The average salary for a drug and alcohol counselor in the United States is around $59,350 per year.
Avg Salary
Drug and alcohol counselors earn an average yearly salary of $59,350.
Wages typically start from $38,940 and go up to $97,590.
6% below national average Updated in 2025
Drug and alcohol counselor earnings by seniority
Top-level drug and alcohol counselor earnings begin at:
$46.92 per hour
$97,590 per year
Senior-level drug and alcohol counselor earnings begin at:
$36.80 per hour
$76,530 per year
Mid-level drug and alcohol counselor earnings begin at:
$28.53 per hour
$59,350 per year
Junior-level drug and alcohol counselor earnings begin at:
$22.65 per hour
$47,100 per year
Starting level drug and alcohol counselor earnings begin at:
$18.72 per hour
$38,940 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Drug and alcohol counselor salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $80,770 |
| Oregon | $74,590 |
| New Mexico | $74,100 |
| Washington | $68,910 |
| North Dakota | $68,630 |
| Arizona | $65,300 |
| Rhode Island | $65,120 |
| Utah | $63,890 |
| Nebraska | $63,770 |
| Connecticut | $63,590 |
| Idaho | $63,360 |
| Wyoming | $62,980 |
| New Jersey | $62,820 |
| Texas | $62,630 |
| Colorado | $62,390 |
| Wisconsin | $62,220 |
| Vermont | $61,810 |
| Michigan | $61,690 |
| Iowa | $60,880 |
| Illinois | $60,730 |
| District of Columbia | $60,450 |
| Hawaii | $60,090 |
| Maine | $59,970 |
| Massachusetts | $59,890 |
| Virginia | $59,880 |
| Maryland | $59,530 |
| Kansas | $59,470 |
| New York | $59,450 |
| Oklahoma | $59,350 |
| California | $59,250 |
| Montana | $59,000 |
| Georgia | $58,960 |
| Minnesota | $58,780 |
| Ohio | $58,360 |
| Nevada | $57,210 |
| Missouri | $56,910 |
| Florida | $56,790 |
| Delaware | $56,020 |
| North Carolina | $55,490 |
| New Hampshire | $54,840 |
| Kentucky | $54,190 |
| Indiana | $53,760 |
| South Dakota | $53,650 |
| South Carolina | $52,370 |
| Pennsylvania | $52,010 |
| Arkansas | $51,580 |
| Tennessee | $49,580 |
| West Virginia | $49,430 |
| Alabama | $47,310 |
| Mississippi | $46,990 |
| Louisiana | $37,910 |
| Puerto Rico | $27,550 |
How do drug and alcohol counselor salaries compare to similar careers?
Drug and alcohol counselors earn about the same as related careers in the United States. On average, they make less than school counselors but more than correctional officers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| School counselor salary | $64K |
| Counselor salary | $64K |
| DJ salary | $45K |
| Clergy member salary | $61K |
| American sign language interpreter salary | $60K |
| Drug and alcohol counselor salary | $59K |
| Mental health counselor salary | $59K |
| Family social worker salary | $60K |
| Firefighter salary | $59K |
| Correctional officer salary | $59K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)