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The differences between adoption specialists and substance abuse counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become an adoption specialist, becoming a substance abuse counselor takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a substance abuse counselor has an average salary of $43,069, which is higher than the $41,070 average annual salary of an adoption specialist.
The top three skills for an adoption specialist include foster care, social work and adoption process. The most important skills for a substance abuse counselor are patients, substance abuse treatment, and social work.
| Adoption Specialist | Substance Abuse Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $41,070 | $43,069 |
| Hourly rate | $19.75 | $20.71 |
| Growth rate | 9% | - |
| Number of jobs | 84,209 | 78,643 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Average age | 42 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
Adoption Specialists are responsible for evaluating and arranging both adoptive parents' and child's needs to ensure a good family fit. Their duties include undertaking adoption research on families, completing paperwork requirements, carrying out adoption education for families before and following children's placements at their house, and assisting in post-placement services. They are also responsible for developing adoption plans, act as main family advisors, and organize community resources needed by both adoptive parents and children, such as education, health care, and counseling.
Substance abuse counselors act as a support system for people with drug and alcohol problems and other behavioral issues. They help the patients control their behavior until they achieve a full recovery. The mental health counselors aid patients to overcome their chemical dependencies and become self-sufficient individuals. Part of their duty includes meeting clients to evaluate their health and substance issues while creating goals and treatment plans. They teach clients coping mechanisms, refer them to support groups, and engage them in group therapy sessions. Once the patient is stable, they help them re-establish their careers and give updates and reports of progress to the courts. Requirements for the job include a master's degree in counseling and social work.
Adoption specialists and substance abuse counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Adoption Specialist | Substance Abuse Counselor | |
| Average salary | $41,070 | $43,069 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $57,000 | Between $27,000 And $67,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Trenton, NJ |
| Highest paying state | - | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | - | Erlanger Health System |
| Best paying industry | - | Non Profits |
There are a few differences between an adoption specialist and a substance abuse counselor in terms of educational background:
| Adoption Specialist | Substance Abuse Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Most common major | Social Work | Psychology |
| Most common college | SUNY at Albany | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between adoption specialists' and substance abuse counselors' demographics:
| Adoption Specialist | Substance Abuse Counselor | |
| Average age | 42 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 10.6% Female, 89.4% | Male, 34.3% Female, 65.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 13.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 2.7% White, 63.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 12% |