2023 Salary Report for Substance Abuse Counselors in Massachusetts

Salary Report for Massachusetts Substance Abuse Counselors

Massachusetts Rankings

Compare Massachusetts to U.S.

Massachusetts Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $55,160 which is 3% more than the national average salary of $53,490.

Type	Massachusetts	U.S.	% Difference
Average Hourly Wage	$26.52	$25.72	3.11%
Average Annual Salary	$55,160	$53,490	3.12%

Salary Range by Education and Experience

In Massachusetts, 50% of Substance Abuse Counselors earn between $39,000 and $63,340 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 $78,540, a rate generally associated with highly educated and experienced Substance Abuse Counselors.

Approximately 10% of Substance Abuse Counselors earn under $37,070, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Substance Abuse Counselors.

Percent	Experience	Employed	Annual Salary
10%	Less than a Year	1,702	Under $37,070
15%	2 – 4 years	2,553	$37,070 – $39,000
25%	5 – 9 years	4,255	$39,000 – $48,960
25%	10 – 14 years	4,255	$48,960 – $63,340
15%	15 – 20 years	2,553	$48,960 – $78,540
10%	20+ years	1,702	Above $78,540

Adjusted for Cost-of-Living

After being adjusted for cost-of-living, Substance Abuse Counselors in Massachusetts psychologists earn about $51,340 per year which is more than the average U.S. psychologist of $53,490.

Cost-of-living in Massachusetts is 7% higher than the national average, which means Massachusetts residents have an overall higher 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 $55,160, Massachusetts Substance Abuse Counselors tend to earn less than Forensic Psychologists ($100,070), Psychology Teachers ($96,650), School Psychologists ($92,730), Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($92,110), Industrial Organizational Psychologists ($72,640), and Health Care Social Workers ($64,250).

However, Substance Abuse Counselors tend to earn more than Marriage and Family Therapists ($53,940), and Social Workers ($54,980).

Title	Annual Salary
Forensic Psychologists	$100,070
Psychology Teachers	$96,650
School Psychologists	$92,730
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists	$92,110
Industrial Organizational Psychologists	$72,640
Health Care Social Workers	$64,250
Substance Abuse Counselors	$55,160
Social Workers	$54,980
Marriage and Family Therapists	$53,940

Projected Demand for Psychologists in 2030

The U.S. Department of Labor projects that in Massachusetts the three professions needing the most new psychologists by 2030 are Substance Abuse Counselors (20,610), Health Care Social Workers (11,930) and Social Workers (10,210).

The three professions in Massachusetts needing highest percentage new psychologists by 2030 are Substance Abuse Counselors (16.6%), Marriage and Family Therapists (14%) and Psychology Teachers (13.3%).

Title	2020	2030	Change	Yearly Openings
Substance Abuse Counselors	17,680	20,610	16.6%	2,050
Health Care Social Workers	10,920	11,930	9.2%	1,140
Social Workers	9,310	10,210	9.7%	980
Forensic Psychologists	1,690	1,660	-1.8%	110
Psychology Teachers	1,580	1,790	13.3%	180
Marriage and Family Therapists	1,000	1,140	14%	110
Industrial Organizational Psychologists	240	250	4.2%	20

Salaries Ranked by Massachusetts Cities

The average salary for Substance Abuse Counselors in Massachusetts is $55,160. The top cities that pay Substance Abuse Counselors the most are Barnstable Town ($62,660), Massachusetts Nonmetropolitan Area ($57,690) and Leominster-Gardner ($57,170).

When adjusted for cost-of-living, the cities that pay Substance Abuse Counselors the highest average annual salary are Barnstable Town ($57,640), Massachusetts Nonmetropolitan Area ($53,068) and Leominster-Gardner ($52,589).

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
Barnstable Town	$62,660	$57,640	$-5,020
Massachusetts Nonmetropolitan Area	$57,690	$53,068	$-4,622
Leominster-Gardner	$57,170	$52,589	$-4,581
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua	$55,570	$51,118	$-4,452
Worcester	$54,500	$50,133	$-4,367
Springfield	$53,760	$49,453	$-4,307
Pittsfield	$52,260	$48,073	$-4,187
New Bedford	$49,340	$45,387	$-3,953

Salary FAQ for Massachusetts Substance Abuse Counselors

City and Rural Summaries

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