2023 Salary Report for Substance Abuse Counselors in Iowa

Salary Report for Iowa Substance Abuse Counselors

Iowa Rankings

Compare Iowa to U.S.

Iowa Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $51,570 which is 3% less than the national average salary of $53,490.

Type	Iowa	U.S.	% Difference
Average Hourly Wage	$24.80	$25.72	-3.58%
Average Annual Salary	$51,570	$53,490	-3.59%

Salary Range by Education and Experience

In Iowa, 50% of Substance Abuse Counselors earn between $37,350 and $61,160 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 $77,460, a rate generally associated with highly educated and experienced Substance Abuse Counselors.

Approximately 10% of Substance Abuse Counselors earn under $30,090, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Substance Abuse Counselors.

Percent	Experience	Employed	Annual Salary
10%	Less than a Year	291	Under $30,090
15%	2 – 4 years	436	$30,090 – $37,350
25%	5 – 9 years	728	$37,350 – $47,730
25%	10 – 14 years	728	$47,730 – $61,160
15%	15 – 20 years	436	$47,730 – $77,460
10%	20+ years	291	Above $77,460

Adjusted for Cost-of-Living

After being adjusted for cost-of-living, Substance Abuse Counselors in Iowa psychologists earn about $56,639 per year which is less than the average U.S. psychologist of $53,490.

Cost-of-living in Iowa is 9% less than the national average, which means Iowa 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 $51,570, Iowa Substance Abuse Counselors tend to earn less than Forensic Psychologists ($106,200), Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($103,070), Psychology Teachers ($90,930), School Psychologists ($67,710), and Health Care Social Workers ($57,840).

However, Substance Abuse Counselors tend to earn more than Marriage and Family Therapists ($49,920), and Social Workers ($50,380).

Title	Annual Salary
Forensic Psychologists	$106,200
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists	$103,070
Psychology Teachers	$90,930
School Psychologists	$67,710
Health Care Social Workers	$57,840
Substance Abuse Counselors	$51,570
Social Workers	$50,380
Marriage and Family Therapists	$49,920

Projected Demand for Psychologists in 2030

The U.S. Department of Labor projects that in Iowa the three professions needing the most new psychologists by 2030 are Substance Abuse Counselors (4,160), Social Workers (3,620) and Health Care Social Workers (1,430).

The three professions in Iowa needing highest percentage new psychologists by 2030 are Substance Abuse Counselors (30.8%), Marriage and Family Therapists (22.4%) and Social Workers (13.5%).

Title	2020	2030	Change	Yearly Openings
Social Workers	3,190	3,620	13.5%	350
Substance Abuse Counselors	3,180	4,160	30.8%	430
Health Care Social Workers	1,260	1,430	13.5%	140
Marriage and Family Therapists	670	820	22.4%	80
Psychology Teachers	400	450	12.5%	40
Forensic Psychologists	110	110	0%	10

Salaries Ranked by Iowa Cities

The average salary for Substance Abuse Counselors in Iowa is $51,570. The top cities that pay Substance Abuse Counselors the most are Des Moines-West Des Moines ($58,100), Ames ($58,060) and Iowa City ($56,470).

When adjusted for cost-of-living, the cities that pay Substance Abuse Counselors the highest average annual salary are Ames ($61,258), Des Moines-West Des Moines ($61,248) and Iowa City ($59,236).

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
Des Moines-West Des Moines	$58,100	$61,248	$3,148
Ames	$58,060	$61,258	$3,198
Iowa City	$56,470	$59,236	$2,766
Waterloo-Cedar Falls	$53,280	$57,995	$4,715
Sioux City	$52,490	$58,322	$5,832
Southeast Iowa Nonmetropolitan Area	$51,190	$58,576	$7,386
Cedar Rapids	$50,130	$55,282	$5,152
Northwest Iowa Nonmetropolitan Area	$49,440	$56,574	$7,134
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island	$48,140	$52,647	$4,507
Southwest Iowa Nonmetropolitan Area	$47,430	$54,274	$6,844
Dubuque	$43,530	$47,914	$4,384
Northeast Iowa Nonmetropolitan Area	$41,010	$46,928	$5,918

Salary FAQ for Iowa Substance Abuse Counselors

City and Rural Summaries

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