Drug Counselor Salary in Idaho - ID

The average drug counselor salary in Idaho is approximately 17 percent lower than the national average for chemical dependency professionals, at $34,000 a year.  In addition, salaries can vary significantly within the state and from city to city depending on certain local factors such as demand for substance counseling services and overall cost of living.  In Boise and Idaho Falls, the average annual salary for a substance abuse counselor is $28,000.  Substance abuse counselors who specialize in treating particular client populations, such as adolescents or senior citizens, can make considerably more, as can alcohol and drug abuse counselors with advanced graduate degrees.

The outlook in Idaho and nationwide for individuals hoping to start a career in substance abuse counseling in the near future is very bright. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects that the number of job openings for chemical dependency professionals will increase by up to 21 percent between 2008 and 2018.  Meanwhile, demand for substance abuse counselors will outstrip supply, as the number of trained professionals will be unable to keep up with the pace of job creation.  The demand for substance abuse counseling services will be fed by many factors, including increased public awareness and knowledge of issues related to substance abuse, which will remove some of the stigma formerly associated with seeking professional help to deal with alcoholism and drug addiction.  In addition, there is a growing trend away from incarcerating drug offenders and toward mandating drug rehabilitation and substance abuse counseling.