Best cities for a substance abuse counselor
The best cities for substance abuse counselors are Cleveland, OH, Louisville, KY, and Lexington, KY, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for substance abuse counselors vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for substance abuse counselors in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a substance abuse counselor or considering a move, this list of the best cities for substance abuse counselors to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for substance abuse counselors. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a substance abuse counselor. While the absolute best city for substance abuse counselors is Cleveland, OH, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for substance abuse counselors in 2024.
If you're looking for a substance abuse counselor job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for substance abuse counselors in 2025
1. Cleveland, OH
Substance abuse counselor jobs in ClevelandTotal substance abuse counselor jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $49,056 Lowest 10 percent warn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Location quotient: 0.70 2. Louisville, KY
Substance abuse counselor jobs in LouisvilleTotal substance abuse counselor jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $47,803 Lowest 10 percent warn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Location quotient: 0.45 3. Lexington, KY
Substance abuse counselor jobs in LexingtonTotal substance abuse counselor jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $47,932 Lowest 10 percent warn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Location quotient: 0.51 4. Hempstead, NY
Substance abuse counselor jobs in HempsteadTotal substance abuse counselor jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $51,079 Lowest 10 percent warn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Location quotient: 9.53 5. Philadelphia, PA
Substance abuse counselor jobs in PhiladelphiaTotal substance abuse counselor jobs: 16 Average annual salary: $48,050 Lowest 10 percent warn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Location quotient: 0.52 6. Scottsdale, AZ
Substance abuse counselor jobs in ScottsdaleTotal substance abuse counselor jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $46,503 Lowest 10 percent warn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Location quotient: 0.91 7. Toledo, OH
Substance abuse counselor jobs in ToledoTotal substance abuse counselor jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $48,793 Lowest 10 percent warn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Location quotient: 0.36 8. Madison, WI
Substance abuse counselor jobs in MadisonTotal substance abuse counselor jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $49,839 Lowest 10 percent warn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Location quotient: 0.44 9. Anchorage, AK
Substance abuse counselor jobs in AnchorageTotal substance abuse counselor jobs: 13 Average annual salary: $47,496 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Location quotient: 4.06 10. Columbus, OH
Substance abuse counselor jobs in ColumbusTotal substance abuse counselor jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $47,300 Lowest 10 percent warn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Location quotient: 0.21
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Best cities for substance abuse counselors
- Cleveland, OH
- Louisville, KY
- Lexington, KY
- Hempstead, NY
- Philadelphia, PA
- Scottsdale, AZ
- Toledo, OH
- Madison, WI
- Anchorage, AK
- Columbus, OH
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- (6 substance abuse counselor jobs)
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- (6 substance abuse counselor jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a substance abuse counselor
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cleveland, OH | $49,056 | $32,000 | 385,809 | 7 |
| 2 | Louisville, KY | $47,803 | $31,000 | 597,337 | 5 |
| 3 | Lexington, KY | $47,932 | $30,000 | 318,449 | 2 |
| 4 | Hempstead, NY | $51,079 | $32,000 | 759,757 | 2 |
| 5 | Philadelphia, PA | $48,050 | $30,000 | 1,567,872 | 16 |
| 6 | Scottsdale, AZ | $46,503 | $31,000 | 246,645 | 6 |
| 7 | Toledo, OH | $48,793 | $32,000 | 278,508 | 1 |
| 8 | Madison, WI | $49,839 | $34,000 | 252,551 | 5 |
| 9 | Anchorage, AK | $47,496 | $42,000 | 298,192 | 13 |
| 10 | Columbus, OH | $47,300 | $31,000 | 860,090 | 6 |
| 11 | Milwaukee, WI | $50,060 | $34,000 | 595,047 | 4 |
| 12 | Phoenix, AZ | $46,589 | $31,000 | 1,615,017 | 15 |
| 13 | Aurora, CO | $43,974 | $31,000 | 361,710 | 16 |
| 14 | Wichita, KS | $42,418 | $28,000 | 389,902 | 9 |
| 15 | Las Vegas, NV | $46,972 | $32,000 | 632,912 | 6 |
| 16 | Chandler, AZ | $46,539 | $31,000 | 247,477 | 2 |
| 17 | Tucson, AZ | $46,304 | $30,000 | 530,706 | 3 |
| 18 | Mesa, AZ | $46,486 | $31,000 | 484,587 | 1 |
| 19 | Buffalo, NY | $50,790 | $33,000 | 256,902 | 9 |
| 20 | Chicago, IL | $46,363 | $31,000 | 2,704,958 | 26 |
| 21 | Albuquerque, NM | $43,554 | $29,000 | 559,277 | 8 |
| 22 | New York, NY | $51,013 | $32,000 | 8,537,673 | 103 |
| 23 | Boston, MA | $53,313 | $34,000 | 673,184 | 12 |
| 24 | Baltimore, MD | $46,819 | $29,000 | 614,664 | 64 |
| 25 | Norfolk, VA | $45,921 | $28,000 | 245,115 | 7 |
| 26 | Pittsburgh, PA | $46,718 | $30,000 | 303,625 | 2 |
| 27 | Minneapolis, MN | $52,733 | $38,000 | 413,651 | 3 |
| 28 | Omaha, NE | $51,973 | $36,000 | 446,970 | - |
| 29 | Lincoln, NE | $51,495 | $36,000 | 280,364 | - |
| 30 | Saint Louis, MO | $39,211 | $26,000 | 311,404 | 22 |
| 31 | Glendale, AZ | $46,625 | $31,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 32 | Fresno, CA | $44,618 | $31,000 | 522,053 | 17 |
| 33 | El Paso, TX | $39,275 | $25,000 | 683,080 | 3 |
| 34 | Saint Paul, MN | $52,740 | $38,000 | 302,398 | - |
| 35 | Detroit, MI | $49,050 | $33,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 36 | Denver, CO | $44,017 | $31,000 | 693,060 | 19 |
| 37 | Gilbert, AZ | $46,507 | $31,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 38 | Bakersfield, CA | $44,869 | $30,000 | 376,380 | 5 |
| 39 | Stockton, CA | $44,599 | $31,000 | 307,072 | 5 |
| 40 | Henderson, NV | $46,963 | $32,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 41 | Cincinnati, OH | $45,873 | $29,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 42 | North Las Vegas, NV | $46,903 | $32,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 43 | Corpus Christi, TX | $36,535 | $22,000 | 325,733 | 4 |
| 44 | Jersey City, NJ | $54,901 | $35,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 45 | Long Beach, CA | $44,792 | $30,000 | 470,130 | 6 |
| 46 | Riverside, CA | $44,513 | $30,000 | 324,722 | 12 |
| 47 | Newark, NJ | $54,882 | $35,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 48 | Reno, NV | $47,478 | $34,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 49 | Oakland, CA | $45,112 | $31,000 | 420,005 | 4 |
| 50 | Fort Wayne, IN | $39,428 | $26,000 | 264,488 | 1 |
Highest paying cities for substance abuse counselors
| Rank | City | Avg. substance abuse counselor salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trenton, NJ | $54,419 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $53,313 |
| 3 | North Kingstown, RI | $52,479 |
| 4 | Brentwood, NY | $51,206 |
| 5 | Casper, WY | $50,931 |
| 6 | Wilmington, DE | $50,852 |
| 7 | Milwaukee, WI | $50,060 |
| 8 | Cleveland, OH | $49,056 |
| 9 | Winchester, VA | $48,863 |
| 10 | Philadelphia, PA | $48,050 |
| 11 | Anchorage, AK | $47,496 |
| 12 | Baltimore, MD | $46,819 |
| 13 | Henderson, KY | $46,716 |
| 14 | San Francisco, CA | $45,204 |
| 15 | Denver, CO | $44,017 |
| 16 | Greenville, NC | $42,131 |
| 17 | Saint Louis, MO | $39,211 |
| 18 | Richmond, IN | $38,345 |
| 19 | Atlanta, GA | $37,681 |
| 20 | San Antonio, TX | $36,942 |
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Updated January 8, 2025