The average salary for a drug and alcohol counselor in California is around $59,250 per year.
Avg Salary
Drug and alcohol counselors earn an average yearly salary of $59,250.
Wages typically start from $44,640 and go up to $111,080.
15% below national average Updated in 2025
Drug and alcohol counselor earnings by seniority
Top-level drug and alcohol counselor earnings begin at:
$53.40 per hour
$111,080 per year
Senior-level drug and alcohol counselor earnings begin at:
$38.74 per hour
$80,570 per year
Mid-level drug and alcohol counselor earnings begin at:
$28.48 per hour
$59,250 per year
Junior-level drug and alcohol counselor earnings begin at:
$22.91 per hour
$47,640 per year
Starting level drug and alcohol counselor earnings begin at:
$21.46 per hour
$44,640 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 California. On average, they make less than marriage and family therapists but more than postal service workers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Marriage and family therapist salary | $67K |
| American sign language interpreter salary | $71K |
| Social worker salary | $63K |
| Family social worker salary | $65K |
| Credit counselor salary | $67K |
| Drug and alcohol counselor salary | $59K |
| Mental health counselor salary | $59K |
| Landscaper salary | $63K |
| Private detective salary | $61K |
| Postal service worker salary | $64K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)