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The differences between alcohol and drug counselors and crisis 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 alcohol and drug counselor, becoming a crisis counselor takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a crisis counselor has an average salary of $51,142, which is higher than the $45,758 average annual salary of an alcohol and drug counselor.
The top three skills for an alcohol and drug counselor include patients, social work and crisis intervention. The most important skills for a crisis counselor are social work, patients, and mental health crisis.
| Alcohol And Drug Counselor | Crisis Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $45,758 | $51,142 |
| Hourly rate | $22.00 | $24.59 |
| Growth rate | - | 12% |
| Number of jobs | 77,461 | 76,255 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 39 | 41 |
| 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.
A crisis counselor is responsible for providing assistance and emotional support to clients under crises or mental health emergencies caused by stress, trauma, grief, and other factors. Most crisis counselors work at clinics or counseling centers, and there are instances where they can be at schools and organizations. Aside from diagnosing and providing specific treatments, a crisis counselor must also build rapport with clients, helping them feel comfortable every step of the way, and serving as a positive influence in their journey to recovery.
Alcohol and drug counselors and crisis counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Alcohol And Drug Counselor | Crisis Counselor | |
| Average salary | $45,758 | $51,142 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $68,000 | Between $37,000 And $69,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Rosa, CA | - |
| Highest paying state | California | - |
| Best paying company | Montage Health | - |
| Best paying industry | Professional | - |
There are a few differences between an alcohol and drug counselor and a crisis counselor in terms of educational background:
| Alcohol And Drug Counselor | Crisis Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| 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 crisis counselors' demographics:
| Alcohol And Drug Counselor | Crisis Counselor | |
| Average age | 39 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 37.5% Female, 62.5% | Male, 22.9% Female, 77.1% |
| 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% |