ID	$37K	$49K	$64K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$37K	$49K	$64K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$37K	$49K	$64K	98	7.15%
Corpus Christi, TX	$36K	$48K	$62K	84	None ✓
Bakersfield, CA	$36K	$48K	$62K	95	9.3%
Buffalo, NY	$36K	$48K	$62K	88	6.85%
Aurora, IL	$36K	$48K	$62K	95	4.95%
Spokane, WA	$36K	$48K	$62K	95	None ✓
Glendale, AZ	$36K	$48K	$62K	95	2.5%
Colorado Springs, CO	$36K	$48K	$62K	102	4.55%
Norfolk, VA	$36K	$48K	$62K	95	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$36K	$48K	$62K	95	5.75%
Cleveland, OH	$36K	$48K	$62K	82	3.99%
Cincinnati, OH	$36K	$48K	$62K	88	3.99%
Detroit, MI	$36K	$48K	$62K	82	4.25%
Allentown, PA	$36K	$48K	$62K	95	3.07%
Kansas City, MO	$36K	$48K	$62K	90	5.3%
St. Louis, MO	$36K	$48K	$62K	86	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$36K	$48K	$62K	88	3.23%
Louisville, KY	$36K	$48K	$62K	85	5%
Huntsville, AL	$36K	$48K	$62K	88	5%
North Charleston, SC	$36K	$48K	$62K	95	6.5%
New Orleans, LA	$36K	$48K	$62K	92	6%
Des Moines, IA	$36K	$48K	$62K	88	4.82%
Omaha, NE	$36K	$48K	$62K	88	5.84%
El Paso, TX	$35K	$46K	$60K	82	None ✓
Midland, TX	$35K	$46K	$60K	92	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$35K	$46K	$60K	90	2.5%
Savannah, GA	$35K	$46K	$60K	92	5.75%
Athens, GA	$35K	$46K	$60K	92	5.75%
Memphis, TN	$35K	$46K	$60K	82	None ✓
Grand Rapids, MI	$35K	$46K	$60K	90	4.25%
Duluth, MN	$35K	$46K	$60K	92	6.8%
Birmingham, AL	$35K	$46K	$60K	82	5%
Columbia, SC	$35K	$46K	$60K	88	6.5%
Greenville, SC	$35K	$46K	$60K	92	6.5%
Oklahoma City, OK	$35K	$46K	$60K	82	4.75%
Baton Rouge, LA	$35K	$46K	$60K	88	6%
Albuquerque, NM	$35K	$46K	$60K	88	5.9%
Cheyenne, WY	$35K	$46K	$60K	92	None ✓
Lubbock, TX	$34K	$45K	$59K	78	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$34K	$45K	$59K	90	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$34K	$45K	$59K	90	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$34K	$45K	$59K	90	4.95%
Knoxville, TN	$34K	$45K	$59K	85	None ✓
Sterling Heights, MI	$34K	$45K	$59K	90	4.25%
Kenosha, WI	$34K	$45K	$59K	90	5.3%
Tulsa, OK	$34K	$45K	$59K	80	4.75%
Wichita, KS	$34K	$45K	$59K	82	5.7%
Fargo, ND	$34K	$45K	$59K	90	2.5%
Laredo, TX	$33K	$44K	$57K	76	None ✓
Pasadena, TX	$33K	$44K	$57K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$33K	$44K	$57K	88	None ✓
Syracuse, NY	$33K	$44K	$57K	88	6.85%
Gainesville, FL	$33K	$44K	$57K	88	None ✓
Greensboro, NC	$33K	$44K	$57K	88	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$33K	$44K	$57K	88	None ✓
Green Bay, WI	$33K	$44K	$57K	88	5.3%
Lexington, KY	$33K	$44K	$57K	88	5%
Great Falls, MT	$33K	$44K	$57K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$33K	$44K	$57K	88	None ✓
Bismarck, ND	$33K	$44K	$57K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$33K	$44K	$57K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$33K	$44K	$57K	88	None ✓
Little Rock, AR	$33K	$44K	$57K	82	4.9%
Beaumont, TX	$32K	$43K	$55K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$32K	$43K	$55K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$32K	$43K	$55K	85	None ✓
Winston-Salem, NC	$32K	$43K	$55K	85	4.75%
Warren, MI	$32K	$43K	$55K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$32K	$43K	$55K	85	4.25%
Independence, MO	$32K	$43K	$55K	85	5.3%
Lafayette, LA	$32K	$43K	$55K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$32K	$43K	$55K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$32K	$43K	$55K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$32K	$43K	$55K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$32K	$43K	$55K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$32K	$43K	$55K	85	4.9%
Amarillo, TX	$31K	$41K	$53K	82	None ✓
Waco, TX	$31K	$41K	$53K	82	None ✓
Pueblo, CO	$31K	$41K	$53K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$31K	$41K	$53K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$31K	$41K	$53K	82	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$31K	$41K	$53K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$31K	$41K	$53K	82	None ✓
South Bend, IN	$31K	$41K	$53K	82	3.23%
Mobile, AL	$31K	$41K	$53K	82	5%
Broken Arrow, OK	$31K	$41K	$53K	82	4.75%
Davenport, IA	$31K	$41K	$53K	82	4.82%
Killeen, TX	$30K	$40K	$52K	80	None ✓
Rockford, IL	$30K	$40K	$52K	80	4.95%
Macon, GA	$30K	$40K	$52K	80	5.75%
Akron, OH	$30K	$40K	$52K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$30K	$40K	$52K	80	3.99%
Erie, PA	$30K	$40K	$52K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$30K	$40K	$52K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$30K	$40K	$52K	80	3.23%
Bowling Green, KY	$30K	$40K	$52K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$30K	$40K	$52K	80	5%
Norman, OK	$30K	$40K	$52K	80	4.75%
Las Cruces, NM	$30K	$40K	$52K	80	5.9%
Gulfport, MS	$30K	$40K	$52K	80	5%
Abilene, TX	$30K	$39K	$51K	78	None ✓
Toledo, OH	$30K	$39K	$51K	78	3.99%
Evansville, IN	$30K	$39K	$51K	78	3.23%
Shreveport, LA	$30K	$39K	$51K	78	6%
Jackson, MS	$30K	$39K	$51K	78	5%
Charleston, WV	$30K	$39K	$51K	78	6.5%
Brownsville, TX	$29K	$38K	$49K	75	None ✓
Fort Smith, AR	$29K	$38K	$49K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$29K	$38K	$49K	75	6.5%

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $50K Substance Abuse Counselor salary in Houston (COL 91, no tax) has significantly more purchasing power than the same salary in San Francisco (COL 224, 9.3% state tax). Use our calculator to see the real numbers.

Try COL Calculator →

Substance Abuse Counselor Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Substance Abuse Counselor is $50,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $38,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $65,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Substance Abuse Counselors nationally earn $85,000+.

Education and requirements

Bachelor's or Master's in Counseling; CADC certification. This role is 35% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

Substance Abuse Counselor compensation is growing at 6.5% annually, well above the national average wage growth rate. Demand for qualified Substance Abuse Counselors significantly outpaces supply in most major metros.

Substance Abuse Counselor Salaryby City (2026)