2023 Salary Report for Substance Abuse Counselors in Alaska

Salary Report for Alaska Substance Abuse Counselors

Alaska Rankings

Compare Alaska to U.S.

Alaska Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $65,090 which is 21% more than the national average salary of $53,490.

Type	Alaska	U.S.	% Difference
Average Hourly Wage	$31.29	$25.72	21.66%
Average Annual Salary	$65,090	$53,490	21.69%

Salary Range by Education and Experience

In Alaska, 50% of Substance Abuse Counselors earn between $47,820 and $77,420 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 $97,740, a rate generally associated with highly educated and experienced Substance Abuse Counselors.

Approximately 10% of Substance Abuse Counselors earn under $37,440, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Substance Abuse Counselors.

Percent	Experience	Employed	Annual Salary
10%	Less than a Year	100	Under $37,440
15%	2 – 4 years	150	$37,440 – $47,820
25%	5 – 9 years	250	$47,820 – $61,040
25%	10 – 14 years	250	$61,040 – $77,420
15%	15 – 20 years	150	$61,040 – $97,740
10%	20+ years	100	Above $97,740

Adjusted for Cost-of-Living

After being adjusted for cost-of-living, Substance Abuse Counselors in Alaska psychologists earn about $63,047 per year which is more than the average U.S. psychologist of $53,490.

Cost-of-living in Alaska is 3% higher than the national average, which means Alaska residents have an overall higher 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 $65,090, Alaska Substance Abuse Counselors tend to earn less than Forensic Psychologists ($113,040), Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($92,450), School Psychologists ($87,670), and Psychology Teachers ($84,880).

However, Substance Abuse Counselors tend to earn more than Health Care Social Workers ($60,320), and Social Workers ($61,580).

Title	Annual Salary
Forensic Psychologists	$113,040
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists	$92,450
School Psychologists	$87,670
Psychology Teachers	$84,880
Substance Abuse Counselors	$65,090
Social Workers	$61,580
Health Care Social Workers	$60,320

Projected Demand for Psychologists in 2030

The U.S. Department of Labor projects that in Alaska the three professions needing the most new psychologists by 2030 are Social Workers (1,030), Substance Abuse Counselors (730) and Health Care Social Workers (230).

The three professions in Alaska needing highest percentage new psychologists by 2030 are Psychology Teachers (25%), Health Care Social Workers (15%) and Substance Abuse Counselors (10.6%).

Title	2020	2030	Change	Yearly Openings
Social Workers	950	1,030	8.4%	100
Substance Abuse Counselors	660	730	10.6%	70
Health Care Social Workers	200	230	15%	20
Psychology Teachers	40	50	25%	0
Forensic Psychologists	30	30	0%	0

Salaries Ranked by Alaska Cities

The average salary for Substance Abuse Counselors in Alaska is $65,090. The top cities that pay Substance Abuse Counselors the most are Alaska Nonmetropolitan Area ($67,530), Anchorage ($65,510) and Fairbanks ($57,840).

When adjusted for cost-of-living, the cities that pay Substance Abuse Counselors the highest average annual salary are Alaska Nonmetropolitan Area ($66,855), Anchorage ($62,821) and Fairbanks ($55,712).

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
Alaska Nonmetropolitan Area	$67,530	$66,855	$-675
Anchorage	$65,510	$62,821	$-2,689
Fairbanks	$57,840	$55,712	$-2,128

Salary FAQ for Alaska Substance Abuse Counselors

City and Rural Summaries

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