2023 Salary Report for Substance Abuse Counselors in District of Columbia

Salary Report for District of Columbia Substance Abuse Counselors

District of Columbia Rankings

Compare District of Columbia to U.S.

District of Columbia Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $64,920 which is 21% more than the national average salary of $53,490.

Type	District of Columbia	U.S.	% Difference
Average Hourly Wage	$31.21	$25.72	21.35%
Average Annual Salary	$64,920	$53,490	21.37%

Salary Range by Education and Experience

In District of Columbia, 50% of Substance Abuse Counselors earn between $48,090 and $77,020 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 $96,870, a rate generally associated with highly educated and experienced Substance Abuse Counselors.

Approximately 10% of Substance Abuse Counselors earn under $31,370, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Substance Abuse Counselors.

Percent	Experience	Employed	Annual Salary
10%	Less than a Year	82	Under $31,370
15%	2 – 4 years	123	$31,370 – $48,090
25%	5 – 9 years	205	$48,090 – $60,600
25%	10 – 14 years	205	$60,600 – $77,020
15%	15 – 20 years	123	$60,600 – $96,870
10%	20+ years	82	Above $96,870

Adjusted for Cost-of-Living

After being adjusted for cost-of-living, Substance Abuse Counselors in District of Columbia psychologists earn about $58,245 per year which is more than the average U.S. psychologist of $53,490.

Cost-of-living in District of Columbia is 11% higher than the national average, which means District of Columbia residents have an overall higher cost for food, housing, utilities and transportation compared to other states.

More cost-of-living reports for U.S. States.

Salary Compared to Related Professions

With an average annual salary of $64,920, District of Columbia Substance Abuse Counselors tend to earn less than Psychology Teachers ($105,510), Forensic Psychologists ($104,440), Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($99,890), School Psychologists ($96,120), Health Care Social Workers ($87,000), and Social Workers ($70,340).

Title	Annual Salary
Psychology Teachers	$105,510
Forensic Psychologists	$104,440
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists	$99,890
School Psychologists	$96,120
Health Care Social Workers	$87,000
Social Workers	$70,340
Substance Abuse Counselors	$64,920

Projected Demand for Psychologists in 2030

The U.S. Department of Labor projects that in District of Columbia the three professions needing the most new psychologists by 2030 are Social Workers (2,450), Substance Abuse Counselors (1,270) and Forensic Psychologists (670).

The three professions in District of Columbia needing highest percentage new psychologists by 2030 are Substance Abuse Counselors (21%), Social Workers (13.4%) and Psychology Teachers (11.8%).

Title	2020	2030	Change	Yearly Openings
Social Workers	2,160	2,450	13.4%	240
Substance Abuse Counselors	1,050	1,270	21%	130
Forensic Psychologists	650	670	3.1%	50
Health Care Social Workers	400	430	7.5%	40
Psychology Teachers	170	190	11.8%	20

Salaries Ranked by District of Columbia Cities

The average salary for Substance Abuse Counselors in District of Columbia is $64,920. The top cities that pay Substance Abuse Counselors the most is Washington-Arlington-Alexandria ($62,510).

When adjusted for cost-of-living, the cities that pay Substance Abuse Counselors the highest average annual salary is Washington-Arlington-Alexandria ($56,048).

The following table shows the average yearly salary range for Substance Abuse Counselors in each city, and the average yearly salary after being adjusted for cost-of-living in that state.

The difference column shows how much more or less purchasing power a Substance Abuse Counselors salary will have in that area.

Area	Average Salary	COL Adjusted	Difference
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria	$62,510	$56,048	$-6,462

Salary FAQ for District of Columbia Substance Abuse Counselors

City and Rural Summaries

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