2023 Salary Report for Substance Abuse Counselors in Pennsylvania

Salary Report for Pennsylvania Substance Abuse Counselors

Pennsylvania Rankings

Compare Pennsylvania to U.S.

Pennsylvania Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $49,480 which is 7% less than the national average salary of $53,490.

Type	Pennsylvania	U.S.	% Difference
Average Hourly Wage	$23.79	$25.72	-7.50%
Average Annual Salary	$49,480	$53,490	-7.50%

Salary Range by Education and Experience

In Pennsylvania, 50% of Substance Abuse Counselors earn between $37,220 and $60,300 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 $75,060, a rate generally associated with highly educated and experienced Substance Abuse Counselors.

Approximately 10% of Substance Abuse Counselors earn under $30,690, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Substance Abuse Counselors.

Percent	Experience	Employed	Annual Salary
10%	Less than a Year	1,824	Under $30,690
15%	2 – 4 years	2,736	$30,690 – $37,220
25%	5 – 9 years	4,560	$37,220 – $46,790
25%	10 – 14 years	4,560	$46,790 – $60,300
15%	15 – 20 years	2,736	$46,790 – $75,060
10%	20+ years	1,824	Above $75,060

Adjusted for Cost-of-Living

After being adjusted for cost-of-living, Substance Abuse Counselors in Pennsylvania psychologists earn about $50,718 per year which is less than the average U.S. psychologist of $53,490.

Cost-of-living in Pennsylvania is 2% less than the national average, which means Pennsylvania 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 $49,480, Pennsylvania Substance Abuse Counselors tend to earn less than Forensic Psychologists ($100,290), Psychology Teachers ($88,340), School Psychologists ($80,280), Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($77,140), Health Care Social Workers ($61,990), and Marriage and Family Therapists ($51,260).

However, Substance Abuse Counselors tend to earn more than Social Workers ($49,390).

Title	Annual Salary
Forensic Psychologists	$100,290
Psychology Teachers	$88,340
School Psychologists	$80,280
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists	$77,140
Health Care Social Workers	$61,990
Marriage and Family Therapists	$51,260
Substance Abuse Counselors	$49,480
Social Workers	$49,390

Projected Demand for Psychologists in 2030

The U.S. Department of Labor projects that in Pennsylvania the three professions needing the most new psychologists by 2030 are Substance Abuse Counselors (27,640), Social Workers (22,440) and Health Care Social Workers (8,380).

The three professions in Pennsylvania needing highest percentage new psychologists by 2030 are Substance Abuse Counselors (18.8%), Marriage and Family Therapists (12.6%) and Health Care Social Workers (11.3%).

Title	2020	2030	Change	Yearly Openings
Substance Abuse Counselors	23,260	27,640	18.8%	2,770
Social Workers	20,600	22,440	8.9%	2,150
Health Care Social Workers	7,530	8,380	11.3%	810
Marriage and Family Therapists	2,300	2,590	12.6%	250
Psychology Teachers	2,200	2,360	7.3%	220
Forensic Psychologists	550	560	1.8%	40
Industrial Organizational Psychologists	170	170	0%	10

Salaries Ranked by Pennsylvania Cities

The average salary for Substance Abuse Counselors in Pennsylvania is $49,480. The top cities that pay Substance Abuse Counselors the most are Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington ($53,770), Harrisburg-Carlisle ($52,690) and Chambersburg-Waynesboro ($52,500).

When adjusted for cost-of-living, the cities that pay Substance Abuse Counselors the highest average annual salary are Chambersburg-Waynesboro ($55,351), Harrisburg-Carlisle ($54,612) and Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington ($52,587).

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
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington	$53,770	$52,587	$-1,183
Harrisburg-Carlisle	$52,690	$54,612	$1,922
Chambersburg-Waynesboro	$52,500	$55,351	$2,851
State College	$49,790	$50,101	$311
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton	$49,720	$50,161	$441
Pittsburgh	$48,560	$50,753	$2,193
Lancaster	$48,250	$49,000	$750
York-Hanover	$47,580	$48,946	$1,366
Williamsport	$47,250	$51,203	$3,953
Western Pennsylvania Nonmetropolitan Area	$46,970	$52,522	$5,552
Reading	$46,920	$47,863	$943
Southern Pennsylvania Nonmetropolitan Area	$46,350	$51,828	$5,478
Scranton–Wilkes-Barre–Hazleton	$46,100	$49,559	$3,459
Bloomsburg-Berwick	$45,970	$49,789	$3,819
Northern Pennsylvania Nonmetropolitan Area	$45,950	$51,381	$5,431
East Stroudsburg	$45,190	$45,235	$45
Erie	$45,190	$47,856	$2,666
Gettysburg	$44,450	$46,143	$1,693
Johnstown	$43,200	$51,239	$8,039
Altoona	$40,430	$44,847	$4,417

Salary FAQ for Pennsylvania Substance Abuse Counselors

City and Rural Summaries

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