2023 Salary Report for Substance Abuse Counselors in South Carolina

Salary Report for South Carolina Substance Abuse Counselors

South Carolina Rankings

Compare South Carolina to U.S.

South Carolina Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $44,250 which is 17% less than the national average salary of $53,490.

Type	South Carolina	U.S.	% Difference
Average Hourly Wage	$21.27	$25.72	-17.30%
Average Annual Salary	$44,250	$53,490	-17.27%

Salary Range by Education and Experience

In South Carolina, 50% of Substance Abuse Counselors earn between $29,340 and $49,980 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 $73,730, a rate generally associated with highly educated and experienced Substance Abuse Counselors.

Approximately 10% of Substance Abuse Counselors earn under $28,580, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Substance Abuse Counselors.

Percent	Experience	Employed	Annual Salary
10%	Less than a Year	244	Under $28,580
15%	2 – 4 years	366	$28,580 – $29,340
25%	5 – 9 years	610	$29,340 – $38,110
25%	10 – 14 years	610	$38,110 – $49,980
15%	15 – 20 years	366	$38,110 – $73,730
10%	20+ years	244	Above $73,730

Adjusted for Cost-of-Living

After being adjusted for cost-of-living, Substance Abuse Counselors in South Carolina psychologists earn about $48,282 per year which is less than the average U.S. psychologist of $53,490.

Cost-of-living in South Carolina is 8% less than the national average, which means South Carolina 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 $44,250, South Carolina Substance Abuse Counselors tend to earn less than Forensic Psychologists ($103,530), Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($84,760), Psychology Teachers ($76,120), School Psychologists ($65,080), Health Care Social Workers ($56,870), Marriage and Family Therapists ($56,480), and Social Workers ($45,710).

Title	Annual Salary
Forensic Psychologists	$103,530
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists	$84,760
Psychology Teachers	$76,120
School Psychologists	$65,080
Health Care Social Workers	$56,870
Marriage and Family Therapists	$56,480
Social Workers	$45,710
Substance Abuse Counselors	$44,250

Projected Demand for Psychologists in 2030

The U.S. Department of Labor projects that in South Carolina the three professions needing the most new psychologists by 2030 are Social Workers (5,030), Health Care Social Workers (2,390) and Substance Abuse Counselors (2,060).

The three professions in South Carolina needing highest percentage new psychologists by 2030 are Substance Abuse Counselors (23.4%), Health Care Social Workers (17.2%) and Social Workers (13%).

Title	2020	2030	Change	Yearly Openings
Social Workers	4,450	5,030	13%	490
Health Care Social Workers	2,040	2,390	17.2%	240
Substance Abuse Counselors	1,670	2,060	23.4%	210
Psychology Teachers	250	280	12%	30

Salaries Ranked by South Carolina Cities

The average salary for Substance Abuse Counselors in South Carolina is $44,250. The top cities that pay Substance Abuse Counselors the most are Northeast South Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area ($58,970), Charleston-North Charleston ($48,570) and Lower Savannah South Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area ($46,980).

When adjusted for cost-of-living, the cities that pay Substance Abuse Counselors the highest average annual salary are Northeast South Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area ($70,328), Lower Savannah South Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area ($56,029) and Upper Savannah South Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area ($55,206).

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
Northeast South Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area	$58,970	$70,328	$11,358
Charleston-North Charleston	$48,570	$49,739	$1,169
Lower Savannah South Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area	$46,980	$56,029	$9,049
Upper Savannah South Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area	$46,290	$55,206	$8,916
Spartanburg	$44,660	$49,650	$4,990
Florence	$43,550	$49,421	$5,871
Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach	$43,520	$46,620	$3,100
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beaufort	$42,630	$43,509	$879
Columbia	$41,810	$45,789	$3,979
Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin	$41,760	$45,865	$4,105

Salary FAQ for South Carolina Substance Abuse Counselors

City and Rural Summaries

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