Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors

Salaries of alcohol and drug abuse counselors depend on their education level, amount of experience, and place of employment. Generally, the more education and experience a counselor has, the higher his or her earnings will be. Alcohol and drug abuse counselors earned a median annual salary of $53,710 in May 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $36,700. The highest 10 percent earned $89,920 or more. For counselors working in one of the top-paying fields of business, professional, labor, political, and similar organizations, mean annual wages were much higher ($94,050). Directors of treatment programs or centers could earn considerably more that the national median salary. Almost all treatment centers provide employee benefits to their full-time counselors. Benefits usually include paid vacations and sick days, insurance, and pension plans.