2023 Salary Report for Substance Abuse Counselors in Georgia

Salary Report for Georgia Substance Abuse Counselors

Georgia Rankings

Compare Georgia to U.S.

Georgia Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $45,740 which is 14% less than the national average salary of $53,490.

Type	Georgia	U.S.	% Difference
Average Hourly Wage	$21.99	$25.72	-14.50%
Average Annual Salary	$45,740	$53,490	-14.49%

Salary Range by Education and Experience

In Georgia, 50% of Substance Abuse Counselors earn between $36,910 and $49,590 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 $63,310, a rate generally associated with highly educated and experienced Substance Abuse Counselors.

Approximately 10% of Substance Abuse Counselors earn under $30,320, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Substance Abuse Counselors.

Percent	Experience	Employed	Annual Salary
10%	Less than a Year	545	Under $30,320
15%	2 – 4 years	818	$30,320 – $36,910
25%	5 – 9 years	1,362	$36,910 – $44,080
25%	10 – 14 years	1,362	$44,080 – $49,590
15%	15 – 20 years	818	$44,080 – $63,310
10%	20+ years	545	Above $63,310

Adjusted for Cost-of-Living

After being adjusted for cost-of-living, Substance Abuse Counselors in Georgia psychologists earn about $48,382 per year which is less than the average U.S. psychologist of $53,490.

Cost-of-living in Georgia is 5% less than the national average, which means Georgia 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 $45,740, Georgia Substance Abuse Counselors tend to earn less than Forensic Psychologists ($98,360), School Psychologists ($80,350), Psychology Teachers ($79,020), Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($73,350), Health Care Social Workers ($54,710), Marriage and Family Therapists ($48,280), and Social Workers ($48,200).

Title	Annual Salary
Forensic Psychologists	$98,360
School Psychologists	$80,350
Psychology Teachers	$79,020
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists	$73,350
Health Care Social Workers	$54,710
Marriage and Family Therapists	$48,280
Social Workers	$48,200
Substance Abuse Counselors	$45,740

Projected Demand for Psychologists in 2030

The U.S. Department of Labor projects that in Georgia the three professions needing the most new psychologists by 2030 are Substance Abuse Counselors (8,290), Social Workers (7,080) and Health Care Social Workers (4,130).

The three professions in Georgia needing highest percentage new psychologists by 2030 are Marriage and Family Therapists (35.7%), Substance Abuse Counselors (32.2%) and Health Care Social Workers (19%).

Title	2020	2030	Change	Yearly Openings
Substance Abuse Counselors	6,270	8,290	32.2%	870
Social Workers	6,000	7,080	18%	700
Health Care Social Workers	3,470	4,130	19%	410
Forensic Psychologists	1,180	1,300	10.2%	90
Psychology Teachers	660	730	10.6%	70
Marriage and Family Therapists	140	190	35.7%	20

Salaries Ranked by Georgia Cities

The average salary for Substance Abuse Counselors in Georgia is $45,740. The top cities that pay Substance Abuse Counselors the most are Brunswick ($56,260), Rome ($48,610) and Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell ($47,530).

When adjusted for cost-of-living, the cities that pay Substance Abuse Counselors the highest average annual salary are Brunswick ($64,107), Rome ($55,232) and South Georgia Nonmetropolitan Area ($52,147).

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
Brunswick	$56,260	$64,107	$7,847
Rome	$48,610	$55,232	$6,622
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell	$47,530	$48,421	$891
Savannah	$46,990	$49,735	$2,745
Augusta-Richmond County	$46,630	$51,270	$4,640
South Georgia Nonmetropolitan Area	$44,560	$52,147	$7,587
Valdosta	$43,990	$50,063	$6,073
Columbus	$43,950	$49,858	$5,908
Gainesville	$43,720	$46,985	$3,265
Warner Robins	$43,280	$48,073	$4,793
Athens-Clarke County	$43,150	$47,897	$4,747
North Georgia Nonmetropolitan Area	$42,710	$49,982	$7,272
Hinesville	$42,180	$45,083	$2,903
Macon	$41,200	$46,919	$5,719
Albany	$41,100	$48,564	$7,464
Middle Georgia Nonmetropolitan Area	$40,070	$46,893	$6,823
East Georgia Nonmetropolitan Area	$37,600	$44,002	$6,402

Salary FAQ for Georgia Substance Abuse Counselors

City and Rural Summaries

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