Benchmark Salary Information

  • The number of Substance Abuse Counselors currently employed in Lake Charles is 220.
  • Substance Abuse Counselors in Lake Charles earn an average of $39,590 per year or $19.03 per hour.
  • The percentage of Louisiana Substance Abuse Counselors who work in Lake Charles is less than 1%.
  • The percentage of U.S. Substance Abuse Counselors who work in Lake Charles is less than 1%.

Rankings for Lake Charles

  • Ranks #7 in Louisiana for salary and #6 when adjusted for cost-of-living.
  • Ranks #7 in Louisiana for the number of psychologists employed.
  • Ranks #485 in the nation for salary and #313 when adjusted for cost-of-living.
  • Ranks #261 in the nation for the number of psychologists employed.

Compared to Louisiana

Lake Charles Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $39,590 or $19.03 per hour which is almost same as Louisiana average salary of $39,970.

AverageLake CharlesLouisiana% Difference
Hourly Wage$19.03$19.21-0.94%
Annual Salary$39,590$39,970-0.95%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Compared to the U.S.

Lake Charles Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $39,590 or $19.03 per hour which is 25% less than the U.S. average salary of $53,490.

AverageLake CharlesU.S.%
Hourly Wage$19.03$25.72-26.01%
Annual Salary$39,590$53,490-25.99%
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 Lake Charles earns an average annual salary of $43,391 which compares to the Louisiana average annual salary of $39,970. per year.

Cost-of-living in Lake Charles is 9% less than the Louisiana average, which means Lake Charles residents have an overall less cost for food, housing, utilities and transportation compared to Louisiana average.

  • Louisiana average salary is $39,970.
  • Louisiana cost-of-living adjusted salary is $43,108.
  • Lake Charles average salary is $39,590.
  • Lake Charles cost-of-living adjusted salary is $43,391.
LocationAverage Annual WageCost of LivingAdjusted COL Wage
Lake Charles$39,59091.24%$43,391
Louisiana$39,97092.72%$43,108
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 Lake Charles, 50% of Substance Abuse Counselors earn between $30,640 and $47,110 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 $59,780, which is a rate for highly skilled, experienced and educated Substance Abuse Counselors.

Approximately 10% of Substance Abuse Counselors earn under $29,780, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Substance Abuse Counselors.

PercentExperienceEmployedAnnual Salary
10%Less than a Year22Under $29,780
15%2 – 4 years33$29,780 – $30,640
25%5 – 9 years55$30,640 – $37,060
25%10 – 14 years55$37,060 – $47,110
15%15 – 20 years33$37,060 – $59,780
10%20+ years22Above $59,780
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 $39,590, Lake Charles Substance Abuse Counselors tend to earn less than Health Care Social Workers ($55,060).

TitleAnnual Salary
Health Care Social Workers$55,060
Substance Abuse Counselors$39,590
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

FAQ for Lake Charles Substance Abuse Counselors

The number of Substance Abuse Counselors currently employed in Lake Charles is 220.

Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $39,590 per year or $19.03 per hour in Lake Charles.

When adjusted for Cost of Living in Lake Charles Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $43,391 per year or $21 per hour.

The types of psychologists that are paid the highest annual salary in Lake Charles are Health Care Social Workers($55,060), Substance Abuse Counselors($39,590),


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

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