Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors: Career Profile
Counsel and advise individuals with alcohol, tobacco, drug, or other problems, such as gambling and eating disorders. May counsel individuals, families, or groups or engage in prevention programs.
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What Do Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors Perform?
The core tasks performed by substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors cover:
- Complete and maintain accurate records or reports regarding the patients' histories and progress, services provided, or other required information.
- Counsel clients or patients, individually or in group sessions, to assist in overcoming dependencies, adjusting to life, or making changes.
- Assess individuals' degree of drug dependency by collecting and analyzing urine samples.
- Follow progress of discharged patients to determine effectiveness of treatments.
- Conduct chemical dependency program orientation sessions.
- Review and evaluate clients' progress in relation to measurable goals described in treatment and care plans.
- Coordinate activities with courts, probation officers, community services, or other post-treatment agencies.
- Develop client treatment plans based on research, clinical experience, and client histories.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Top substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The competencies most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Types of Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors Jobs
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Addiction Counselor
- Addiction Recovery Specialist
- Addiction Therapist
- Addictions Counselor
- Alcohol and Drug Counselor
- Alcoholic Counselor
- Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor
- Assessment Specialist
Job Outlook
The U.S. employs around 53,674 substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +3.3% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $52,157 |
| Hourly median | $25.08 |
| 10th percentile | $31,715 |
| 25th percentile | $41,936 |
| 75th percentile | $62,378 |
| 90th percentile | $72,599 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Tech Stack
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The on-the-job environment of substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Contact With Others
- Telephone Conversations
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
Getting Started in This Career
Most substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors positions require a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologists (Primary-Short)
- Marriage and Family Therapists (Primary-Short)
- Mental Health Counselors (Primary-Short)
- Rehabilitation Counselors (Primary-Short)
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers (Primary-Long)
- Healthcare Social Workers (Primary-Long)
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers (Primary-Short)
- Health Education Specialists (Supplemental)
Degree Programs
Students preparing for substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors often complete programs in:
Health Professions and Related Programs
2 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 21-1011.00 (Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors).
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