Benchmark Salary Information

  • The number of Substance Abuse Counselors currently employed in Santa Cruz-Watsonville is 280.
  • Substance Abuse Counselors in Santa Cruz-Watsonville earn an average of $54,150 per year or $26.03 per hour.
  • The percentage of California Substance Abuse Counselors who work in Santa Cruz-Watsonville is less than 1%.
  • The percentage of U.S. Substance Abuse Counselors who work in Santa Cruz-Watsonville is less than 1%.

Rankings for Santa Cruz-Watsonville

  • Ranks #20 in California for salary and #11 when adjusted for cost-of-living.
  • Ranks #16 in California for the number of psychologists employed.
  • Ranks #143 in the nation for salary and #16 when adjusted for cost-of-living.
  • Ranks #204 in the nation for the number of psychologists employed.

Compared to California

Santa Cruz-Watsonville Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $54,150 or $26.03 per hour which is 9% less than the California average salary of $59,790.

AverageSanta Cruz-WatsonvilleCalifornia% Difference
Hourly Wage$26.03$28.74-9.43%
Annual Salary$54,150$59,790-9.43%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Compared to the U.S.

Santa Cruz-Watsonville Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $54,150 or $26.03 per hour which is 1% more than the U.S. average salary of $53,490.

AverageSanta Cruz-WatsonvilleU.S.%
Hourly Wage$26.03$25.721.21%
Annual Salary$54,150$53,4901.23%
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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville earns an average annual salary of $49,488 which compares to the California average annual salary of $59,790. per year.

Cost-of-living in Santa Cruz-Watsonville is 9% higher than the California average, which means Santa Cruz-Watsonville residents have an overall higher cost for food, housing, utilities and transportation compared to California average.

  • California average salary is $59,790.
  • California cost-of-living adjusted salary is $54,167.
  • Santa Cruz-Watsonville average salary is $54,150.
  • Santa Cruz-Watsonville cost-of-living adjusted salary is $49,488.
LocationAverage Annual WageCost of LivingAdjusted COL Wage
Santa Cruz-Watsonville$54,150109.42%$49,488
California$59,790110.38%$54,167
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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, 50% of Substance Abuse Counselors earn between $38,520 and $61,330 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 $82,640, which is a rate for highly skilled, experienced and educated Substance Abuse Counselors.

Approximately 10% of Substance Abuse Counselors earn under $32,480, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Substance Abuse Counselors.

PercentExperienceEmployedAnnual Salary
10%Less than a Year28Under $32,480
15%2 – 4 years42$32,480 – $38,520
25%5 – 9 years70$38,520 – $46,910
25%10 – 14 years70$46,910 – $61,330
15%15 – 20 years42$46,910 – $82,640
10%20+ years28Above $82,640
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 $54,150, Santa Cruz-Watsonville Substance Abuse Counselors tend to earn less than Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($101,310), School Psychologists ($95,160), Health Care Social Workers ($80,990), Social Workers ($69,210), and Marriage and Family Therapists ($68,060).

TitleAnnual Salary
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists$101,310
School Psychologists$95,160
Health Care Social Workers$80,990
Social Workers$69,210
Marriage and Family Therapists$68,060
Substance Abuse Counselors$54,150
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

FAQ for Santa Cruz-Watsonville Substance Abuse Counselors

The number of Substance Abuse Counselors currently employed in Santa Cruz-Watsonville is 280.

Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $54,150 per year or $26.03 per hour in Santa Cruz-Watsonville.

When adjusted for Cost of Living in Santa Cruz-Watsonville Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $49,488 per year or $24 per hour.

The types of psychologists that are paid the highest annual salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville are Clinical and Counseling Psychologists($101,310), School Psychologists($95,160), Health Care Social Workers($80,990).


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

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