Benchmark Salary Information

  • The number of Substance Abuse Counselors currently employed in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land is 4,000.
  • Substance Abuse Counselors in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land earn an average of $50,840 per year or $24.44 per hour.
  • The percentage of Texas Substance Abuse Counselors who work in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land is 24%.
  • The percentage of U.S. Substance Abuse Counselors who work in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land is 1%.

Rankings for Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land

  • Ranks #7 in Texas for salary and #5 when adjusted for cost-of-living.
  • Ranks #2 in Texas for the number of psychologists employed.
  • Ranks #230 in the nation for salary and #79 when adjusted for cost-of-living.
  • Ranks #14 in the nation for the number of psychologists employed.

Compared to Texas

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $50,840 or $24.44 per hour which is 2% more than the Texas average salary of $49,510.

AverageHouston-The Woodlands-Sugar LandTexas% Difference
Hourly Wage$24.44$23.812.65%
Annual Salary$50,840$49,5102.69%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Compared to the U.S.

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $50,840 or $24.44 per hour which is 4% less than the U.S. average salary of $53,490.

AverageHouston-The Woodlands-Sugar LandU.S.%
Hourly Wage$24.44$25.72-4.98%
Annual Salary$50,840$53,490-4.95%
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 Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land earns an average annual salary of $50,804 which compares to the Texas average annual salary of $49,510. per year.

Cost-of-living in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land is 0% higher than the Texas average, which means Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land residents have an overall higher cost for food, housing, utilities and transportation compared to Texas average.

  • Texas average salary is $49,510.
  • Texas cost-of-living adjusted salary is $49,739.
  • Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land average salary is $50,840.
  • Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land cost-of-living adjusted salary is $50,804.
LocationAverage Annual WageCost of LivingAdjusted COL Wage
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land$50,840100.07%$50,804
Texas$49,51099.54%$49,739
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 Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, 50% of Substance Abuse Counselors earn between $36,930 and $60,450 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 $76,780, which is a rate for highly skilled, experienced and educated Substance Abuse Counselors.

Approximately 10% of Substance Abuse Counselors earn under $30,450, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Substance Abuse Counselors.

PercentExperienceEmployedAnnual Salary
10%Less than a Year400Under $30,450
15%2 – 4 years600$30,450 – $36,930
25%5 – 9 years1,000$36,930 – $47,040
25%10 – 14 years1,000$47,040 – $60,450
15%15 – 20 years600$47,040 – $76,780
10%20+ years400Above $76,780
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 $50,840, Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land Substance Abuse Counselors tend to earn less than Forensic Psychologists ($105,420), Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($85,720), Psychology Teachers ($78,930), School Psychologists ($73,770), Health Care Social Workers ($65,140), and Marriage and Family Therapists ($58,550).

However, Substance Abuse Counselors tend to earn more than Social Workers ($50,530).

TitleAnnual Salary
Forensic Psychologists$105,420
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists$85,720
Psychology Teachers$78,930
School Psychologists$73,770
Health Care Social Workers$65,140
Marriage and Family Therapists$58,550
Substance Abuse Counselors$50,840
Social Workers$50,530
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

FAQ for Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land Substance Abuse Counselors

The number of Substance Abuse Counselors currently employed in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land is 4,000.

Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $50,840 per year or $24.44 per hour in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land.

When adjusted for Cost of Living in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $50,804 per year or $24 per hour.

The types of psychologists that are paid the highest annual salary in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land are Forensic Psychologists($105,420), Clinical and Counseling Psychologists($85,720), Psychology Teachers($78,930).


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

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