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The differences between addictions counselors and residential counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become an addictions counselor, becoming a residential counselor takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an addictions counselor has an average salary of $47,226, which is higher than the $34,117 average annual salary of a residential counselor.
The top three skills for an addictions counselor include patients, social work and chemical dependency. The most important skills for a residential counselor are direct care, medication administration, and mental health.
| Addictions Counselor | Residential Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $47,226 | $34,117 |
| Hourly rate | $22.70 | $16.40 |
| Growth rate | 12% | 12% |
| Number of jobs | 79,459 | 81,287 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 39 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
An Addictions Counselor helps patients overcome personal addiction problems, such as dependence on drugs, alcohol, and other substances. They evaluate the condition of their client through examining, asking questions, and recommending the proper treatment options.
A residential counselor is responsible for guiding and providing the residents with their basic needs and other resources to support them in their daily living. Residential counselors' duties include maintaining the safety of the community by enforcing safety guidelines and procedures for the residents' compliance, organizing productive and engaging community activities, updating the residents of any changes and policies in the community, and resolving conflicts by counseling and understanding each resident's differences. A residential counselor must have excellent communication and decision-making skills to ensure the development of residents in a living facility.
Addictions counselors and residential counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Addictions Counselor | Residential Counselor | |
| Average salary | $47,226 | $34,117 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $68,000 | Between $27,000 And $42,000 |
| Highest paying City | Philadelphia, PA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Pennsylvania | Washington |
| Best paying company | Wellpath | The Evergreens |
| Best paying industry | Non Profits | Education |
There are a few differences between an addictions counselor and a residential counselor in terms of educational background:
| Addictions Counselor | Residential Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | Hunter College of the City University of New York | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between addictions counselors' and residential counselors' demographics:
| Addictions Counselor | Residential Counselor | |
| Average age | 39 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 35.4% Female, 64.6% | Male, 33.0% Female, 67.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.4% Asian, 4.6% White, 63.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% | 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 | 12% | 15% |