Substance abuse counselor salary in California
Open substance abuse counselor jobs in California post a median of $29.25 an hour, the middle half $25.75–$31 (about $60,800 a year full time), $0.25 above the national posted median. From 16 jobs at 11 employers that state their pay.
- 25th percentile$25.75/hr
- Median (50th)$29.25/hr
- 75th percentile$31/hr
- Distinct posted rates16
- Jobs stating an hourly rate16
- Employers11
The median is the middle of the 16 distinct rates they post, and the middle half, $25.75–$31 an hour, runs from their 25th percentile to their 75th: half of the rates fall between them. Each range counts at its midpoint, and a job posted many times at one rate counts once, so no employer's posting volume sets the figure.
- 25th percentile$25.75/hr
- Median (50th)$29.25/hr
- 75th percentile$31/hr
- Distinct posted rates16
- Jobs stating an hourly rate16
- Employers11
The median is the middle of the 16 distinct rates they post, and the middle half, $25.75–$31 an hour, runs from their 25th percentile to their 75th: half of the rates fall between them. Each range counts at its midpoint, and a job posted many times at one rate counts once, so no employer's posting volume sets the figure.
- Median posted per hour$29.25
- Hours in a full-time year2,080
- A year, full time$60,800
40 hours a week for 52 weeks, to the nearest $100. An estimate from the hourly rate: no job states it.
- 10th percentile$21.46/hr
- 25th percentile$22.91/hr
- Median$28.48/hr
- 75th percentile$38.74/hr
- 90th percentile$53.40/hr
- People employed in it75,610
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors (SOC 21-1018), all industries, California: the hourly wages BLS measured people employed in it earn, not read from open jobs. Measured and published by BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (source: BLS OEWS May 2025, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors, California).
The jobs themselves: Substance abuse counselor jobs in California · Substance abuse counselor pay nationwide
What substance abuse counselors are paid in California
Each bar counts the open jobs posting an hourly rate in its step of pay (a range at its midpoint).
Median $29.25 an hour. Middle half $25.75 to $31. Point at a bar for its count. Tap a bar for its count.
Posted on open jobs in California
Middle half of 16 distinct posted rates (a job posted many times at one rate counted once), median $29.25. 67% of the 24 open substance abuse counselor jobs in California state an hourly rate.
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Substance abuse counselor pay by town in California
Towns where at least three open jobs state an hourly rate, the towns with the most such jobs first.
| Town | Median posted | Posted range | Jobs (employers) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $31 | $26–$40 | 3 (2) |
Median of employers' rates in the town, the lowest and highest rate posted, and the jobs and employers behind them. A town opens its own job page.
Substance abuse counselor pay by employer in California
What each employer posts for substance abuse counselors here, the employers with the most jobs stating pay first.
Median of each employer's jobs in California (a range at its midpoint), and its lowest and highest rate here. An employer's name opens its pay for substance abuse counselors nationwide when it has such a page.
Best-paid open substance abuse counselor jobs in California
The open jobs posting the highest hourly rates tonight, at most two from one employer.
- $34–$40/hr
$34.20–$38/hr
$32–$36/hr
$31.00/hr- $29.00–$33.00/hr
- $25–$35/hr
$26–$33/hr- $26–$33/hr
$27.00–$31.00/hr- $28/hr
$25–$27/hr
$25/hr
What BLS measures in California
What people employed in the occupation earned in the state, at every level of experience, from the BLS survey. A posting advertises what a new hire is offered.
| BLS occupation | 10th pct | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | 90th pct | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors (21-1018) | $21.46 (source: BLS OEWS, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors) | $22.91 (source: BLS OEWS, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors) | $28.48 (source: BLS OEWS, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors) | $38.74 (source: BLS OEWS, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors) | $53.40 (source: BLS OEWS, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors) | 75,610 (source: BLS OEWS, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors) |
BLS median by metro area
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$24.96/hr (source: BLS OEWS, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA)
- San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$32.89/hr (source: BLS OEWS, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA)
- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$27.83/hr (source: BLS OEWS, Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA)
- San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$27.72/hr (source: BLS OEWS, San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA)
- Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$29.35/hr (source: BLS OEWS, Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA)
- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$34.88/hr (source: BLS OEWS, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA)
- Fresno, CA$28.75/hr (source: BLS OEWS, Fresno, CA)
- Bakersfield-Delano, CA$28.67/hr (source: BLS OEWS, Bakersfield-Delano, CA)
Substance abuse counselor salary in California: common questions
How much does a substance abuse counselor make in California?
Open substance abuse counselor jobs in California that state an hourly rate post a median of $29.25, the middle half $25.75–$31 (16 jobs from 11 employers). Full time that is about $60,800 a year. BLS measured a median of $28.48/hr ($59,250 a year) for people employed in the occupation in California (May 2025).
How does California compare with the rest of the country?
The posted median in California ($29.25) is $0.25 above the national posted median of $29. In the BLS survey California ranks 30 of 52 by median wage.
Where do these figures come from?
From the pay open jobs state, read every night from each employer's own job board: 16 of 24 open substance abuse counselor jobs in California (67%) state an hourly rate. No pay is estimated for a job that states none; "up to" ceilings and weekly travel rates are left out.
Sources and method
- CareJobs.Now job board: the pay open jobs state, read every night from each employer's own careers site, published 5 Nov 2026
- BLS OEWS May 2025: Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors (SOC 21-1018), every state, published 15 May 2026
- BLS OEWS May 2025: Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors, national, published 15 May 2026
- BLS OEWS May 2025: Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors by metropolitan area, published 15 May 2026
Cite this page
CareJobs.Now. (2026). Substance abuse counselor salary in California. Data as of 5 Nov 2026. https://carejobs.now/salaries/substance-abuse-counselor/california