Benchmark Salary Information

  • The number of Substance Abuse Counselors currently employed in Fort Smith is 220.
  • Substance Abuse Counselors in Fort Smith earn an average of $51,410 per year or $24.72 per hour.
  • The percentage of Arkansas Substance Abuse Counselors who work in Fort Smith is 10%.
  • The percentage of U.S. Substance Abuse Counselors who work in Fort Smith is less than 1%.

Rankings for Fort Smith

  • Ranks #2 in Arkansas for salary and #3 when adjusted for cost-of-living.
  • Ranks #3 in Arkansas for the number of psychologists employed.
  • Ranks #208 in the nation for salary and #372 when adjusted for cost-of-living.
  • Ranks #265 in the nation for the number of psychologists employed.

Compared to Arkansas

Fort Smith Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $51,410 or $24.72 per hour which is 6% more than the Arkansas average salary of $48,320.

AverageFort SmithArkansas% Difference
Hourly Wage$24.72$23.236.41%
Annual Salary$51,410$48,3206.39%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Compared to the U.S.

Fort Smith Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $51,410 or $24.72 per hour which is 3% less than the U.S. average salary of $53,490.

AverageFort SmithU.S.%
Hourly Wage$24.72$25.72-3.89%
Annual Salary$51,410$53,490-3.89%
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 Fort Smith earns an average annual salary of $57,583 which compares to the Arkansas average annual salary of $48,320. per year.

Cost-of-living in Fort Smith is 11% less than the Arkansas average, which means Fort Smith residents have an overall less cost for food, housing, utilities and transportation compared to Arkansas average.

  • Arkansas average salary is $48,320.
  • Arkansas cost-of-living adjusted salary is $54,183.
  • Fort Smith average salary is $51,410.
  • Fort Smith cost-of-living adjusted salary is $57,583.
LocationAverage Annual WageCost of LivingAdjusted COL Wage
Fort Smith$51,41089.28%$57,583
Arkansas$48,32089.18%$54,183
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 Fort Smith, 50% of Substance Abuse Counselors earn between $29,300 and $59,570 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 $95,000, which is a rate for highly skilled, experienced and educated Substance Abuse Counselors.

Approximately 10% of Substance Abuse Counselors earn under $23,600, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Substance Abuse Counselors.

PercentExperienceEmployedAnnual Salary
10%Less than a Year22Under $23,600
15%2 – 4 years33$23,600 – $29,300
25%5 – 9 years55$29,300 – $46,640
25%10 – 14 years55$46,640 – $59,570
15%15 – 20 years33$46,640 – $95,000
10%20+ years22Above $95,000
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Salary Compared to Related Professions

Substance Abuse Counselors tend to earn more than Social Workers ($41,860), and Health Care Social Workers ($51,010).

TitleAnnual Salary
Substance Abuse Counselors$51,410
Health Care Social Workers$51,010
Social Workers$41,860
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

FAQ for Fort Smith Substance Abuse Counselors

The number of Substance Abuse Counselors currently employed in Fort Smith is 220.

Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $51,410 per year or $24.72 per hour in Fort Smith.

When adjusted for Cost of Living in Fort Smith Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $57,583 per year or $28 per hour.

The types of psychologists that are paid the highest annual salary in Fort Smith are Substance Abuse Counselors($51,410), Health Care Social Workers($51,010), Social Workers($41,860).


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

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