Chemical Dependency Counselor Salary in the United States
How much does a Chemical Dependency Counselor make in the United States?
As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Chemical Dependency Counselor in the United States is $65,807 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $32.
However, a Chemical Dependency Counselor's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $81,476
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $60,565 to $74,009
Key Factors That Influence Chemical Dependency Counselor Salaries
A Chemical Dependency Counselor's salary isn't a fixed number.
It's shaped by several important factors.
Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education, and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
How Experience Level Affects Chemical Dependency Counselor Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Chemical Dependency Counselor's salary.
As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases.
Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:
Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $64,086
Early Career (1-2 years): $64,242
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $66,419
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $69,847
Expert (over 8 years): $70,092
Levels
Salary
Entry Level Chemical Dependency Counselor
$64,086
Intermediate Level Chemical Dependency Counselor
$64,242
Senior Level Chemical Dependency Counselor
$66,419
Specialist Level Chemical Dependency Counselor
$69,847
Expert Level Chemical Dependency Counselor
$70,092
$64,0860 yr
$64,242< 2 yrs
$66,4192-4 yrs
$69,8475-8 yrs
$70,092> 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph
What Am I Worth?
How Do Chemical Dependency Counselor Salaries Vary from State to State?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work.
States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors
often pay more to attract Chemical Dependency Counselors.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Top Paying Cities for Chemical Dependency Counselors
Salaries can also vary between different cities.
Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay.
Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:
San Jose: $83,002
San Francisco: $82,094
Oakland: $80,364
San Jose, CA$83,002
San Francisco, CA$82,094
Oakland, CA$80,364
New York, NY$75,770
Paramus, NJ$74,848
Queens Village, NY$74,845
Passaic, NJ$74,782
Bergenfield, NJ$74,776
Stamford, CT$74,632
Huntington, NY$74,605
Newark, NJ$74,118
Bridgeport, CT$73,980
Vallejo, CA$73,849
New Brunswick, NJ$73,822
Petaluma, CA$73,783
Middlesex, NJ$73,658
Somerset, NJ$73,612
Santa Cruz, CA$73,526
Boston, MA$73,125
Monterey, CA$72,894
Seattle, WA$72,743
Santa Rosa, CA$72,730
Los Angeles, CA$72,710
Juneau, AK$72,539
Washington, DC$72,467
Orange, CA$72,232
Santa Ana, CA$72,059
Long Beach, CA$71,993
Anaheim, CA$71,980
Anchorage, AK$71,947
Santa Maria, CA$71,749
Everett, WA$71,736
Danbury, CT$71,505
Bremerton, WA$71,414
Tacoma, WA$71,177
New Suffolk, NY$71,176
Sacramento, CA$71,157
Santa Barbara, CA$71,085
Trenton, NJ$71,012
San Diego, CA$71,012
Brockton, MA$70,940
Fairbanks, AK$70,779
Lompoc, CA$70,611
Lowell, MA$70,558
Ventura, CA$70,545
Nashua, NH$70,532
Stockton, CA$70,525
Modesto, CA$70,045
Poughkeepsie, NY$69,900
Olympia, WA$69,775
Kennewick, WA$69,775
New Haven, CT$69,749
Lawrence, MA$69,512
Hartford, CT$69,446
Riverside, CA$69,433
New Bedford, MA$69,367
Richland, WA$69,367
Bakersfield, CA$69,275
San Bernardino, CA$69,249
New Britain, CT$69,242
Atlantic City, NJ$69,242
New London, CT$69,216
Norwich, CT$69,196
Portsmouth, NH$69,183
Boulder, CO$69,043
Portland, OR$68,953
Worcester, MA$68,946
Minneapolis, MN$68,742
Philadelphia, PA$68,650
Honolulu, HI$68,433
Saint Paul, MN$68,401
Vineland, NJ$68,387
Providence, RI$68,196
Chicago, IL$68,005
Bellingham, WA$67,926
Springfield, MA$67,873
Baltimore, MD$67,854
Chico, CA$67,689
Pittsfield, MA$67,511
Manchester, NH$67,386
Spokane, WA$67,097
Denver, CO$67,090
Albany, NY$66,781
Troy, NY$66,755
Nassau, NY$66,684
Schenectady, NY$66,616
Wilmington, DE$66,564
Burlington, VT$66,472
Salem, OR$66,445
Portland, ME$66,241
Yakima, WA$66,176
Rochester, MN$65,972
Reno, NV$65,939
Fresno, CA$65,939
Milwaukee, WI$65,879
Detroit, MI$65,814
Ann Arbor, MI$65,802
Allentown, PA$65,794
Colorado Springs, CO$65,682
Syracuse, NY$65,649
Carson City, NV$65,649
Houston, TX$65,557
Eugene, OR$65,524
Gary, IN$65,445
Springfield, OR$65,392
Bismarck, ND$65,379
Galveston, TX$65,333
Medford, OR$65,234
Fort Collins, CO$65,208
Concord, NH$65,175
Austin, TX$65,156
Mesa, AZ$65,017
Reading, PA$65,011
Phoenix, AZ$65,004
Dallas, TX$64,984
Saint Cloud, MN$64,921
Madison, WI$64,833
Utica, NY$64,655
Rochester, NY$64,550
Des Moines, IA$64,544
Raleigh, NC$64,537
Atlanta, GA$64,438
Battle Creek, MI$64,418
Salt Lake City, UT$64,399
Lancaster, PA$64,300
Harrisburg, PA$64,208
Kansas City, MO$64,142
Champaign, IL$64,129
Kansas City, KS$64,129
Fort Worth, TX$64,122
Columbus, OH$64,111
Boca Raton, FL$64,096
Pittsburgh, PA$64,070
Richmond, VA$64,043
Indianapolis, IN$64,030
Cleveland, OH$64,024
Las Vegas, NV$63,945
Cincinnati, OH$63,945
Petersburg, VA$63,846
Huntsville, AL$63,747
Lansing, MI$63,703
Lebanon, PA$63,695
Pueblo, CO$63,688
Appleton, WI$63,668
Buffalo, NY$63,642
Dayton, OH$63,622
Racine, WI$63,609
Charlotte, NC$63,602
Saint Louis, MO$63,583
York, PA$63,543
Elkhart, IN$63,543
Gastonia, NC$63,531
Billings, MT$63,515
Beaumont, TX$63,497
Lorain, OH$63,484
Benton Harbor, MI$63,471
Toledo, OH$63,458
Binghamton, NY$63,425
Rock Hill, SC$63,418
Rockford, IL$63,385
Springfield, IL$63,359
Elyria, OH$63,352
Fargo, ND$63,352
Flagstaff, AZ$63,306
Fort Lauderdale, FL$63,267
Duluth, MN$63,227
Miami, FL$63,227
Cheyenne, WY$63,181
Grand Forks, ND$63,181
Bangor, ME$63,037
Cedar Rapids, IA$62,964
Durham, NC$62,936
Louisville, KY$62,931
Grand Rapids, MI$62,918
Hialeah, FL$62,911
Casper, WY$62,819
Scranton, PA$62,740
New Orleans, LA$62,721
Virginia Beach, VA$62,714
Akron, OH$62,681
Peoria, IL$62,596
Sarasota, FL$62,582
Nashville, TN$62,536
Omaha, NE$62,536
Green Bay, WI$62,536
Baton Rouge, LA$62,503
Charleston, SC$62,490
Jamestown, NY$62,457
Davenport, IA$62,457
Tucson, AZ$62,425
Saint Petersburg, FL$62,385
Tampa, FL$62,372
Evansville, IN$62,332
Port Arthur, TX$62,332
Bradenton, FL$62,306
Santa Fe, NM$62,188
Orlando, FL$62,069
Clearwater, FL$62,049
Canton, OH$61,911
La Crosse, WI$61,911
Albuquerque, NM$61,872
Newport News, VA$61,865
High Point, NC$61,845
Ogden, UT$61,819
Corpus Christi, TX$61,766
Norfolk, VA$61,727
Laramie, WY$61,727
Rock Island, IL$61,687
Saginaw, MI$61,674
Jacksonville, FL$61,668
Salisbury, NC$61,655
Boise, ID$61,641
Moline, IL$61,609
Fort Myers, FL$61,589
Memphis, TN$61,576
Tulsa, OK$61,543
Waterloo, IA$61,503
Spartanburg, SC$61,437
Lincoln, NE$61,405
Fort Wayne, IN$61,391
Provo, UT$61,385
Cedar Falls, IA$61,306
San Antonio, TX$61,279
Greensboro, NC$61,253
South Bend, IN$61,247
Savannah, GA$61,174
Muskegon, MI$61,148
Birmingham, AL$61,141
Winston Salem, NC$61,109
Lake Charles, LA$60,950
Anderson, IN$60,937
Lexington, KY$60,918
Augusta, GA$60,898
Greenville, SC$60,898
Lima, OH$60,845
Wichita, KS$60,839
Tuscaloosa, AL$60,839
Columbia, SC$60,779
Springfield, OH$60,766
Asheville, NC$60,661
Bloomington, IN$60,615
Knoxville, TN$60,378
Shreveport, LA$60,371
Wilmington, NC$60,286
Roanoke, VA$60,286
Topeka, KS$60,167
Frankfort, KY$60,160
Oklahoma City, OK$60,115
Chillicothe, OH$60,088
Longview, TX$60,082
Melbourne, FL$60,075
Sioux Falls, SD$59,970
Mobile, AL$59,963
Terre Haute, IN$59,937
Altoona, PA$59,898
Amarillo, TX$59,851
Killeen, TX$59,832
Fayetteville, AR$59,779
Chattanooga, TN$59,759
Sioux City, IA$59,700
Idaho Falls, ID$59,687
Lynchburg, VA$59,634
Gainesville, FL$59,549
Portsmouth, OH$59,516
Little Rock, AR$59,503
Lafayette, LA$59,476
Youngstown, OH$59,476
Daytona Beach, FL$59,437
Clarksville, TN$59,430
Pensacola, FL$59,424
Temple, TX$59,419
Hopkinsville, KY$59,226
Erie, PA$59,213
Florence, SC$59,187
Charleston, WV$59,082
Great Falls, MT$59,049
Macon, GA$58,956
Tallahassee, FL$58,950
Fayetteville, NC$58,937
Waco, TX$58,924
Helena, MT$58,878
Pine Bluff, AR$58,853
Vincennes, IN$58,772
Lubbock, TX$58,746
Alamogordo, NM$58,706
Twin Falls, ID$58,647
Rapid City, SD$58,627
Jackson, MS$58,509
Huntington, WV$58,504
Greenville, MS$58,502
Parkersburg, WV$58,435
Montgomery, AL$58,423
Wichita Falls, TX$58,358
Springfield, MO$58,358
Biloxi, MS$58,325
Monroe, LA$58,259
Johnstown, PA$58,213
Sumter, SC$58,187
Columbus, GA$58,180
Pascagoula, MS$58,055
Abilene, TX$58,055
Kingsport, TN$57,884
Albany, GA$57,884
Gulfport, MS$57,864
Alexandria, LA$57,647
Fort Smith, AR$57,482
El Paso, TX$57,305
Las Cruces, NM$57,009
Harlingen, TX$56,841
Pocatello, ID$56,831
Florence, AL$56,745
Brownsville, TX$56,732
Mcallen, TX$56,594
Dothan, AL$56,502
Columbus, MS$56,111
Altus, OK$55,804
Lawton, OK$55,679
Pierre, SD$55,442
What Skills Can Increase a Chemical Dependency Counselor's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Planning (Mentioned in 5.8% Job Postings): An act or process of making or carrying out plans. Establishment of goals, policies, and procedures for a social or economic unit city planning business planning.
Social Work (Mentioned in 4.69% Job Postings): Social work is an academic discipline and profession that concerns itself with individuals, families, groups and communities in an effort to enhance social functioning and overall well-being. Social functioning is the way in which people perform their social roles, and the structural institutions that are provided[by whom?] to sustain them. Social work applies social sciences, such as sociology, psychology, political science, public health, community development, law, and economics, to engage with client systems, conduct assessments, and develop interventions to solve social and personal problems; and to bring about social change. Social work practice is often divided[by whom?] into micro-work, which involves working directly with individuals or small groups; and macro-work, which involves working with communities, and - within social policy - fostering change on a larger scale.
Programming (Mentioned in 1.6% Job Postings): Executing logic to facilitate computing operations and functionality in one or more languages.
See More Skills
Skills
Demand Percentage
Planning
5.8%
Social Work
4.69%
Programming
1.6%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay.
Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Chemical Dependency Counselor's salary.
Interviewing: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Care Management: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Psychiatric: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill
Salary
Salary % Increase
Interviewing
$69,097
5%
Care Management
$69,097
5%
Psychiatric
$68,439
4%
Integrity
$68,439
4%
Written Communication
$67,781
3%
Coaching
$67,781
3%
Get Latest Data
Chemical Dependency Counselor Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise
Chemical Dependency Counselor salary potential scales significantly with company size.
Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $69,892.
While startup companies pay approximate $59,529.
Chemical Dependency Counselor Salary by Company Size
Company Size
Employees
Average Salary
Startup
1~50
$59,529
Growth Stage
51~500
$62,847
Established
501~5000
$67,610
Enterprise
5000+
$69,892
Chemical Dependency Counselor Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Chemical Dependency Counselor roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential
by as much as 13% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries).
Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare,
offers compensation 5% above the average. Conversely,
Chemical Dependency Counselor positions in Edu., Government & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay,
as this sector often view Chemical Dependency Counselor as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industry for a Chemical Dependency Counselor
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare
$69,097
$33.0
5%
How Education impacts a Chemical Dependency Counselor's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many Chemical Dependency Counselors enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree,
higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.
According to our 100% employer-reported salary data,
the median salary for a Chemical Dependency Counselor with a Bachelor's Degree is between
$55,409
and $59,395).
Chemical Dependency Counselor Salaries by Degree Level
Typical Education for Chemical Dependency Counselor
No Diploma0.3%
High School11.1%
Associates15.4%
Bachelors30.7%
Masters41.2%
Doctorate1.2%
view as table
Degree Level
% of user with this level of education
No Diploma
0.3%
High School
11.1%
Associates
15.4%
Bachelors
30.7%
Masters
41.2%
Doctorate
1.2%
view as graph
Chemical Dependency Counselor Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Chemical Dependency Counselor's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting.
Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role.
Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
Hourly
Monthly
Weekly
Yearly
Table View
Last Updated on July 01, 2026
$60,565
Average$65,807/year
$74,009
$5,047
Average$5,484/month
$6,167
$1,165
Average$1,266/week
$1,423
$29
Average$32/hour
$36
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$74,009
$6,167
$1,423
$36
Average
$65,807
$5,484
$1,266
$32
25th Percentile
$60,565
$5,047
$1,165
$29
Chemical Dependency Counselor Salary Growth & Career Path
For a Chemical Dependency Counselor, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Psychologist - M.A. role.
This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to
$95,221 - a projected growth of
45%
over your current level.
Salaries of jobs related to Chemical Dependency Counselor
Salaries for a Chemical Dependency Counselor can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $85,734 in 2023
to around $84,503 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Chemical Dependency Counselor salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Chemical Dependency Counselor Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$85,734
2024
$85,399
2025
$84,503
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$85,734
2024
$85,399
2025
$84,503
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Chemical Dependency Counselor
Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Chemical Dependency Counselor
Here are companies hiring for Chemical Dependency Counselor and their salaries, click below for more details.
N
$97,099/per year
New York Police Department
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$95,962/per year
State of New York - Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$94,615/per year
US Department of Transportation
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$93,141/per year
US General Services Administration
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
L
$92,342/per year
Los Angeles County
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
D
$92,011/per year
Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Prisons
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$91,967/per year
US Department of Commerce
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$91,755/per year
US Department of Energy
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
F
$91,673/per year
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
N
$90,276/per year
Naval Sea Systems Command
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
T
$88,975/per year
The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$88,721/per year
San Diego County
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
T
$88,664/per year
The TTB
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
L
$87,569/per year
Lutheran Services
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
M
$85,066/per year
Maryland Inc
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$83,780/per year
State University of New York
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
N
$82,969/per year
New York State
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
P
$82,703/per year
Puerto Rico Department of Education
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$80,526/per year
US Central Command
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
H
$80,286/per year
Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
A
$79,270/per year
Air Force Reserve
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
A
$78,505/per year
American Automobile Association (AAA)
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$76,678/per year
State of Florida - Department of Health
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
N
$75,183/per year
New York State Department
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$75,106/per year
State University System of Florida
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
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FAQ about Chemical Dependency Counselor
1. Where can a Chemical Dependency Counselor earn the most?
A Chemical Dependency Counselor's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer.
According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Chemical Dependency Counselor earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Chemical Dependency Counselor is $83,002.
2. What is the highest pay for Chemical Dependency Counselor?
The highest pay for Chemical Dependency Counselor is $81,476.
3. What is the lowest pay for Chemical Dependency Counselor?
The lowest pay for Chemical Dependency Counselor is $55,792.
4. What are the responsibilities of Chemical Dependency Counselor?
Runs individual, family, and group counseling for patients in chemical dependency programs. Acts as mediator between patients, relatives, medical staff, and outside agencies if needed. Tracks patient progress and dispensation of treatment services. Typically requires a bachelor's degree or equivalent; meets the standards for Chemical Dependency Counselor Certification Board, or other appropriate certification. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager. Years of experience may be unspecified. Certification and/or licensing in the position's specialty is the main requirement.
5. What industry pays the highest salary for Chemical Dependency Counselor?
The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Chemical Dependency Counselor roles,
with salaries approximately 5% above the market median.
Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?
Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.
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