Benchmark Salary Information

  • The number of Substance Abuse Counselors currently employed in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario is 3,220.
  • Substance Abuse Counselors in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario earn an average of $58,870 per year or $28.31 per hour.
  • The percentage of California Substance Abuse Counselors who work in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario is 9%.
  • The percentage of U.S. Substance Abuse Counselors who work in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario is 1%.

Rankings for Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario

  • Ranks #10 in California for salary and #15 when adjusted for cost-of-living.
  • Ranks #3 in California for the number of psychologists employed.
  • Ranks #53 in the nation for salary and #42 when adjusted for cost-of-living.
  • Ranks #19 in the nation for the number of psychologists employed.

Compared to California

Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $58,870 or $28.31 per hour which is 1% less than the California average salary of $59,790.

AverageRiverside-San Bernardino-OntarioCalifornia% Difference
Hourly Wage$28.31$28.74-1.50%
Annual Salary$58,870$59,790-1.54%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Compared to the U.S.

Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $58,870 or $28.31 per hour which is 10% more than the U.S. average salary of $53,490.

AverageRiverside-San Bernardino-OntarioU.S.%
Hourly Wage$28.31$25.7210.07%
Annual Salary$58,870$53,49010.06%
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 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario earns an average annual salary of $56,764 which compares to the California average annual salary of $59,790. per year.

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

  • California average salary is $59,790.
  • California cost-of-living adjusted salary is $54,167.
  • Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario average salary is $58,870.
  • Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario cost-of-living adjusted salary is $56,764.
LocationAverage Annual WageCost of LivingAdjusted COL Wage
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario$58,870103.71%$56,764
California$59,790110.38%$54,167
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 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, 50% of Substance Abuse Counselors earn between $40,690 and $63,260 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 $97,550, which is a rate for highly skilled, experienced and educated Substance Abuse Counselors.

Approximately 10% of Substance Abuse Counselors earn under $35,360, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Substance Abuse Counselors.

PercentExperienceEmployedAnnual Salary
10%Less than a Year322Under $35,360
15%2 – 4 years483$35,360 – $40,690
25%5 – 9 years805$40,690 – $49,370
25%10 – 14 years805$49,370 – $63,260
15%15 – 20 years483$49,370 – $97,550
10%20+ years322Above $97,550
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 $58,870, Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario Substance Abuse Counselors tend to earn less than Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($116,500), Psychology Teachers ($112,060), Forensic Psychologists ($104,710), School Psychologists ($103,230), and Health Care Social Workers ($75,270).

However, Substance Abuse Counselors tend to earn more than Social Workers ($57,920), and Marriage and Family Therapists ($58,450).

TitleAnnual Salary
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists$116,500
Psychology Teachers$112,060
Forensic Psychologists$104,710
School Psychologists$103,230
Health Care Social Workers$75,270
Substance Abuse Counselors$58,870
Marriage and Family Therapists$58,450
Social Workers$57,920
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

FAQ for Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario Substance Abuse Counselors

The number of Substance Abuse Counselors currently employed in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario is 3,220.

Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $58,870 per year or $28.31 per hour in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario.

When adjusted for Cost of Living in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $56,764 per year or $27 per hour.

The types of psychologists that are paid the highest annual salary in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario are Clinical and Counseling Psychologists($116,500), Psychology Teachers($112,060), Forensic Psychologists($104,710).


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