Webthe average salary for a substance abuse counselor is $23. 95 per hour in the united states. 5. 1k salaries reported, updated at august 25, 2024. Webhow much does a substance abuse counselor make? The average annual salary of substance abuse counselor in the united states is $58,060 or $28 per hour, ranging from $44,859 to $73,305 and $22 to $35.