Salaries › Substance Abuse Counselor › Kentucky
Substance Abuse Counselor Salary in Kentucky (2026)
$26.05 per hour · take-home ≈ $43,825/year ($3,652/month) for a single filer
Substance Abuse Counselor pay range in Kentucky
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $35,150 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $41,730 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $54,190 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $72,590 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $83,070 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 7,690 Substance Abuse Counselor jobs in Kentucky (occupation code 21-1018, “Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors”).
Gross vs. take-home in Kentucky
A median Substance Abuse Counselor salary of $54,190 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus Kentucky state income tax, a single filer keeps about $43,825 — an effective tax rate of 19.1%.
| Gross (median) | $54,190 |
| Federal income tax | −$4,323 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$4,146 |
| Kentucky state income tax | −$1,897 |
| Take-home (annual) | $43,825 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $3,652 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Kentucky paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Substance Abuse Counselor make in Kentucky?
- The median Substance Abuse Counselor salary in Kentucky is $54,190 per year ($26.05 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $41,730 and $72,590.
- What is the take-home pay for a Substance Abuse Counselor in Kentucky?
- On the median salary of $54,190, a single filer in Kentucky takes home about $43,825 per year ($3,652 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 19.1%.
- How many Substance Abuse Counselor jobs are there in Kentucky?
- BLS counts 7,690 Substance Abuse Counselor jobs in Kentucky in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Substance Abuse Counselors
Other salaries in Kentucky
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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky.