Benchmark Salary Information

  • The number of Substance Abuse Counselors currently employed in Des Moines-West Des Moines is 640.
  • Substance Abuse Counselors in Des Moines-West Des Moines earn an average of $58,100 per year or $27.94 per hour.
  • The percentage of Iowa Substance Abuse Counselors who work in Des Moines-West Des Moines is 22%.
  • The percentage of U.S. Substance Abuse Counselors who work in Des Moines-West Des Moines is less than 1%.

Rankings for Des Moines-West Des Moines

  • Ranks #1 in Iowa for salary and #2 when adjusted for cost-of-living.
  • Ranks #1 in Iowa for the number of psychologists employed.
  • Ranks #66 in the nation for salary and #175 when adjusted for cost-of-living.
  • Ranks #87 in the nation for the number of psychologists employed.

Compared to Iowa

Des Moines-West Des Moines Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $58,100 or $27.94 per hour which is 12% more than the Iowa average salary of $51,570.

AverageDes Moines-West Des MoinesIowa% Difference
Hourly Wage$27.94$24.8012.66%
Annual Salary$58,100$51,57012.66%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Compared to the U.S.

Des Moines-West Des Moines Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $58,100 or $27.94 per hour which is 8% more than the U.S. average salary of $53,490.

AverageDes Moines-West Des MoinesU.S.%
Hourly Wage$27.94$25.728.63%
Annual Salary$58,100$53,4908.62%
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 Des Moines-West Des Moines earns an average annual salary of $61,248 which compares to the Iowa average annual salary of $51,570. per year.

Cost-of-living in Des Moines-West Des Moines is 5% less than the Iowa average, which means Des Moines-West Des Moines residents have an overall less cost for food, housing, utilities and transportation compared to Iowa average.

  • Iowa average salary is $51,570.
  • Iowa cost-of-living adjusted salary is $56,639.
  • Des Moines-West Des Moines average salary is $58,100.
  • Des Moines-West Des Moines cost-of-living adjusted salary is $61,248.
LocationAverage Annual WageCost of LivingAdjusted COL Wage
Des Moines-West Des Moines$58,10094.86%$61,248
Iowa$51,57091.05%$56,639
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 Des Moines-West Des Moines, 50% of Substance Abuse Counselors earn between $38,580 and $63,920 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 $97,740, which is a rate for highly skilled, experienced and educated Substance Abuse Counselors.

Approximately 10% of Substance Abuse Counselors earn under $36,650, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Substance Abuse Counselors.

PercentExperienceEmployedAnnual Salary
10%Less than a Year64Under $36,650
15%2 – 4 years96$36,650 – $38,580
25%5 – 9 years160$38,580 – $49,050
25%10 – 14 years160$49,050 – $63,920
15%15 – 20 years96$49,050 – $97,740
10%20+ years64Above $97,740
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 $58,100, Des Moines-West Des Moines Substance Abuse Counselors tend to earn less than Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($117,040), Psychology Teachers ($78,290), School Psychologists ($67,080), and Health Care Social Workers ($59,820).

However, Substance Abuse Counselors tend to earn more than Social Workers ($52,570), and Marriage and Family Therapists ($52,880).

TitleAnnual Salary
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists$117,040
Psychology Teachers$78,290
School Psychologists$67,080
Health Care Social Workers$59,820
Substance Abuse Counselors$58,100
Marriage and Family Therapists$52,880
Social Workers$52,570
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

FAQ for Des Moines-West Des Moines Substance Abuse Counselors

The number of Substance Abuse Counselors currently employed in Des Moines-West Des Moines is 640.

Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $58,100 per year or $27.94 per hour in Des Moines-West Des Moines.

When adjusted for Cost of Living in Des Moines-West Des Moines Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $61,248 per year or $29 per hour.

The types of psychologists that are paid the highest annual salary in Des Moines-West Des Moines are Clinical and Counseling Psychologists($117,040), Psychology Teachers($78,290), School Psychologists($67,080).


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

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