Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor Salary in the United States

How much does a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor make in the United States?

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor in the United States is $64,908 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $31.

However, a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $78,670
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $59,261 to $72,111
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $54,120

Key Factors That Influence Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor Salaries

A Licensed 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 Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Licensed 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): $64,358
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $64,515
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $66,699
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $70,143
  • Expert (over 8 years): $70,389
Levels Salary
Entry Level Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor$64,358
Intermediate Level Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor$64,515
Senior Level Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor$66,699
Specialist Level Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor$70,143
Expert Level Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor$70,389

Top Paying Cities for Licensed 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: $81,868
  • San Francisco: $80,971
  • Oakland: $79,265

What Skills Can Increase a Licensed 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.
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 Licensed 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 $68,153
5%
Care Management $68,153
5%
Psychiatric $67,504
4%

Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Licensed 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, Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor positions in Edu., Government & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$68,153$33.05%

How Education impacts a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Licensed 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 Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor with a Bachelor's Degree is between $55,409 and $59,395).

Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor
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%

Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Licensed 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.

Last Updated on October 01, 2026
$59,261
Average $64,908/year
$72,111
$4,938
Average $5,409/month
$6,009
$1,140
Average $1,248/week
$1,387
$28
Average $31/hour
$35
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $72,111 $6,009 $1,387 $35
Average $64,908 $5,409 $1,248 $31
25th Percentile $59,261 $4,938 $1,140 $28

Most common benefits for Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor

Here are companies hiring for Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Licensed 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.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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