2023 Salary Report for Substance Abuse Counselors in Colorado

Salary Report for Colorado Substance Abuse Counselors

Colorado Rankings

Compare Colorado to U.S.

Colorado Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $57,900 which is 8% more than the national average salary of $53,490.

Type	Colorado	U.S.	% Difference
Average Hourly Wage	$27.84	$25.72	8.24%
Average Annual Salary	$57,900	$53,490	8.24%

Salary Range by Education and Experience

In Colorado, 50% of Substance Abuse Counselors earn between $39,000 and $64,100 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 $80,580, a rate generally associated with highly educated and experienced Substance Abuse Counselors.

Approximately 10% of Substance Abuse Counselors earn under $36,330, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Substance Abuse Counselors.

Percent	Experience	Employed	Annual Salary
10%	Less than a Year	1,010	Under $36,330
15%	2 – 4 years	1,515	$36,330 – $39,000
25%	5 – 9 years	2,525	$39,000 – $49,630
25%	10 – 14 years	2,525	$49,630 – $64,100
15%	15 – 20 years	1,515	$49,630 – $80,580
10%	20+ years	1,010	Above $80,580

Adjusted for Cost-of-Living

After being adjusted for cost-of-living, Substance Abuse Counselors in Colorado psychologists earn about $56,285 per year which is more than the average U.S. psychologist of $53,490.

Cost-of-living in Colorado is 3% higher than the national average, which means Colorado 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 $57,900, Colorado Substance Abuse Counselors tend to earn less than School Psychologists ($103,240), Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($86,760), Psychology Teachers ($74,040), Marriage and Family Therapists ($73,040), Social Workers ($59,790), and Health Care Social Workers ($58,450).

Title	Annual Salary
School Psychologists	$103,240
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists	$86,760
Psychology Teachers	$74,040
Marriage and Family Therapists	$73,040
Social Workers	$59,790
Health Care Social Workers	$58,450
Substance Abuse Counselors	$57,900

Projected Demand for Psychologists in 2030

The U.S. Department of Labor projects that in Colorado the three professions needing the most new psychologists by 2030 are Substance Abuse Counselors (12,290), Social Workers (8,840) and Health Care Social Workers (4,180).

The three professions in Colorado needing highest percentage new psychologists by 2030 are Marriage and Family Therapists (38.4%), Substance Abuse Counselors (35.7%) and Health Care Social Workers (33.1%).

Title	2020	2030	Change	Yearly Openings
Substance Abuse Counselors	9,060	12,290	35.7%	1,260
Social Workers	7,320	8,840	20.8%	840
Health Care Social Workers	3,140	4,180	33.1%	420
Marriage and Family Therapists	860	1,190	38.4%	120
Psychology Teachers	670	850	26.9%	70
Forensic Psychologists	440	470	6.8%	30

Salaries Ranked by Colorado Cities

The average salary for Substance Abuse Counselors in Colorado is $57,900. The top cities that pay Substance Abuse Counselors the most are Boulder ($65,130), Denver-Aurora-Lakewood ($61,510) and Northwest Colorado Nonmetropolitan Area ($55,960).

When adjusted for cost-of-living, the cities that pay Substance Abuse Counselors the highest average annual salary are Boulder ($63,492), Pueblo ($58,595) and Northwest Colorado Nonmetropolitan Area ($58,536).

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
Boulder	$65,130	$63,492	$-1,638
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood	$61,510	$57,331	$-4,179
Northwest Colorado Nonmetropolitan Area	$55,960	$58,536	$2,576
Fort Collins	$55,730	$55,652	$-78
Southwest Colorado Nonmetropolitan Area	$54,470	$56,977	$2,507
Pueblo	$52,870	$58,595	$5,725
Colorado Springs	$51,330	$52,420	$1,090
Eastern and Southern Colorado Nonmetropolitan Area	$51,210	$53,567	$2,357
Greeley	$49,670	$50,498	$828
Grand Junction	$49,280	$52,027	$2,747

Salary FAQ for Colorado Substance Abuse Counselors

City and Rural Summaries

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