2023 Salary Report for Substance Abuse Counselors in Kentucky

Salary Report for Kentucky Substance Abuse Counselors

Kentucky Rankings

Compare Kentucky to U.S.

Kentucky Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $45,310 which is 15% less than the national average salary of $53,490.

Type	Kentucky	U.S.	% Difference
Average Hourly Wage	$21.79	$25.72	-15.28%
Average Annual Salary	$45,310	$53,490	-15.29%

Salary Range by Education and Experience

In Kentucky, 50% of Substance Abuse Counselors earn between $36,070 and $50,810 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 $62,870, a rate generally associated with highly educated and experienced Substance Abuse Counselors.

Approximately 10% of Substance Abuse Counselors earn under $28,820, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Substance Abuse Counselors.

Percent	Experience	Employed	Annual Salary
10%	Less than a Year	392	Under $28,820
15%	2 – 4 years	588	$28,820 – $36,070
25%	5 – 9 years	980	$36,070 – $44,250
25%	10 – 14 years	980	$44,250 – $50,810
15%	15 – 20 years	588	$44,250 – $62,870
10%	20+ years	392	Above $62,870

Adjusted for Cost-of-Living

After being adjusted for cost-of-living, Substance Abuse Counselors in Kentucky psychologists earn about $50,468 per year which is less than the average U.S. psychologist of $53,490.

Cost-of-living in Kentucky is 10% less than the national average, which means Kentucky 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 $45,310, Kentucky Substance Abuse Counselors tend to earn less than Forensic Psychologists ($97,370), Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($96,290), School Psychologists ($67,930), Psychology Teachers ($63,940), Marriage and Family Therapists ($57,210), and Health Care Social Workers ($55,540).

However, Substance Abuse Counselors tend to earn more than Social Workers ($43,440).

Title	Annual Salary
Forensic Psychologists	$97,370
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists	$96,290
School Psychologists	$67,930
Psychology Teachers	$63,940
Marriage and Family Therapists	$57,210
Health Care Social Workers	$55,540
Substance Abuse Counselors	$45,310
Social Workers	$43,440

Projected Demand for Psychologists in 2030

The U.S. Department of Labor projects that in Kentucky the three professions needing the most new psychologists by 2030 are Social Workers (7,140), Substance Abuse Counselors (5,160) and Health Care Social Workers (1,820).

The three professions in Kentucky needing highest percentage new psychologists by 2030 are Substance Abuse Counselors (25.9%), Marriage and Family Therapists (16.7%) and Health Care Social Workers (10.3%).

Title	2020	2030	Change	Yearly Openings
Social Workers	6,890	7,140	3.6%	670
Substance Abuse Counselors	4,100	5,160	25.9%	530
Health Care Social Workers	1,650	1,820	10.3%	180
Forensic Psychologists	610	600	-1.6%	40
Marriage and Family Therapists	480	560	16.7%	60
Psychology Teachers	420	450	7.1%	40
Industrial Organizational Psychologists	120	130	8.3%	10

Salaries Ranked by Kentucky Cities

The average salary for Substance Abuse Counselors in Kentucky is $45,310. The top cities that pay Substance Abuse Counselors the most are Louisville/Jefferson County ($48,200), Lexington-Fayette ($46,950) and Owensboro ($46,440).

When adjusted for cost-of-living, the cities that pay Substance Abuse Counselors the highest average annual salary are West Kentucky Nonmetropolitan Area ($53,662), Louisville/Jefferson County ($52,443) and South Central Kentucky Nonmetropolitan Area ($52,186).

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
Louisville/Jefferson County	$48,200	$52,443	$4,243
Lexington-Fayette	$46,950	$50,403	$3,453
Owensboro	$46,440	$51,508	$5,068
West Kentucky Nonmetropolitan Area	$46,160	$53,662	$7,502
South Central Kentucky Nonmetropolitan Area	$44,890	$52,186	$7,296
Bowling Green	$43,860	$49,143	$5,283
Elizabethtown-Fort Knox	$42,830	$47,668	$4,838
Central Kentucky Nonmetropolitan Area	$42,740	$49,686	$6,946
East Kentucky Nonmetropolitan Area	$42,130	$48,977	$6,847

Salary FAQ for Kentucky Substance Abuse Counselors

City and Rural Summaries

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