Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Best states for an alcohol and drug counselor
Quoted expert
Lorrie Greenhouse Gardella
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for alcohol and drug counselors in the United States. Alcohol and drug counselor positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for alcohol and drug counselors.Our research shows that California is the best state in the country for alcohol and drug counselors.
California is the best state for jobs for alcohol and drug counselors, and Wisconsin is the worst. The most common pay in California is $51,887, while the median pay in Wisconsin is $33,721.California is the best state, and Monterey is the city with the highest pay for alcohol and drug counselors.
10 best states for alcohol and drug counselors in 2025
1. California
Total alcohol and drug counselor jobs: 3,415 Average annual salary: $51,887 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Location Quotient: 1.122. Wyoming
Total alcohol and drug counselor jobs: 54 Average annual salary: $47,427 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Location Quotient: 0.863. Alaska
Total alcohol and drug counselor jobs: 135 Average annual salary: $49,456 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Location Quotient: 1.554. Nevada
Total alcohol and drug counselor jobs: 176 Average annual salary: $46,361 Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Location Quotient: 0.815. New Mexico
Total alcohol and drug counselor jobs: 195 Average annual salary: $43,413 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Location Quotient: 0.956. Washington
Total alcohol and drug counselor jobs: 1,052 Average annual salary: $42,795 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Location Quotient: 1.387. Minnesota
Total alcohol and drug counselor jobs: 724 Average annual salary: $42,291 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Location Quotient: 1.048. Mississippi
Total alcohol and drug counselor jobs: 166 Average annual salary: $44,897 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Location Quotient: 0.759. Idaho
Total alcohol and drug counselor jobs: 154 Average annual salary: $42,762 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Location Quotient: 0.910. Illinois
Total alcohol and drug counselor jobs: 1,236 Average annual salary: $40,381 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Location Quotient: 0.99
Alcohol and drug counselor jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be an alcohol and drug counselor
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for an alcohol and drug counselor
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $51,887 | $32,000 | 39,536,653 | 3,415 |
| 2 | Wyoming | $47,427 | $33,000 | 579,315 | 54 |
| 3 | Alaska | $49,456 | $40,000 | 739,795 | 135 |
| 4 | Nevada | $46,361 | $30,000 | 2,998,039 | 176 |
| 5 | New Mexico | $43,413 | $27,000 | 2,088,070 | 195 |
| 6 | Washington | $42,795 | $29,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,052 |
| 7 | Minnesota | $42,291 | $26,000 | 5,576,606 | 724 |
| 8 | Mississippi | $44,897 | $27,000 | 2,984,100 | 166 |
| 9 | Idaho | $42,762 | $29,000 | 1,716,943 | 154 |
| 10 | Illinois | $40,381 | $25,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,236 |
| 11 | Arkansas | $41,066 | $26,000 | 3,004,279 | 230 |
| 12 | Kentucky | $43,299 | $27,000 | 4,454,189 | 225 |
| 13 | Colorado | $42,253 | $29,000 | 5,607,154 | 599 |
| 14 | Texas | $40,309 | $24,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,642 |
| 15 | Oregon | $40,216 | $27,000 | 4,142,776 | 446 |
| 16 | Hawaii | $43,720 | $34,000 | 1,427,538 | 99 |
| 17 | Kansas | $41,995 | $28,000 | 2,913,123 | 183 |
| 18 | Utah | $40,944 | $28,000 | 3,101,833 | 255 |
| 19 | Alabama | $40,211 | $24,000 | 4,874,747 | 220 |
| 20 | Arizona | $36,976 | $23,000 | 7,016,270 | 663 |
| 21 | Connecticut | $30,986 | $14,000 | 3,588,184 | 436 |
| 22 | Montana | $35,679 | $25,000 | 1,050,493 | 144 |
| 23 | North Carolina | $37,996 | $22,000 | 10,273,419 | 595 |
| 24 | Massachusetts | $28,822 | $12,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,272 |
| 25 | West Virginia | $36,931 | $21,000 | 1,815,857 | 101 |
| 26 | Nebraska | $36,309 | $24,000 | 1,920,076 | 220 |
| 27 | North Dakota | $37,720 | $24,000 | 755,393 | 75 |
| 28 | Louisiana | $36,286 | $21,000 | 4,684,333 | 306 |
| 29 | Maine | $26,914 | $10,000 | 1,335,907 | 264 |
| 30 | South Dakota | $37,738 | $25,000 | 869,666 | 82 |
| 31 | Georgia | $37,200 | $22,000 | 10,429,379 | 891 |
| 32 | Florida | $34,505 | $19,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,605 |
| 33 | New York | $30,771 | $14,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,846 |
| 34 | Maryland | $33,897 | $18,000 | 6,052,177 | 818 |
| 35 | Michigan | $34,252 | $19,000 | 9,962,311 | 797 |
| 36 | New Hampshire | $31,478 | $13,000 | 1,342,795 | 154 |
| 37 | Rhode Island | $30,052 | $13,000 | 1,059,639 | 120 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $34,541 | $20,000 | 5,024,369 | 464 |
| 39 | Missouri | $37,773 | $24,000 | 6,113,532 | 438 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $35,291 | $23,000 | 3,930,864 | 273 |
| 41 | New Jersey | $30,460 | $14,000 | 9,005,644 | 986 |
| 42 | District of Columbia | $34,709 | $19,000 | 693,972 | 156 |
| 43 | Delaware | $33,048 | $17,000 | 961,939 | 111 |
| 44 | Pennsylvania | $28,604 | $14,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,618 |
| 45 | Virginia | $36,177 | $20,000 | 8,470,020 | 697 |
| 46 | Vermont | $29,679 | $12,000 | 623,657 | 61 |
| 47 | Iowa | $34,832 | $22,000 | 3,145,711 | 290 |
| 48 | Tennessee | $33,869 | $21,000 | 6,715,984 | 430 |
| 49 | Ohio | $32,676 | $19,000 | 11,658,609 | 808 |
| 50 | Indiana | $32,391 | $20,000 | 6,666,818 | 555 |
| 51 | Wisconsin | $33,721 | $20,000 | 5,795,483 | 379 |
Highest paying states for alcohol and drug counselors
| Rank | State | Avg. Alcohol And Drug Counselor Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $51,887 |
| 2 | Wyoming | $47,427 |
| 3 | Alaska | $49,456 |
| 4 | Nevada | $46,361 |
| 5 | New Mexico | $43,413 |
| 6 | Washington | $42,795 |
| 7 | Minnesota | $42,291 |
| 8 | Mississippi | $44,897 |
| 9 | Idaho | $42,762 |
| 10 | Illinois | $40,381 |
| 11 | Arkansas | $41,066 |
| 12 | Kentucky | $43,299 |
| 13 | Colorado | $42,253 |
| 14 | Texas | $40,309 |
| 15 | Oregon | $40,216 |
| 16 | Hawaii | $43,720 |
| 17 | Kansas | $41,995 |
| 18 | Utah | $40,944 |
| 19 | Alabama | $40,211 |
| 20 | Arizona | $36,976 |
| 21 | Connecticut | $30,986 |
| 22 | Montana | $35,679 |
| 23 | North Carolina | $37,996 |
| 24 | Massachusetts | $28,822 |
| 25 | West Virginia | $36,931 |
| 26 | Nebraska | $36,309 |
| 27 | North Dakota | $37,720 |
| 28 | Louisiana | $36,286 |
| 29 | Maine | $26,914 |
| 30 | South Dakota | $37,738 |
| 31 | Georgia | $37,200 |
| 32 | Florida | $34,505 |
| 33 | New York | $30,771 |
| 34 | Maryland | $33,897 |
| 35 | Michigan | $34,252 |
| 36 | New Hampshire | $31,478 |
| 37 | Rhode Island | $30,052 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $34,541 |
| 39 | Missouri | $37,773 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $35,291 |
| 41 | New Jersey | $30,460 |
| 42 | District of Columbia | $34,709 |
| 43 | Delaware | $33,048 |
| 44 | Pennsylvania | $28,604 |
| 45 | Virginia | $36,177 |
| 46 | Vermont | $29,679 |
| 47 | Iowa | $34,832 |
| 48 | Tennessee | $33,869 |
| 49 | Ohio | $32,676 |
| 50 | Indiana | $32,391 |
| 51 | Wisconsin | $33,721 |
Expert opinions on the best states for alcohol and drug counselors
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for alcohol and drug counselors to find work opportunities?
Lorrie Greenhouse Gardella
Professor, MSW Program Coordinator, Southern Connecticut State University
Social workers are needed everywhere -- from rural settings to small towns, to large cities. Social work is one of the fastest-growing professions in the U.S.
Alcohol and drug counselor best states FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common community and social services questions.
Search for alcohol and drug counselor jobs
Updated January 8, 2025