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The differences between addictions counselor assistants and program counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become an addictions counselor assistant, becoming a program counselor takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an addictions counselor assistant has an average salary of $46,799, which is higher than the $43,820 average annual salary of a program counselor.
The top three skills for an addictions counselor assistant include patients, social work and substance abuse. The most important skills for a program counselor are developmental disabilities, patients, and community integration.
| Addictions Counselor Assistant | Program Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $46,799 | $43,820 |
| Hourly rate | $22.50 | $21.07 |
| Growth rate | 12% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 86,506 | 133,491 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 60% |
| Average age | 43 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 4 |
An addictions counselor assistant works with a head counselor to provide support to patients suffering from addiction. They deal with the clerical and administrative side of running a counseling firm. This includes managing data, maintaining confidentiality of patient information, monitoring adherence to government regulations, and assisting with patients' treatment.
A Program Counselor is an essential part of a school's faculty. It's the counselor's responsibility to ensure that students are benefiting from the school's educational curriculum. This person is also tasked to help students resolve issues and problems that may hinder any educational progress. They are also part of the disciplinary team intended to instill good morals, ethics, and decency in students. The Program Counselor is one of the teacher or professor who has expertise or has a high educational degree in a particular subject or field.
Addictions counselor assistants and program counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Addictions Counselor Assistant | Program Counselor | |
| Average salary | $46,799 | $43,820 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $64,000 | Between $33,000 And $58,000 |
| Highest paying City | Bellevue, WA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | New York |
| Best paying company | Chino Valley Unified School District | Russell Sage College |
| Best paying industry | Education | Health Care |
There are a few differences between an addictions counselor assistant and a program counselor in terms of educational background:
| Addictions Counselor Assistant | Program Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 60% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between addictions counselor assistants' and program counselors' demographics:
| Addictions Counselor Assistant | Program Counselor | |
| Average age | 43 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 31.6% Female, 68.4% | Male, 35.9% Female, 64.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.8% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 18.5% Asian, 7.1% White, 54.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.2% | Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 3.2% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 15% |