Salaries › Substance Abuse Counselor › District of Columbia
Substance Abuse Counselor Salary in District of Columbia (2026)
$29.06 per hour · take-home ≈ $48,269/year ($4,022/month) for a single filer
Substance Abuse Counselor pay range in District of Columbia
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $43,060 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $46,920 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $60,450 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $83,570 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $107,980 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 1,260 Substance Abuse Counselor jobs in District of Columbia (occupation code 21-1018, “Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors”).
Gross vs. take-home in District of Columbia
A median Substance Abuse Counselor salary of $60,450 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus District of Columbia state income tax, a single filer keeps about $48,269 — an effective tax rate of 20.2%.
| Gross (median) | $60,450 |
| Federal income tax | −$5,074 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$4,624 |
| District of Columbia state income tax | −$2,483 |
| Take-home (annual) | $48,269 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $4,022 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free District of Columbia paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Substance Abuse Counselor make in District of Columbia?
- The median Substance Abuse Counselor salary in District of Columbia is $60,450 per year ($29.06 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $46,920 and $83,570.
- What is the take-home pay for a Substance Abuse Counselor in District of Columbia?
- On the median salary of $60,450, a single filer in District of Columbia takes home about $48,269 per year ($4,022 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 20.2%.
- How many Substance Abuse Counselor jobs are there in District of Columbia?
- BLS counts 1,260 Substance Abuse Counselor jobs in District of Columbia in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Substance Abuse Counselors
Other salaries in District of Columbia
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified District of Columbia state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for District of Columbia.