Salaries › Substance Abuse Counselor › Tennessee
Substance Abuse Counselor Salary in Tennessee (2026)
$23.84 per hour · take-home ≈ $42,018/year ($3,501/month) for a single filer
Substance Abuse Counselor pay range in Tennessee
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $34,950 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $39,160 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $49,580 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $61,160 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $76,620 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 9,040 Substance Abuse Counselor jobs in Tennessee (occupation code 21-1018, “Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors”).
Gross vs. take-home in Tennessee
A median Substance Abuse Counselor salary of $49,580 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare (no state income tax in Tennessee), a single filer keeps about $42,018 — an effective tax rate of 15.3%.
| Gross (median) | $49,580 |
| Federal income tax | −$3,770 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$3,793 |
| Tennessee state income tax | −$0 |
| Take-home (annual) | $42,018 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $3,501 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Tennessee paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Substance Abuse Counselor make in Tennessee?
- The median Substance Abuse Counselor salary in Tennessee is $49,580 per year ($23.84 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $39,160 and $61,160.
- What is the take-home pay for a Substance Abuse Counselor in Tennessee?
- On the median salary of $49,580, a single filer in Tennessee takes home about $42,018 per year ($3,501 per month) after federal tax, FICA — an effective tax rate of 15.3%.
- How many Substance Abuse Counselor jobs are there in Tennessee?
- BLS counts 9,040 Substance Abuse Counselor jobs in Tennessee in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Substance Abuse Counselors
Other salaries in Tennessee
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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee.