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The differences between alcohol and drug counselors and behavioral health specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become an alcohol and drug counselor, becoming a behavioral health specialist takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an alcohol and drug counselor has an average salary of $45,758, which is higher than the $44,808 average annual salary of a behavioral health specialist.
The top three skills for an alcohol and drug counselor include patients, social work and crisis intervention. The most important skills for a behavioral health specialist are patients, social work, and substance abuse.
| Alcohol And Drug Counselor | Behavioral Health Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $45,758 | $44,808 |
| Hourly rate | $22.00 | $21.54 |
| Growth rate | - | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 77,461 | 130,222 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Average age | 39 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
A drug & alcohol counselor treats addicts in either one-on-one or group settings. They help by educating and developing possible treatment plans for patients to support them in coping with their addictive personalities. A drug and alcohol counselor will evaluate to determine the progress has been successfully made towards recovery. They help patients better understand and overcome their addictions. Counselors help through offering support, rehabilitation, and guidance by using various techniques. Drug & alcohol counselors seek to help an addict find the source of their addiction.
Typically working for clinics and learning institutions, a behavioral health specialist is in charge of counseling and treating patients with behavioral issues. Their responsibilities revolve around conducting initial assessment through interview and observation, maintaining records and data, developing treatment plans, and referring patients to other support services when necessary. Moreover, a behavioral health specialist must communicate with the patient's families or guardians, discuss conditions, and provide advice on taking care of them. Aside from treating patients, it is also essential to continuously monitor their behavior while building positive relationships with them.
Alcohol and drug counselors and behavioral health specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Alcohol And Drug Counselor | Behavioral Health Specialist | |
| Average salary | $45,758 | $44,808 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $68,000 | Between $29,000 And $66,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Rosa, CA | Anchorage, AK |
| Highest paying state | California | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Montage Health | Maxim Healthcare Group |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Insurance |
There are a few differences between an alcohol and drug counselor and a behavioral health specialist in terms of educational background:
| Alcohol And Drug Counselor | Behavioral Health Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between alcohol and drug counselors' and behavioral health specialists' demographics:
| Alcohol And Drug Counselor | Behavioral Health Specialist | |
| Average age | 39 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 37.5% Female, 62.5% | Male, 29.2% Female, 70.8% |
| 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, 7.9% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 3.1% White, 74.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 15% |