Benchmark Salary Information

  • The number of Substance Abuse Counselors currently employed in Fairbanks is 140.
  • Substance Abuse Counselors in Fairbanks earn an average of $57,840 per year or $27.81 per hour.
  • The percentage of Alaska Substance Abuse Counselors who work in Fairbanks is less than 1%.
  • The percentage of U.S. Substance Abuse Counselors who work in Fairbanks is less than 1%.

Rankings for Fairbanks

  • Ranks #3 in Alaska for salary and #2 when adjusted for cost-of-living.
  • Ranks #3 in Alaska for the number of psychologists employed.
  • Ranks #72 in the nation for salary and #39 when adjusted for cost-of-living.
  • Ranks #363 in the nation for the number of psychologists employed.

Compared to Alaska

Fairbanks Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $57,840 or $27.81 per hour which is 11% less than the Alaska average salary of $65,090.

AverageFairbanksAlaska% Difference
Hourly Wage$27.81$31.29-11.12%
Annual Salary$57,840$65,090-11.14%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Compared to the U.S.

Fairbanks Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $57,840 or $27.81 per hour which is 8% more than the U.S. average salary of $53,490.

AverageFairbanksU.S.%
Hourly Wage$27.81$25.728.13%
Annual Salary$57,840$53,4908.13%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Salary Adjusted for Cost-of-Living

When adjusted for cost-of-living, Substance Abuse Counselors in Fairbanks earns an average annual salary of $55,712 which compares to the Alaska average annual salary of $65,090. per year.

Cost-of-living in Fairbanks is 4% higher than the Alaska average, which means Fairbanks residents have an overall higher cost for food, housing, utilities and transportation compared to Alaska average.

  • Alaska average salary is $65,090.
  • Alaska cost-of-living adjusted salary is $63,047.
  • Fairbanks average salary is $57,840.
  • Fairbanks cost-of-living adjusted salary is $55,712.
LocationAverage Annual WageCost of LivingAdjusted COL Wage
Fairbanks$57,840103.82%$55,712
Alaska$65,090103.24%$63,047
U.S.$53,490$53,490
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Salary Ranges for Education and Experience

In Fairbanks, 50% of Substance Abuse Counselors earn between $38,520 and $63,450 a year, depending on factors such as level of education, experience, location and place of employment.

About 10% of Substance Abuse Counselors earn more than $85,790, which is a rate for highly skilled, experienced and educated Substance Abuse Counselors.

Approximately 10% of Substance Abuse Counselors earn under $37,400, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Substance Abuse Counselors.

PercentExperienceEmployedAnnual Salary
10%Less than a Year14Under $37,400
15%2 – 4 years21$37,400 – $38,520
25%5 – 9 years35$38,520 – $50,310
25%10 – 14 years35$50,310 – $63,450
15%15 – 20 years21$50,310 – $85,790
10%20+ years14Above $85,790
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Salary Compared to Related Professions

With an average annual salary of $57,840, Fairbanks Substance Abuse Counselors tend to earn less than Social Workers ($60,970).

TitleAnnual Salary
Social Workers$60,970
Substance Abuse Counselors$57,840
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

FAQ for Fairbanks Substance Abuse Counselors

The number of Substance Abuse Counselors currently employed in Fairbanks is 140.

Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $57,840 per year or $27.81 per hour in Fairbanks.

When adjusted for Cost of Living in Fairbanks Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $55,712 per year or $27 per hour.

The types of psychologists that are paid the highest annual salary in Fairbanks are Social Workers($60,970), Substance Abuse Counselors($57,840),


Additional Salary Reports for Substance Abuse Counselors in Alaska cities and Metros and U.S. States.

Official Data Sources for Substance Abuse Counselors: Salary Data | Projected Employment | Cost of Living Data