Benchmark Salary Information

  • The number of Substance Abuse Counselors currently employed in Knoxville is 630.
  • Substance Abuse Counselors in Knoxville earn an average of $39,120 per year or $18.81 per hour.
  • The percentage of Tennessee Substance Abuse Counselors who work in Knoxville is 15%.
  • The percentage of U.S. Substance Abuse Counselors who work in Knoxville is less than 1%.

Rankings for Knoxville

  • Ranks #10 in Tennessee for salary and #4 when adjusted for cost-of-living.
  • Ranks #3 in Tennessee for the number of psychologists employed.
  • Ranks #491 in the nation for salary and #291 when adjusted for cost-of-living.
  • Ranks #88 in the nation for the number of psychologists employed.

Compared to Tennessee

Knoxville Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $39,120 or $18.81 per hour which is 7% less than the Tennessee average salary of $42,210.

AverageKnoxvilleTennessee% Difference
Hourly Wage$18.81$20.29-7.29%
Annual Salary$39,120$42,210-7.32%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Compared to the U.S.

Knoxville Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $39,120 or $18.81 per hour which is 26% less than the U.S. average salary of $53,490.

AverageKnoxvilleU.S.%
Hourly Wage$18.81$25.72-26.87%
Annual Salary$39,120$53,490-26.86%
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 Knoxville earns an average annual salary of $42,679 which compares to the Tennessee average annual salary of $42,210. per year.

Cost-of-living in Knoxville is 8% less than the Tennessee average, which means Knoxville residents have an overall less cost for food, housing, utilities and transportation compared to Tennessee average.

  • Tennessee average salary is $42,210.
  • Tennessee cost-of-living adjusted salary is $45,806.
  • Knoxville average salary is $39,120.
  • Knoxville cost-of-living adjusted salary is $42,679.
LocationAverage Annual WageCost of LivingAdjusted COL Wage
Knoxville$39,12091.66%$42,679
Tennessee$42,21092.15%$45,806
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 Knoxville, 50% of Substance Abuse Counselors earn between $29,240 and $46,420 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 $60,670, which is a rate for highly skilled, experienced and educated Substance Abuse Counselors.

Approximately 10% of Substance Abuse Counselors earn under $27,760, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Substance Abuse Counselors.

PercentExperienceEmployedAnnual Salary
10%Less than a Year63Under $27,760
15%2 – 4 years94$27,760 – $29,240
25%5 – 9 years158$29,240 – $36,850
25%10 – 14 years158$36,850 – $46,420
15%15 – 20 years94$36,850 – $60,670
10%20+ years63Above $60,670
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 $39,120, Knoxville Substance Abuse Counselors tend to earn less than Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($93,440), Psychology Teachers ($81,690), School Psychologists ($68,950), Health Care Social Workers ($47,410), Social Workers ($45,160), and Marriage and Family Therapists ($41,460).

TitleAnnual Salary
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists$93,440
Psychology Teachers$81,690
School Psychologists$68,950
Health Care Social Workers$47,410
Social Workers$45,160
Marriage and Family Therapists$41,460
Substance Abuse Counselors$39,120
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

FAQ for Knoxville Substance Abuse Counselors

The number of Substance Abuse Counselors currently employed in Knoxville is 630.

Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $39,120 per year or $18.81 per hour in Knoxville.

When adjusted for Cost of Living in Knoxville Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $42,679 per year or $21 per hour.

The types of psychologists that are paid the highest annual salary in Knoxville are Clinical and Counseling Psychologists($93,440), Psychology Teachers($81,690), School Psychologists($68,950).


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

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