Benchmark Salary Information

  • The number of Substance Abuse Counselors currently employed in Denver-Aurora-Lakewood is 4,760.
  • Substance Abuse Counselors in Denver-Aurora-Lakewood earn an average of $61,510 per year or $29.57 per hour.
  • The percentage of Colorado Substance Abuse Counselors who work in Denver-Aurora-Lakewood is less than 1%.
  • The percentage of U.S. Substance Abuse Counselors who work in Denver-Aurora-Lakewood is 2%.

Rankings for Denver-Aurora-Lakewood

  • Ranks #2 in Colorado for salary and #1 when adjusted for cost-of-living.
  • Ranks #1 in Colorado for the number of psychologists employed.
  • Ranks #26 in the nation for salary and #27 when adjusted for cost-of-living.
  • Ranks #9 in the nation for the number of psychologists employed.

Compared to Colorado

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $61,510 or $29.57 per hour which is 6% more than the Colorado average salary of $57,900.

AverageDenver-Aurora-LakewoodColorado% Difference
Hourly Wage$29.57$27.846.21%
Annual Salary$61,510$57,9006.23%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Compared to the U.S.

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $61,510 or $29.57 per hour which is 14% more than the U.S. average salary of $53,490.

AverageDenver-Aurora-LakewoodU.S.%
Hourly Wage$29.57$25.7214.97%
Annual Salary$61,510$53,49014.99%
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 Denver-Aurora-Lakewood earns an average annual salary of $57,331 which compares to the Colorado average annual salary of $57,900. per year.

Cost-of-living in Denver-Aurora-Lakewood is 7% higher than the Colorado average, which means Denver-Aurora-Lakewood residents have an overall higher cost for food, housing, utilities and transportation compared to Colorado average.

  • Colorado average salary is $57,900.
  • Colorado cost-of-living adjusted salary is $56,285.
  • Denver-Aurora-Lakewood average salary is $61,510.
  • Denver-Aurora-Lakewood cost-of-living adjusted salary is $57,331.
LocationAverage Annual WageCost of LivingAdjusted COL Wage
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood$61,510107.29%$57,331
Colorado$57,900102.87%$56,285
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 Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, 50% of Substance Abuse Counselors earn between $39,380 and $76,370 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 $97,410, which is a rate for highly skilled, experienced and educated Substance Abuse Counselors.

Approximately 10% of Substance Abuse Counselors earn under $36,910, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Substance Abuse Counselors.

PercentExperienceEmployedAnnual Salary
10%Less than a Year476Under $36,910
15%2 – 4 years714$36,910 – $39,380
25%5 – 9 years1,190$39,380 – $50,160
25%10 – 14 years1,190$50,160 – $76,370
15%15 – 20 years714$50,160 – $97,410
10%20+ years476Above $97,410
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 $61,510, Denver-Aurora-Lakewood Substance Abuse Counselors tend to earn less than School Psychologists ($105,450), Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($94,760), Psychology Teachers ($77,370), Marriage and Family Therapists ($76,220), and Social Workers ($63,170).

However, Substance Abuse Counselors tend to earn more than Health Care Social Workers ($60,480).

TitleAnnual Salary
School Psychologists$105,450
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists$94,760
Psychology Teachers$77,370
Marriage and Family Therapists$76,220
Social Workers$63,170
Substance Abuse Counselors$61,510
Health Care Social Workers$60,480
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

FAQ for Denver-Aurora-Lakewood Substance Abuse Counselors

The number of Substance Abuse Counselors currently employed in Denver-Aurora-Lakewood is 4,760.

Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $61,510 per year or $29.57 per hour in Denver-Aurora-Lakewood.

When adjusted for Cost of Living in Denver-Aurora-Lakewood Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $57,331 per year or $28 per hour.

The types of psychologists that are paid the highest annual salary in Denver-Aurora-Lakewood are School Psychologists($105,450), Clinical and Counseling Psychologists($94,760), Psychology Teachers($77,370).


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

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