Substance Abuse Program Director Salary in the United States

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

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Substance Abuse Program Director in the United States is $146,844 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): $186,115
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $128,742 to $167,400
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $112,261
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
AI-Powered Talent
AI Onboarding
Salary Salary + Bonus Benefits
Paid Annually Paid Monthly Paid Semimonthly Paid Biweekly Paid Weekly Paid Hourly
View as table View as graph 25% $128,742 10% $112,261 90% $186,115 75% $167,400 $146,844 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 $167,400 $13,950 $3,219 $80
Average $146,844 $12,237 $2,824 $71
25th Percentile $128,742 $10,729 $2,476 $62
Check out Substance Abuse Program Director Job Openings in the United States
Director of Health Services

Sapphire at The Amber Assisted Living - CLATSKANIE, OR

Director of Nursing Services

Baptist Homes of Shelbina - SHELBINA, MO

Director of Nursing

Estates at Excelsior - EXCELSIOR, MN

Director of Emergency Care

Amberwell Health Hiawatha - HIAWATHA, KS

Search More Substance Abuse Program Director Jobs in the United States
Select State
Select City
Choose Similar Job
Choose Category
Cost of Living
Average Salary for United States
See it in Action

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: $185,214
  • San Francisco: $183,186
  • Oakland: $179,326

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
 $160,060
9%
Clinical Operations
 $154,186
5%
Quality Assurance
 $149,781
2%
Scheduling
 $149,781
2%
Get Latest Data

Substance Abuse Program Director Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Substance Abuse Program Director roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 20% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare, offers compensation 10% above the average. Conversely, Substance Abuse Program Director positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Substance Abuse Program Director as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Substance Abuse Program Director

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$161,528$78.010%

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%
view as graph

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 July 01, 2026
$128,742
Average $146,844/year
$167,400
$10,729
Average $12,237/month
$13,950
$2,476
Average $2,824/week
$3,219
$62
Average $71/hour
$80
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $167,400 $13,950 $3,219 $80
Average $146,844 $12,237 $2,824 $71
25th Percentile $128,742 $10,729 $2,476 $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)
For Employers

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.

Compensation Planning

Common company salaries for Substance Abuse Program Director

Here are companies hiring for Substance Abuse Program Director and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Substance Abuse Program Director Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Substance Abuse Program Director job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Price My Industry Jobs

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

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.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst