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Salary guides / LCDC / CADC

LCDC / CADC salary guide

What we see Substance Use Counselor roles advertised at across the US, and what actually moves the number.

Advertised range: $48k – $70k
Live roles: None open today
Basis: Roles we recruit, US

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How much does a LCDC / CADC earn in the US?

Substance Use Counselor roles we recruit are advertised at roughly $48k – $70k: $48k at entry, $58k mid-career and $70k at senior or supervisory level. Setting, caseload size and payer mix move the figure more than years of experience do, and the same credential prices differently in center-based, school, in-home and telehealth work.

By experience

Advertised LCDC / CADC pay by experience level in the United States
Experience	Advertised pay	What that looks like
Entry	$48k	First role after certification
Mid-career	$58k	Two to five years, full caseload
Senior	$70k	Supervisory scope or specialist skill

Ranges reflect what we typically see advertised on roles we recruit for in the US. They are a market guide, not a survey, and vary by setting, caseload and experience. Last reviewed August 2026.

What moves the number

Setting: center-based, in-home, school and telehealth all price differently for the same credential
Caseload size and supervision responsibility
State and metro cost of living, and how scarce the credential is locally
Payer mix and billable expectation, which decide how achievable any bonus really is
Bilingual capability and specialist skills such as feeding, AAC or severe behavior

Read the whole package

Base pay is only part of it. Before comparing two offers, get the caseload cap, the billable or productivity target, PTO, CEU allowance, supervision provided, drive time and mileage policy, and how cancellations affect pay. A lower base with a sane caseload routinely beats a higher one without.

Live LCDC / CADC jobs Full LCDC / CADC career guide

Live LCDC / CADC roles

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