Benchmark Salary Information

  • The number of Substance Abuse Counselors currently employed in St. Louis is 1,890.
  • Substance Abuse Counselors in St. Louis earn an average of $48,290 per year or $23.21 per hour.
  • The percentage of Missouri Substance Abuse Counselors who work in St. Louis is less than 1%.
  • The percentage of U.S. Substance Abuse Counselors who work in St. Louis is 1%.

Rankings for St. Louis

  • Ranks #1 in Missouri for salary and #1 when adjusted for cost-of-living.
  • Ranks #1 in Missouri for the number of psychologists employed.
  • Ranks #306 in the nation for salary and #157 when adjusted for cost-of-living.
  • Ranks #33 in the nation for the number of psychologists employed.

Compared to Missouri

St. Louis Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $48,290 or $23.21 per hour which is 11% more than the Missouri average salary of $43,270.

AverageSt. LouisMissouri% Difference
Hourly Wage$23.21$20.8011.59%
Annual Salary$48,290$43,27011.60%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Compared to the U.S.

St. Louis Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $48,290 or $23.21 per hour which is 9% less than the U.S. average salary of $53,490.

AverageSt. LouisU.S.%
Hourly Wage$23.21$25.72-9.76%
Annual Salary$48,290$53,490-9.72%
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 St. Louis earns an average annual salary of $50,454 which compares to the Missouri average annual salary of $43,270. per year.

Cost-of-living in St. Louis is 4% less than the Missouri average, which means St. Louis residents have an overall less cost for food, housing, utilities and transportation compared to Missouri average.

  • Missouri average salary is $43,270.
  • Missouri cost-of-living adjusted salary is $46,783.
  • St. Louis average salary is $48,290.
  • St. Louis cost-of-living adjusted salary is $50,454.
LocationAverage Annual WageCost of LivingAdjusted COL Wage
St. Louis$48,29095.71%$50,454
Missouri$43,27092.49%$46,783
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 St. Louis, 50% of Substance Abuse Counselors earn between $36,910 and $59,770 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 $65,250, which is a rate for highly skilled, experienced and educated Substance Abuse Counselors.

Approximately 10% of Substance Abuse Counselors earn under $29,480, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Substance Abuse Counselors.

PercentExperienceEmployedAnnual Salary
10%Less than a Year189Under $29,480
15%2 – 4 years284$29,480 – $36,910
25%5 – 9 years472$36,910 – $46,910
25%10 – 14 years472$46,910 – $59,770
15%15 – 20 years284$46,910 – $65,250
10%20+ years189Above $65,250
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 $48,290, St. Louis Substance Abuse Counselors tend to earn less than Forensic Psychologists ($96,990), Psychology Teachers ($89,820), School Psychologists ($76,880), Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($74,350), Health Care Social Workers ($52,270), and Marriage and Family Therapists ($51,310).

However, Substance Abuse Counselors tend to earn more than Social Workers ($45,090).

TitleAnnual Salary
Forensic Psychologists$96,990
Psychology Teachers$89,820
School Psychologists$76,880
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists$74,350
Health Care Social Workers$52,270
Marriage and Family Therapists$51,310
Substance Abuse Counselors$48,290
Social Workers$45,090
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

FAQ for St. Louis Substance Abuse Counselors

The number of Substance Abuse Counselors currently employed in St. Louis is 1,890.

Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $48,290 per year or $23.21 per hour in St. Louis.

When adjusted for Cost of Living in St. Louis Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $50,454 per year or $24 per hour.

The types of psychologists that are paid the highest annual salary in St. Louis are Forensic Psychologists($96,990), Psychology Teachers($89,820), School Psychologists($76,880).


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

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