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
San Francisco, CA	$53K	$70K	$91K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$51K	$68K	$88K	210	9.3%
New York City, NY	$51K	$66K	$86K	187	6.85%
Cambridge, MA	$50K	$66K	$86K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$50K	$66K	$86K	185	11%
Oakland, CA	$49K	$65K	$85K	185	9.3%
Boston, MA	$49K	$65K	$85K	162	5%
Washington, DC	$49K	$65K	$85K	152	8.5%
Irvine, CA	$48K	$64K	$83K	172	9.3%
Bellevue, WA	$49K	$64K	$84K	175	None ✓
Los Angeles, CA	$48K	$63K	$81K	163	9.3%
Jersey City, NJ	$48K	$63K	$81K	162	10.75%
Yonkers, NY	$47K	$62K	$81K	165	6.85%
Kirkland, WA	$47K	$62K	$81K	162	None ✓
Bethesda, MD	$47K	$62K	$81K	165	5.75%
San Diego, CA	$46K	$61K	$79K	148	9.3%
Seattle, WA	$46K	$61K	$79K	150	None ✓
Newark, NJ	$46K	$61K	$79K	155	10.75%
Stamford, CT	$47K	$61K	$80K	158	6.99%
Hilo, HI	$46K	$61K	$79K	155	11%
Santa Ana, CA	$45K	$60K	$78K	150	9.3%
Arlington, VA	$46K	$60K	$78K	148	5.75%
Honolulu, HI	$46K	$60K	$78K	192	11%
Long Beach, CA	$45K	$59K	$77K	155	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$45K	$59K	$77K	148	9.3%
Worcester, MA	$45K	$59K	$77K	120	5%
Alexandria, VA	$45K	$59K	$77K	145	5.75%
Baltimore, MD	$45K	$59K	$77K	115	5.75%
Rockville, MD	$45K	$59K	$77K	148	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$45K	$59K	$77K	145	10.75%
Anchorage, AK	$45K	$59K	$77K	128	None ✓
Chula Vista, CA	$44K	$58K	$75K	138	9.3%
Paterson, NJ	$44K	$58K	$75K	140	10.75%
Edison, NJ	$44K	$58K	$75K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$44K	$58K	$75K	138	None ✓
Sacramento, CA	$44K	$57K	$75K	128	9.3%
Philadelphia, PA	$44K	$57K	$75K	110	3.07%
Portland, OR	$44K	$57K	$75K	130	9.9%
Chicago, IL	$43K	$56K	$73K	107	4.95%
Denver, CO	$43K	$56K	$73K	118	4.55%
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%
New Haven, CT	$42K	$55K	$71K	122	6.99%
Houston, TX	$41K	$54K	$70K	91	None ✓
Plano, TX	$41K	$54K	$70K	105	None ✓
Frisco, TX	$41K	$54K	$70K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$41K	$54K	$70K	118	9.3%
Naperville, IL	$41K	$54K	$70K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$41K	$54K	$70K	118	None ✓
Atlanta, GA	$41K	$54K	$70K	99	5.75%
Lowell, MA	$41K	$54K	$70K	118	5%
Durham, NC	$41K	$54K	$70K	100	4.75%
Nashville, TN	$41K	$54K	$70K	102	None ✓
St. Paul, MN	$41K	$54K	$70K	104	6.8%
Gresham, OR	$41K	$54K	$70K	118	9.9%
Bridgeport, CT	$41K	$54K	$70K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$41K	$54K	$70K	118	None ✓
Nashua, NH	$41K	$54K	$71K	120	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$41K	$54K	$70K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$41K	$54K	$70K	118	5.99%
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 ✓
Hialeah, FL	$41K	$53K	$69K	115	None ✓
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$40K	$53K	$68K	118	None ✓
Pembroke Pines, FL	$40K	$53K	$69K	112	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$41K	$53K	$69K	115	None ✓
Scottsdale, AZ	$40K	$53K	$68K	118	2.5%
Aurora, CO	$40K	$53K	$69K	112	4.55%
Fort Collins, CO	$40K	$53K	$69K	112	4.55%
Lakewood, CO	$41K	$53K	$69K	115	4.55%
Raleigh, NC	$40K	$53K	$68K	102	4.75%
Cary, NC	$40K	$53K	$69K	112	4.75%
Ann Arbor, MI	$41K	$53K	$69K	115	4.25%
Pittsburgh, PA	$40K	$53K	$68K	90	3.07%
Eugene, OR	$40K	$53K	$68K	110	9.9%
Salt Lake City, UT	$40K	$53K	$68K	105	4.85%
Frederick, MD	$41K	$53K	$69K	115	5.75%
Portland, ME	$41K	$53K	$69K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$41K	$53K	$69K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$41K	$53K	$69K	115	5.99%
Round Rock, TX	$40K	$52K	$68K	108	None ✓
Stockton, CA	$39K	$52K	$67K	105	9.3%
Gilbert, AZ	$40K	$52K	$68K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$40K	$52K	$68K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$40K	$52K	$68K	108	4.55%
Springfield, MA	$39K	$52K	$67K	105	5%
Salem, OR	$39K	$52K	$67K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$39K	$52K	$67K	105	None ✓
Boise, ID	$40K	$52K	$68K	108	5.8%
Meridian, ID	$39K	$52K	$67K	105	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$40K	$52K	$68K	108	6.6%
San Antonio, TX	$39K	$51K	$66K	87	None ✓
Arlington, TX	$39K	$51K	$66K	94	None ✓
Garland, TX	$39K	$51K	$66K	91	None ✓
Denton, TX	$39K	$51K	$66K	100	None ✓
Carrollton, TX	$39K	$51K	$66K	102	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$39K	$51K	$66K	100	9.3%
Tampa, FL	$39K	$51K	$66K	102	None ✓
Cape Coral, FL	$39K	$51K	$66K	100	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$39K	$51K	$66K	100	2.5%
Peoria, AZ	$39K	$51K	$66K	100	2.5%
Charlotte, NC	$39K	$51K	$66K	100	4.75%
Rochester, MN	$39K	$51K	$66K	100	6.8%
West Jordan, UT	$39K	$51K	$66K	100	4.85%
Overland Park, KS	$39K	$51K	$66K	100	5.7%
Missoula, MT	$39K	$51K	$66K	102	6.75%
Dover, DE	$39K	$51K	$66K	100	6.6%
Bakersfield, CA	$38K	$50K	$65K	95	9.3%
Albany, NY	$38K	$50K	$65K	98	6.85%
Orlando, FL	$38K	$50K	$65K	100	None ✓
Port St. Lucie, FL	$38K	$50K	$65K	98	None ✓
Aurora, IL	$38K	$50K	$65K	95	4.95%
Chandler, AZ	$38K	$50K	$65K	105	2.5%
Glendale, AZ	$38K	$50K	$65K	95	2.5%
Norfolk, VA	$38K	$50K	$65K	95	5.75%
Chesapeake, VA	$38K	$50K	$65K	98	5.75%
Richmond, VA	$38K	$50K	$65K	98	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$38K	$50K	$65K	95	5.75%
Allentown, PA	$38K	$50K	$65K	95	3.07%
Madison, WI	$38K	$50K	$65K	102	5.3%
Las Vegas, NV	$38K	$50K	$65K	102	None ✓
Reno, NV	$38K	$50K	$65K	108	None ✓
North Las Vegas, NV	$38K	$50K	$65K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$38K	$50K	$65K	98	4.85%
Provo, UT	$38K	$50K	$65K	100	4.85%
Orem, UT	$38K	$50K	$65K	98	4.85%
North Charleston, SC	$38K	$50K	$65K	95	6.5%
Nampa, ID	$38K	$50K	$65K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$38K	$50K	$65K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$38K	$50K	$65K	98	7.15%
Grand Prairie, TX	$37K	$49K	$64K	90	None ✓
Pasadena, TX	$37K	$49K	$63K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$37K	$49K	$63K	88	None ✓
Midland, TX	$37K	$49K	$64K	92	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$37K	$49K	$64K	102	9.3%
Rochester, NY	$37K	$49K	$64K	90	6.85%
Syracuse, NY	$37K	$49K	$63K	88	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$37K	$49K	$64K	93	None ✓
St. Petersburg, FL	$37K	$49K	$64K	105	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$37K	$49K	$64K	90	None ✓
Gainesville, FL	$37K	$49K	$63K	88	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$37K	$49K	$64K	90	4.95%
Mesa, AZ	$37K	$49K	$64K	98	2.5%
Athens, GA	$37K	$49K	$64K	92	5.75%
Greensboro, NC	$37K	$49K	$63K	88	4.75%
Virginia Beach, VA	$37K	$49K	$64K	98	5.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$37K	$49K	$63K	88	None ✓
Columbus, OH	$37K	$49K	$64K	90	3.99%
Sterling Heights, MI	$37K	$49K	$64K	90	4.25%
Milwaukee, WI	$37K	$49K	$64K	90	5.3%
Green Bay, WI	$37K	$49K	$63K	88	5.3%
Kenosha, WI	$37K	$49K	$64K	90	5.3%
Duluth, MN	$37K	$49K	$64K	92	6.8%
Lexington, KY	$37K	$49K	$63K	88	5%
Charleston, SC	$37K	$49K	$64K	105	6.5%
Greenville, SC	$37K	$49K	$64K	92	6.5%
Great Falls, MT	$37K	$49K	$63K	88	6.75%
Cheyenne, WY	$37K	$49K	$64K	92	None ✓
Casper, WY	$37K	$49K	$63K	88	None ✓
Fargo, ND	$37K	$49K	$64K	90	2.5%
Bismarck, ND	$37K	$49K	$63K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$37K	$49K	$63K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$37K	$49K	$63K	88	None ✓
Corpus Christi, TX	$36K	$48K	$62K	84	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$36K	$48K	$62K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$36K	$48K	$62K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$36K	$48K	$62K	85	None ✓
Buffalo, NY	$36K	$48K	$62K	88	6.85%
Spokane, WA	$36K	$48K	$62K	95	None ✓
Colorado Springs, CO	$36K	$48K	$62K	102	4.55%
Winston-Salem, NC	$36K	$48K	$62K	85	4.75%
Cleveland, OH	$36K	$48K	$62K	82	3.99%
Cincinnati, OH	$36K	$48K	$62K	88	3.99%
Detroit, MI	$36K	$48K	$62K	82	4.25%
Warren, MI	$36K	$48K	$62K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$36K	$48K	$62K	85	4.25%
Kansas City, MO	$36K	$48K	$62K	90	5.3%
St. Louis, MO	$36K	$48K	$62K	86	5.3%
Independence, MO	$36K	$48K	$62K	85	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$36K	$48K	$62K	88	3.23%
Louisville, KY	$36K	$48K	$62K	85	5%
Huntsville, AL	$36K	$48K	$62K	88	5%
New Orleans, LA	$36K	$48K	$62K	92	6%
Lafayette, LA	$36K	$48K	$62K	85	6%
Des Moines, IA	$36K	$48K	$62K	88	4.82%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$36K	$48K	$62K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$36K	$48K	$62K	85	5.7%
Omaha, NE	$36K	$48K	$62K	88	5.84%
Lincoln, NE	$36K	$48K	$62K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$36K	$48K	$62K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$36K	$48K	$62K	85	4.9%
Amarillo, TX	$36K	$47K	$62K	82	None ✓
Killeen, TX	$36K	$47K	$61K	80	None ✓
Waco, TX	$36K	$47K	$62K	82	None ✓
Abilene, TX	$36K	$47K	$61K	78	None ✓
Rockford, IL	$36K	$47K	$61K	80	4.95%
Pueblo, CO	$36K	$47K	$62K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$36K	$47K	$62K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$36K	$47K	$62K	82	5.75%
Macon, GA	$36K	$47K	$61K	80	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$36K	$47K	$62K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$36K	$47K	$62K	82	None ✓
Toledo, OH	$36K	$47K	$61K	78	3.99%
Akron, OH	$36K	$47K	$61K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$36K	$47K	$61K	80	3.99%
Erie, PA	$36K	$47K	$61K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$36K	$47K	$61K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$36K	$47K	$61K	80	3.23%
Evansville, IN	$36K	$47K	$61K	78	3.23%
South Bend, IN	$36K	$47K	$62K	82	3.23%
Bowling Green, KY	$36K	$47K	$61K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$36K	$47K	$61K	80	5%
Mobile, AL	$36K	$47K	$62K	82	5%
Norman, OK	$36K	$47K	$61K	80	4.75%
Broken Arrow, OK	$36K	$47K	$62K	82	4.75%
Shreveport, LA	$36K	$47K	$61K	78	6%
Davenport, IA	$36K	$47K	$62K	82	4.82%
Las Cruces, NM	$36K	$47K	$61K	80	5.9%
Jackson, MS	$36K	$47K	$61K	78	5%
Gulfport, MS	$36K	$47K	$61K	80	5%
Charleston, WV	$36K	$47K	$61K	78	6.5%
El Paso, TX	$35K	$46K	$60K	82	None ✓
Brownsville, TX	$35K	$46K	$60K	75	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$35K	$46K	$60K	90	2.5%
Savannah, GA	$35K	$46K	$60K	92	5.75%
Memphis, TN	$35K	$46K	$60K	82	None ✓
Grand Rapids, MI	$35K	$46K	$60K	90	4.25%
Birmingham, AL	$35K	$46K	$60K	82	5%
Columbia, SC	$35K	$46K	$60K	88	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%
Fort Smith, AR	$35K	$46K	$60K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$35K	$46K	$60K	75	6.5%
Lubbock, TX	$34K	$45K	$59K	78	None ✓
Knoxville, TN	$34K	$45K	$59K	85	None ✓
Tulsa, OK	$34K	$45K	$59K	80	4.75%
Wichita, KS	$34K	$45K	$59K	82	5.7%
Laredo, TX	$33K	$44K	$57K	76	None ✓
Little Rock, AR	$33K	$44K	$57K	82	4.9%

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 salary FAQ

How much does a Substance Abuse Counselor make?

The median Substance Abuse Counselor salary in the US is $50,000 per year — about $24/hour. Most earn between $38,000 (25th percentile) and $65,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a Substance Abuse Counselor?

Entry-level Substance Abuse Counselor positions typically start around $38,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid Substance Abuse Counselors earn?

The top 10% of Substance Abuse Counselors earn $85,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays Substance Abuse Counselors the most?

San Francisco has the highest median Substance Abuse Counselor salary at $70K among the cities we track. But high-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often have lower real purchasing power once cost of living and taxes are factored in.

Are Substance Abuse Counselor salaries going up?

Yes — Substance Abuse Counselor pay is growing about 6.5% year over year, above the US average wage-growth rate.

Substance Abuse Counselor Salaryby City (2026)