Salaries › Substance Abuse Counselor
Substance Abuse Counselor Salary by State (2026)
Substance Abuse Counselors (Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors) hold 487,020 jobs across the US. Typical pay is $59,139 per year, but the median ranges from $37,910 in Louisiana to $80,770 in Alaska. Pick your state for the full pay range and an estimated take-home after taxes.
Median Substance Abuse Counselor salary in every state
| State | Median salary | Jobs |
| Alaska | $80,770 | 1,290 |
| Oregon | $74,590 | 8,160 |
| New Mexico | $74,100 | 2,420 |
| Washington | $68,910 | 14,250 |
| North Dakota | $68,630 | 1,290 |
| Arizona | $65,300 | 9,990 |
| Rhode Island | $65,120 | 2,170 |
| Utah | $63,890 | 6,320 |
| Nebraska | $63,770 | 2,170 |
| Connecticut | $63,590 | 7,540 |
| Idaho | $63,360 | 2,990 |
| Wyoming | $62,980 | 910 |
| New Jersey | $62,820 | 14,210 |
| Texas | $62,630 | 21,400 |
| Colorado | $62,390 | 14,920 |
| Wisconsin | $62,220 | 8,340 |
| Vermont | $61,810 | 1,120 |
| Michigan | $61,690 | 10,100 |
| Iowa | $60,880 | 3,530 |
| Illinois | $60,730 | 20,250 |
| District of Columbia | $60,450 | 1,260 |
| Hawaii | $60,090 | 2,110 |
| Maine | $59,970 | 1,930 |
| Massachusetts | $59,890 | 18,190 |
| Virginia | $59,880 | 17,940 |
| Maryland | $59,530 | 9,730 |
| Kansas | $59,470 | 2,600 |
| New York | $59,450 | 26,770 |
| Oklahoma | $59,350 | 5,150 |
| California | $59,250 | 75,610 |
| Montana | $59,000 | 1,820 |
| Georgia | $58,960 | 9,600 |
| Minnesota | $58,780 | 7,110 |
| Ohio | $58,360 | 18,020 |
| Nevada | $57,210 | 1,810 |
| Missouri | $56,910 | 8,130 |
| Florida | $56,790 | 29,750 |
| Delaware | $56,020 | 1,700 |
| North Carolina | $55,490 | 10,300 |
| New Hampshire | $54,840 | 3,690 |
| Kentucky | $54,190 | 7,690 |
| Indiana | $53,760 | 11,890 |
| South Dakota | $53,650 | 1,710 |
| South Carolina | $52,370 | 6,300 |
| Pennsylvania | $52,010 | 30,620 |
| Arkansas | $51,580 | 2,570 |
| Tennessee | $49,580 | 9,040 |
| West Virginia | $49,430 | 2,100 |
| Alabama | $47,310 | 0 |
| Mississippi | $46,990 | 2,090 |
| Louisiana | $37,910 | 6,420 |
Frequently asked questions
- What is the average Substance Abuse Counselor salary in the US?
- The typical (employment-weighted median) Substance Abuse Counselor salary in the US is about $59,139 per year, based on the latest BLS data covering 487,020 jobs nationwide.
- Which state pays Substance Abuse Counselors the most?
- Alaska has the highest median Substance Abuse Counselor salary at $80,770 per year. Remember that taxes and cost of living vary — a high gross salary can shrink after state taxes.
- Which state pays Substance Abuse Counselors the least?
- Louisiana has the lowest median at $37,910 per year. Lower-paying states often also have lower living costs and, in some cases, no state income tax.
Sources and methodology
All figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) (Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors, code 21-1018). “Typical pay” is the employment-weighted average of state medians. Take-home estimates on state pages use 2026 federal and verified state tax rules from our PaycheckTally engine.