2023 Salary Report for Substance Abuse Counselors in Montana

Salary Report for Montana Substance Abuse Counselors

Montana Rankings

Compare Montana to U.S.

Montana Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $45,490 which is 14% less than the national average salary of $53,490.

Type	Montana	U.S.	% Difference
Average Hourly Wage	$21.87	$25.72	-14.97%
Average Annual Salary	$45,490	$53,490	-14.96%

Salary Range by Education and Experience

In Montana, 50% of Substance Abuse Counselors earn between $30,640 and $59,410 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 $63,800, a rate generally associated with highly educated and experienced Substance Abuse Counselors.

Approximately 10% of Substance Abuse Counselors earn under $24,510, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Substance Abuse Counselors.

Percent	Experience	Employed	Annual Salary
10%	Less than a Year	177	Under $24,510
15%	2 – 4 years	266	$24,510 – $30,640
25%	5 – 9 years	442	$30,640 – $46,790
25%	10 – 14 years	442	$46,790 – $59,410
15%	15 – 20 years	266	$46,790 – $63,800
10%	20+ years	177	Above $63,800

Adjusted for Cost-of-Living

After being adjusted for cost-of-living, Substance Abuse Counselors in Montana psychologists earn about $49,210 per year which is less than the average U.S. psychologist of $53,490.

Cost-of-living in Montana is 8% less than the national average, which means Montana 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 $45,490, Montana Substance Abuse Counselors tend to earn less than Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($87,310), Psychology Teachers ($80,980), School Psychologists ($64,840), and Health Care Social Workers ($55,830).

However, Substance Abuse Counselors tend to earn more than Social Workers ($41,980).

Title	Annual Salary
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists	$87,310
Psychology Teachers	$80,980
School Psychologists	$64,840
Health Care Social Workers	$55,830
Substance Abuse Counselors	$45,490
Social Workers	$41,980

Projected Demand for Psychologists in 2030

The U.S. Department of Labor projects that in Montana the three professions needing the most new psychologists by 2030 are Substance Abuse Counselors (2,350), Social Workers (1,200) and Health Care Social Workers (670).

The three professions in Montana needing highest percentage new psychologists by 2030 are Substance Abuse Counselors (25.7%), Social Workers (16.5%) and Health Care Social Workers (15.5%).

Title	2020	2030	Change	Yearly Openings
Substance Abuse Counselors	1,870	2,350	25.7%	240
Social Workers	1,030	1,200	16.5%	120
Health Care Social Workers	580	670	15.5%	70
Forensic Psychologists	120	110	-8.3%	10
Psychology Teachers	90	100	11.1%	10

Salaries Ranked by Montana Cities

The average salary for Substance Abuse Counselors in Montana is $45,490. The top cities that pay Substance Abuse Counselors the most are East-Central Montana Nonmetropolitan Area ($48,670), Billings ($47,100) and West Montana Nonmetropolitan Area ($46,870).

When adjusted for cost-of-living, the cities that pay Substance Abuse Counselors the highest average annual salary are East-Central Montana Nonmetropolitan Area ($52,611), West Montana Nonmetropolitan Area ($50,665) and Billings ($50,251).

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
East-Central Montana Nonmetropolitan Area	$48,670	$52,611	$3,941
Billings	$47,100	$50,251	$3,151
West Montana Nonmetropolitan Area	$46,870	$50,665	$3,795
Southwest Montana Nonmetropolitan Area	$44,280	$47,865	$3,585
Missoula	$44,100	$47,125	$3,025
Great Falls	$43,110	$49,959	$6,849

Salary FAQ for Montana Substance Abuse Counselors

City and Rural Summaries

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