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Addictions counselor salary

Average addictions counselor salary

$47,226

$22.7 hourly rate

Entry-level addictions counselor salary
$32,000 yearly salary
Updated December 15, 2025

Understanding the Addictions Counselor Salary

The average salary for Addictions Counselors is approximately $47,226 per year. Factors influencing this figure include experience, location, and the specific nature of the counseling role. For instance, counselors working in urban centers often earn more compared to those in rural areas. Additionally, specialized certifications can lead to higher pay.

Salary by State

Different states offer varying compensation. For example, states with a higher cost of living tend to provide better salaries. Exploring the highest paying states can significantly impact your earnings.

Career Opportunities

As an addictions counselor, you can work within various settings, including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and private practices. The demand for qualified counselors continues to grow, making it an opportune time to enter this field. Job seekers should utilize resources like Zippia to find openings that match their skills and goals. With the right qualifications and experience, opportunities for advancement abound in this meaningful career.

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Where can an Addictions Counselor earn more?

Compare salary by location
Vs
69k
49k
29k
9k
Columbus, OH$53,934
Billings, MT$39,217
Compare salary by company
Vs
79k
59k
39k
19k
Wellpath$60,789
Colorado State Express$48,787

Average addictions counselor salary by state

The highest-paying states for addictions counselors are Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, and Alaska. The lowest average addictions counselor salary states are Nebraska, Louisiana, and South Carolina.

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Average salary:

Highest paying states for addictions counselors

RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
1Pennsylvania$53,672$25.80
2Minnesota$51,484$24.75
3Rhode Island$50,631$24.34
4Alaska$52,720$25.35
5New Hampshire$52,827$25.40
6Michigan$48,145$23.15
7Delaware$50,268$24.17
8New York$48,809$23.47
9New Jersey$49,078$23.60
10Indiana$48,004$23.08
11Wyoming$49,348$23.73
12Nevada$48,590$23.36
13Vermont$48,941$23.53
14Kentucky$49,025$23.57
15Massachusetts$46,211$22.22
16District of Columbia$49,499$23.80
17Mississippi$47,517$22.84
18New Mexico$45,122$21.69
19Connecticut$45,248$21.75
20West Virginia$47,410$22.79
21Maine$43,631$20.98
22Washington$43,711$21.01
23North Dakota$43,858$21.09
24Idaho$43,871$21.09
25Virginia$47,949$23.05
26Hawaii$47,906$23.03
27California$45,503$21.88
28Arkansas$42,860$20.61
29Illinois$43,137$20.74
30Ohio$42,871$20.61
31Kansas$43,481$20.90
32Wisconsin$42,332$20.35
33Colorado$41,745$20.07
34North Carolina$43,543$20.93
35Alabama$42,960$20.65
36Montana$39,146$18.82
37Maryland$42,488$20.43
38Utah$41,798$20.10
39South Dakota$41,212$19.81
40Georgia$40,009$19.24
41Oregon$40,541$19.49
42Texas$42,315$20.34
43Arizona$39,003$18.75
44Louisiana$38,346$18.44
45Nebraska$38,582$18.55
46Florida$37,113$17.84
47Iowa$38,747$18.63
48South Carolina$37,784$18.17
49Missouri$39,889$19.18
50Tennessee$36,345$17.47
51Oklahoma$36,505$17.55

Highest paying cities for addictions counselors

The highest-paying cities for addictions counselors are Philadelphia, PA, Saint Paul, MN, and Washington, DC.

RankCityAvg. salaryHourly rate
1Philadelphia, PA$53,934$25.93
2Saint Paul, MN$51,485$24.75
3Washington, DC$49,504$23.80
4New York, NY$48,882$23.50
5Somerville, MA$46,092$22.16
6Santa Monica, CA$45,619$21.93
7Lorain, OH$43,429$20.88
8Chicago, IL$43,263$20.80
9Baltimore, MD$42,628$20.49
10Beloit, WI$42,089$20.24
11Houston, TX$41,946$20.17
12Denver, CO$41,810$20.10
13Billings, MT$39,217$18.85

Addictions counselor salary details

An addictions counselor's salary ranges from $32,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $68,000 at the 90th percentile.

Average addictions counselor salary graph
Average addictions counselor salary graph, trends, and summary

What is an addictions counselor's salary?

PercentileAnnual salaryMonthly salaryHourly rate
90th Percentile$68,000$5,667$33
75th Percentile$57,000$4,750$27
Average$47,226$3,936$23
25th Percentile$38,000$3,167$18
10th Percentile$32,000$2,667$15

Highest paying addictions counselor jobs

The highest paying types of addictions counselors are lead counselor, licensed professional counselor, and counselor/art therapist.

Job titleAnnual salaryMonthly salaryHourly rateJob openings
Mental Health Therapist$50,259$4,188$24.16114,386
Primary Therapist$59,826$4,985$28.7685,127
Clinician$60,150$5,012$28.92105,023
Counselor/Art Therapist$79,417$6,618$38.1880,647
Counselor/Case Manager$39,562$3,297$19.0288,285
Counselor Internship$45,500$3,792$21.88132,694

Which companies pay addictions counselors the most?

Addictions counselor salaries at Wellpath and Palomar Health are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average addictions counselor salary at companies like Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation and Pathways To Housing Dc are highly competitive.

Wage gap by gender, race and education

$43,000$42,800$42,600$42,400$42,200$42,000
MaleFemale

Addictions counselor salary trends

The average addictions counselor salary has risen by $7,068 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average addictions counselor earned $40,158 annually, but today, they earn $47,226 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for addictions counselors over the last decade.

Compare addictions counselor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.

Average addictions counselor salary over time

Compare addictions counselor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.

Addictions counselor salary by year

YearAvg. salaryHourly rate% Change
2026$47,200$22.70+3.0%
2025$45,800$22.02+2.4%
2024$44,700$21.49+2.4%
2023$43,600$20.96+1.9%
2022$42,800$20.56+2.7%

Recently added addictions counselor salaries

CompanyJobLocationDate addedSalary
Cayuga HealthPrimary Addiction Counselor--Ithaca OTPIthaca, NY06/30/2025$50,088
BettermorningincAddiction CounselorIone, WA06/29/2025$74,694
Eckerd Youth Alternatives Inc.Addiction CounselorSaint Petersburg, FL06/28/2025$45,000
The Guidance CenterACT Team Licensed Addictions CounselorLeavenworth, KS06/27/2025$63,000
Hackensack Meridian HealthLicensed Addictions Counselor II--Behavioral HealthBelle Mead, NJ06/27/2025$39,198
Kolmac ClinicAddiction CounselorFredericksburg, VA06/27/2025$73,045
Legacy Healing CenterIOP Addiction CounselorCincinnati, OH06/27/2025$75,000
RosecranceAddiction Counselor-Adolescent PopulationRockford, IL06/26/2025$44,057
Carle Foundation HospitalAddictions Counselor (Lsw/Lpc)-Addiction RecoveryChampaign, IL06/25/2025$50,088
Valley-Wide Health SystemsAddiction CounselorLa Junta, CO06/25/2025$46,227

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