2023 Salary Report for Substance Abuse Counselors in Louisiana

Salary Report for Louisiana Substance Abuse Counselors

Louisiana Rankings

Compare Louisiana to U.S.

Louisiana Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $39,970 which is 25% less than the national average salary of $53,490.

Type	Louisiana	U.S.	% Difference
Average Hourly Wage	$19.21	$25.72	-25.31%
Average Annual Salary	$39,970	$53,490	-25.28%

Salary Range by Education and Experience

In Louisiana, 50% of Substance Abuse Counselors earn between $30,440 and $47,040 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 $59,460, a rate generally associated with highly educated and experienced Substance Abuse Counselors.

Approximately 10% of Substance Abuse Counselors earn under $25,290, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Substance Abuse Counselors.

Percent	Experience	Employed	Annual Salary
10%	Less than a Year	386	Under $25,290
15%	2 – 4 years	579	$25,290 – $30,440
25%	5 – 9 years	965	$30,440 – $37,510
25%	10 – 14 years	965	$37,510 – $47,040
15%	15 – 20 years	579	$37,510 – $59,460
10%	20+ years	386	Above $59,460

Adjusted for Cost-of-Living

After being adjusted for cost-of-living, Substance Abuse Counselors in Louisiana psychologists earn about $43,108 per year which is less than the average U.S. psychologist of $53,490.

Cost-of-living in Louisiana is 7% less than the national average, which means Louisiana residents have an overall less 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 $39,970, Louisiana Substance Abuse Counselors tend to earn less than Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($101,420), Forensic Psychologists ($97,890), Psychology Teachers ($74,980), Health Care Social Workers ($55,060), and Social Workers ($45,010).

However, Substance Abuse Counselors tend to earn more than Marriage and Family Therapists ($38,060).

Title	Annual Salary
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists	$101,420
Forensic Psychologists	$97,890
Psychology Teachers	$74,980
Health Care Social Workers	$55,060
Social Workers	$45,010
Substance Abuse Counselors	$39,970
Marriage and Family Therapists	$38,060

Projected Demand for Psychologists in 2030

The U.S. Department of Labor projects that in Louisiana the three professions needing the most new psychologists by 2030 are Substance Abuse Counselors (4,540), Health Care Social Workers (1,850) and Forensic Psychologists (650).

The three professions in Louisiana needing highest percentage new psychologists by 2030 are Marriage and Family Therapists (12.5%), Substance Abuse Counselors (11.3%) and Psychology Teachers (6.3%).

Title	2020	2030	Change	Yearly Openings
Substance Abuse Counselors	4,080	4,540	11.3%	440
Health Care Social Workers	1,800	1,850	2.8%	170
Forensic Psychologists	680	650	-4.4%	40
Social Workers	430	450	4.7%	40
Psychology Teachers	160	170	6.3%	20
Marriage and Family Therapists	80	90	12.5%	10

Salaries Ranked by Louisiana Cities

The average salary for Substance Abuse Counselors in Louisiana is $39,970. The top cities that pay Substance Abuse Counselors the most are Houma-Thibodaux ($42,740), Baton Rouge ($42,260) and New Orleans-Metairie ($42,250).

When adjusted for cost-of-living, the cities that pay Substance Abuse Counselors the highest average annual salary are Houma-Thibodaux ($46,512), Monroe ($46,150) and Shreveport-Bossier City ($45,636).

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
Houma-Thibodaux	$42,740	$46,512	$3,772
Baton Rouge	$42,260	$44,639	$2,379
New Orleans-Metairie	$42,250	$43,620	$1,370
Shreveport-Bossier City	$41,620	$45,636	$4,016
Monroe	$40,520	$46,150	$5,630
Alexandria	$39,960	$43,534	$3,574
Lake Charles	$39,590	$43,391	$3,801
Lafayette	$38,670	$42,225	$3,555
Hammond	$38,220	$42,116	$3,896
Northeast Louisiana Nonmetropolitan Area	$35,010	$40,790	$5,780
Southwest Louisiana Nonmetropolitan Area	$31,850	$37,108	$5,258
Central Louisiana Nonmetropolitan Area	$31,560	$36,770	$5,210

Salary FAQ for Louisiana Substance Abuse Counselors

City and Rural Summaries

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