Benchmark Salary Information
Rankings for Merced
Compared to California
Merced Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $55,280 or $26.58 per hour which is 7% less than the California average salary of $59,790.
| Average | Merced | California | % Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly Wage | $26.58 | $28.74 | -7.52% |
| Annual Salary | $55,280 | $59,790 | -7.54% |
Compared to the U.S.
Merced Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $55,280 or $26.58 per hour which is 3% more than the U.S. average salary of $53,490.
| Average | Merced | U.S. | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly Wage | $26.58 | $25.72 | 3.34% |
| Annual Salary | $55,280 | $53,490 | 3.35% |
Salary Adjusted for Cost-of-Living
When adjusted for cost-of-living, Substance Abuse Counselors in Merced earns an average annual salary of $55,748 which compares to the California average annual salary of $59,790. per year.
Cost-of-living in Merced is 1% less than the California average, which means Merced residents have an overall less cost for food, housing, utilities and transportation compared to California average.
| Location | Average Annual Wage | Cost of Living | Adjusted COL Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merced | $55,280 | 99.16% | $55,748 |
| California | $59,790 | 110.38% | $54,167 |
| U.S. | $53,490 | – | $53,490 |
Salary Ranges for Education and Experience
In Merced, 50% of Substance Abuse Counselors earn between $38,670 and $62,670 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 $76,010, which is a rate for highly skilled, experienced and educated Substance Abuse Counselors.
Approximately 10% of Substance Abuse Counselors earn under $35,010, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Substance Abuse Counselors.
| Percent | Experience | Employed | Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | Less than a Year | 22 | Under $35,010 |
| 15% | 2 – 4 years | 33 | $35,010 – $38,670 |
| 25% | 5 – 9 years | 55 | $38,670 – $47,310 |
| 25% | 10 – 14 years | 55 | $47,310 – $62,670 |
| 15% | 15 – 20 years | 33 | $47,310 – $76,010 |
| 10% | 20+ years | 22 | Above $76,010 |
Salary Compared to Related Professions
With an average annual salary of $55,280, Merced Substance Abuse Counselors tend to earn less than School Psychologists ($112,890), and Health Care Social Workers ($74,390).
However, Substance Abuse Counselors tend to earn more than Social Workers ($49,540).
| Title | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| School Psychologists | $112,890 |
| Health Care Social Workers | $74,390 |
| Substance Abuse Counselors | $55,280 |
| Social Workers | $49,540 |
FAQ for Merced Substance Abuse Counselors
Additional Salary Reports for Substance Abuse Counselors in California cities and Metros and U.S. States.
Official Data Sources for Substance Abuse Counselors: Salary Data | Projected Employment | Cost of Living Data