Benchmark Salary Information

  • The number of Substance Abuse Counselors currently employed in Altoona is 260.
  • Substance Abuse Counselors in Altoona earn an average of $40,430 per year or $19.44 per hour.
  • The percentage of Pennsylvania Substance Abuse Counselors who work in Altoona is 1%.
  • The percentage of U.S. Substance Abuse Counselors who work in Altoona is less than 1%.

Rankings for Altoona

  • Ranks #20 in Pennsylvania for salary and #17 when adjusted for cost-of-living.
  • Ranks #13 in Pennsylvania for the number of psychologists employed.
  • Ranks #477 in the nation for salary and #339 when adjusted for cost-of-living.
  • Ranks #216 in the nation for the number of psychologists employed.

Compared to Pennsylvania

Altoona Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $40,430 or $19.44 per hour which is 18% less than the Pennsylvania average salary of $49,480.

AverageAltoonaPennsylvania% Difference
Hourly Wage$19.44$23.79-18.28%
Annual Salary$40,430$49,480-18.29%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Compared to the U.S.

Altoona Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $40,430 or $19.44 per hour which is 24% less than the U.S. average salary of $53,490.

AverageAltoonaU.S.%
Hourly Wage$19.44$25.72-24.42%
Annual Salary$40,430$53,490-24.42%
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 Altoona earns an average annual salary of $44,847 which compares to the Pennsylvania average annual salary of $49,480. per year.

Cost-of-living in Altoona is 10% less than the Pennsylvania average, which means Altoona residents have an overall less cost for food, housing, utilities and transportation compared to Pennsylvania average.

  • Pennsylvania average salary is $49,480.
  • Pennsylvania cost-of-living adjusted salary is $50,718.
  • Altoona average salary is $40,430.
  • Altoona cost-of-living adjusted salary is $44,847.
LocationAverage Annual WageCost of LivingAdjusted COL Wage
Altoona$40,43090.15%$44,847
Pennsylvania$49,48097.56%$50,718
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 Altoona, 50% of Substance Abuse Counselors earn between $30,590 and $45,710 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 $59,520, which is a rate for highly skilled, experienced and educated Substance Abuse Counselors.

Approximately 10% of Substance Abuse Counselors earn under $29,240, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Substance Abuse Counselors.

PercentExperienceEmployedAnnual Salary
10%Less than a Year26Under $29,240
15%2 – 4 years39$29,240 – $30,590
25%5 – 9 years65$30,590 – $37,060
25%10 – 14 years65$37,060 – $45,710
15%15 – 20 years39$37,060 – $59,520
10%20+ years26Above $59,520
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 $40,430, Altoona Substance Abuse Counselors tend to earn less than Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($76,300), Health Care Social Workers ($57,310), Marriage and Family Therapists ($46,460), and Social Workers ($42,880).

TitleAnnual Salary
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists$76,300
Health Care Social Workers$57,310
Marriage and Family Therapists$46,460
Social Workers$42,880
Substance Abuse Counselors$40,430
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

FAQ for Altoona Substance Abuse Counselors

The number of Substance Abuse Counselors currently employed in Altoona is 260.

Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $40,430 per year or $19.44 per hour in Altoona.

When adjusted for Cost of Living in Altoona Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $44,847 per year or $22 per hour.

The types of psychologists that are paid the highest annual salary in Altoona are Clinical and Counseling Psychologists($76,300), Health Care Social Workers($57,310), Marriage and Family Therapists($46,460).


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

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