2023 Salary Report for Substance Abuse Counselors in West Virginia

Salary Report for West Virginia Substance Abuse Counselors

West Virginia Rankings

Compare West Virginia to U.S.

West Virginia Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $41,520 which is 22% less than the national average salary of $53,490.

Type	West Virginia	U.S.	% Difference
Average Hourly Wage	$19.96	$25.72	-22.40%
Average Annual Salary	$41,520	$53,490	-22.38%

Salary Range by Education and Experience

In West Virginia, 50% of Substance Abuse Counselors earn between $30,640 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 $60,340, a rate generally associated with highly educated and experienced Substance Abuse Counselors.

Approximately 10% of Substance Abuse Counselors earn under $29,530, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Substance Abuse Counselors.

Percent	Experience	Employed	Annual Salary
10%	Less than a Year	144	Under $29,530
15%	2 – 4 years	216	$29,530 – $30,640
25%	5 – 9 years	360	$30,640 – $38,100
25%	10 – 14 years	360	$38,100 – $47,040
15%	15 – 20 years	216	$38,100 – $60,340
10%	20+ years	144	Above $60,340

Adjusted for Cost-of-Living

After being adjusted for cost-of-living, Substance Abuse Counselors in West Virginia psychologists earn about $47,203 per year which is less than the average U.S. psychologist of $53,490.

Cost-of-living in West Virginia is 12% less than the national average, which means West Virginia 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 $41,520, West Virginia Substance Abuse Counselors tend to earn less than Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($63,410), School Psychologists ($61,210), Forensic Psychologists ($55,990), Health Care Social Workers ($54,830), Psychology Teachers ($54,450), and Marriage and Family Therapists ($43,550).

However, Substance Abuse Counselors tend to earn more than Social Workers ($41,230).

Title	Annual Salary
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists	$63,410
School Psychologists	$61,210
Forensic Psychologists	$55,990
Health Care Social Workers	$54,830
Psychology Teachers	$54,450
Marriage and Family Therapists	$43,550
Substance Abuse Counselors	$41,520
Social Workers	$41,230

Projected Demand for Psychologists in 2030

The U.S. Department of Labor projects that in West Virginia the three professions needing the most new psychologists by 2030 are Social Workers (2,000), Substance Abuse Counselors (1,880) and Forensic Psychologists (1,120).

The three professions in West Virginia needing highest percentage new psychologists by 2030 are Substance Abuse Counselors (27.9%), Marriage and Family Therapists (23.1%) and Health Care Social Workers (13.6%).

Title	2020	2030	Change	Yearly Openings
Social Workers	1,930	2,000	3.6%	190
Substance Abuse Counselors	1,470	1,880	27.9%	200
Forensic Psychologists	1,100	1,120	1.8%	70
Health Care Social Workers	880	1,000	13.6%	100
Psychology Teachers	190	210	10.5%	20
Marriage and Family Therapists	130	160	23.1%	20

Salaries Ranked by West Virginia Cities

The average salary for Substance Abuse Counselors in West Virginia is $41,520. The top cities that pay Substance Abuse Counselors the most are Weirton-Steubenville ($48,340), Charleston ($45,190) and Morgantown ($43,650).

When adjusted for cost-of-living, the cities that pay Substance Abuse Counselors the highest average annual salary are Weirton-Steubenville ($55,621), Charleston ($50,907) and Huntington-Ashland ($48,405).

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
Weirton-Steubenville	$48,340	$55,621	$7,281
Charleston	$45,190	$50,907	$5,717
Morgantown	$43,650	$47,358	$3,708
Huntington-Ashland	$41,880	$48,405	$6,525
Parkersburg-Vienna	$39,830	$45,354	$5,524
Beckley	$39,730	$46,090	$6,360
Northern West Virginia Nonmetropolitan Area	$39,530	$46,594	$7,064
Southern West Virginia Nonmetropolitan Area	$39,150	$46,146	$6,996
Wheeling	$38,770	$44,538	$5,768

Salary FAQ for West Virginia Substance Abuse Counselors

City and Rural Summaries

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