Alcoholic counselor vs primary counselor

The differences between alcoholic counselors and primary counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both an alcoholic counselor and a primary counselor. Additionally, a primary counselor has an average salary of $44,580, which is higher than the $43,635 average annual salary of an alcoholic counselor.

The top three skills for an alcoholic counselor include social work, discharge planning and AOD. The most important skills for a primary counselor are group therapy sessions, mental health, and crisis intervention.

Alcoholic counselor vs primary counselor overview

	Alcoholic Counselor	Primary Counselor
Yearly salary	$43,635	$44,580
Hourly rate	$20.98	$21.43
Growth rate	-	9%
Number of jobs	27,287	65,753
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 49%	Bachelor's Degree, 58%
Average age	39	39
Years of experience	6	6

Alcoholic counselor vs primary counselor salary

Alcoholic counselors and primary counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Alcoholic Counselor	Primary Counselor
Average salary	$43,635	$44,580
Salary range	Between $32,000 And $58,000	Between $31,000 And $63,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between alcoholic counselor and primary counselor education

There are a few differences between an alcoholic counselor and a primary counselor in terms of educational background:

	Alcoholic Counselor	Primary Counselor
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 49%	Bachelor's Degree, 58%
Most common major	Psychology	Psychology
Most common college	Hunter College of the City University of New York	Hunter College of the City University of New York

Alcoholic counselor vs primary counselor demographics

Here are the differences between alcoholic counselors' and primary counselors' demographics:

	Alcoholic Counselor	Primary Counselor
Average age	39	39
Gender ratio	Male, 51.3% Female, 48.7%	Male, 34.5% Female, 65.5%
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, 11.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.4% Asian, 4.6% White, 63.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage	12%	12%

Differences between alcoholic counselor and primary counselor duties and responsibilities

Alcoholic counselor example responsibilities.

Conduct group check-in and co-lead group psychotherapy sessions to help clients identify and manage problems associate with psychiatric conditions.
Facilitate substance abuse group counseling sessions to assist patients in recognizing causal factors of substance abuse and in developing coping behaviors.
Collaborate with peers in leadership capacity at recreational summer camp leading, coordinating and organizing daily activities and weekly field trips.

Primary counselor example responsibilities.

Coordinate individual client treatment plans to achieve individual and department rehabilitation goals.
Conduct intake screenings and assessment for treatment entry and appropriateness per ASAM criteria.
Develop and implement individualized treatment plans base on patient needs and ASAM criteria.
Maintain accurate and complete chart documentation regarding patient attitude and progress in the rehabilitation process following program protocols.
Facilitate group activities, arrange for outside recovery-orient NA/AA meetings, and provide a safe environment for recovering patients.
Facilitate substance abuse group counseling sessions to assist patients in recognizing causal factors of substance abuse and in developing coping behaviors.

Alcoholic counselor vs primary counselor skills

Common alcoholic counselor skills

Social Work, 44%
Discharge Planning, 14%
AOD, 13%
Treatment Services, 9%
Mental Health, 7%
Intake Process, 3%

Common primary counselor skills

Group Therapy Sessions, 10%
Mental Health, 10%
Crisis Intervention, 10%
Patients, 8%
Intake Assessments, 8%
Substance Abuse Treatment, 8%

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Alcoholic Counselor
Alcoholic Counselor vs Primary Counselor

Updated January 8, 2025

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