Substance Abuse Program Director Salary in the United States

How much does a Substance Abuse Program Director make in the United States?

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for a Substance Abuse Program Director in the United States is $146,735 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $71.

However, a Substance Abuse Program Director's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $185,974
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $128,642 to $167,274
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $112,169
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View as table View as graph 25% $128,642 10% $112,169 90% $185,974 75% $167,274 $146,735 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Substance Abuse Program Director Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $167,274 $13,940 $3,217 $80
Average $146,735 $12,228 $2,822 $71
25th Percentile $128,642 $10,720 $2,474 $62
Check out Substance Abuse Program Director Job Openings in the United States
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Key Factors That Influence Substance Abuse Program Director Salaries

A Substance Abuse Program Director'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.

Top Paying Cities for Substance Abuse Program Directors

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: $185,077
  • San Francisco: $183,257
  • Oakland: $179,193

What Skills Can Increase a Substance Abuse Program Director's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Scheduling (Mentioned in 14.29% Job Postings): Scheduling is the process of arranging, controlling and optimizing work and workloads in a production process or manufacturing process.
  • Clinical Operations (Mentioned in 14.29% Job Postings): Clinical Operations refer to the activities that support the clinical trial process from start-up to close out. Ensures there is proper planning, appropriate conduct through the process, safety of patients and use of quality data.
  • Group Counseling (Mentioned in 14.29% Job Postings): A form of psychotherapy that involves four to ten clients and two experienced group therapists. They meet every week for ninety minutes. During that time, they discuss the issues that are concerning them and offer each other support and feedback.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Scheduling 14.29%
Clinical Operations 14.29%
Group Counseling 14.29%
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 Substance Abuse Program Director's salary.
  • Group Counseling: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Clinical Operations: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Quality Assurance: Can increase your salary by up to 2%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Group Counseling
 $159,941
9%
Clinical Operations
 $154,072
5%
Quality Assurance
 $149,670
2%
Scheduling
 $149,670
2%
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How Education impacts a Substance Abuse Program Director's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Substance Abuse Program Directors enter the field with a Associate'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 Substance Abuse Program Director with a Associate's Degree is between $127,195 and $141,769).

Substance Abuse Program Director Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Substance Abuse Program Director
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 20.0%
High School 20.0%
Associates 20.0%
Bachelors 20.0%
Masters 33.3%
Doctorate 6.7%
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Substance Abuse Program Director Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Substance Abuse Program Director'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 April 01, 2026
$128,642
Average $146,735/year
$167,274
$10,720
Average $12,228/month
$13,940
$2,474
Average $2,822/week
$3,217
$62
Average $71/hour
$80
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $167,274 $13,940 $3,217 $80
Average $146,735 $12,228 $2,822 $71
25th Percentile $128,642 $10,720 $2,474 $62

Salaries of jobs related to Substance Abuse Program Director

Salary Trends for Substance Abuse Program Director

Salaries for a Substance Abuse Program Director can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $98,472 in 2023 to around $98,195 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Substance Abuse Program Director salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Substance Abuse Program Director Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$98,472
2024
$98,651
2025
$98,195
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $98,472
2024 $98,651
2025 $98,195
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Substance Abuse Program Director

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

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