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Job outlook for chemical dependency professionals in the United States
Are chemical dependency professional jobs in demand?
Chemical dependency professional job and salary trends over time
Chemical dependency professional jobs over time
Chemical dependency professional job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 461 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 457 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 456 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 434 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 405 | 0.00% |
Average chemical dependency professional salary over time
Chemical dependency professional salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $47,509 | $22.84 | +3.1% |
| 2025 | $46,069 | $22.15 | +2.4% |
| 2024 | $44,969 | $21.62 | +2.5% |
| 2023 | $43,868 | $21.09 | +2.0% |
| 2022 | $43,028 | $20.69 | +2.7% |
Chemical dependency professional jobs by state
Most common states for chemical dependency professionals
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware | 961,939 | 180 | 19% |
| 2 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 928 | 17% |
| 3 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 124 | 16% |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 823 | 12% |
| 5 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 166 | 12% |
| 6 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 85 | 12% |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 1,251 | 10% |
| 8 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 329 | 10% |
| 9 | Alaska | 739,795 | 76 | 10% |
| 10 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 59 | 10% |
| 11 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 631 | 9% |
| 12 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 531 | 9% |
| 13 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 156 | 9% |
| 14 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 99 | 9% |
| 15 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 97 | 9% |
| 16 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 77 | 9% |
| 17 | Vermont | 623,657 | 58 | 9% |
| 18 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 450 | 8% |
| 19 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 632 | 7% |
| 20 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 206 | 7% |
Chemical Dependency Professional job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of chemical dependency professional experts
University of Alaska Anchorage
The Pennsylvania State University
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Office of Public and Governmental Affairs Public Affairs Division
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Chemical Dependency Professionals?
Donna Aguiniga Ph.D.: The pandemic will have an enduring impact on all of us. Students have experienced illness, job loss, rapidly changing educational environments, family upheaval, and death-to name just a few of the outcomes of the pandemic. Yet, despite the pandemic, many students are pushing on with their goals and graduating. Social work students are utilizing technology more than ever to successfully complete their coursework while collectively becoming more digitally literate than their predecessors. The pandemic has created a greater need for social services and social workers and, though there will be challenges in the delivery of those services, graduates are well-prepared to enter the profession at this time.
What type of skills will young Chemical Dependency Professionals need?
Donna Aguiniga Ph.D.: Social work graduates must be prepared to work at any system level. For example, they should be able to interview a client, facilitate a group meeting, and analyze proposed legislation. Strong writing, communication skills, and digital literacy are a must, and I encourage students who are weak in these areas to seek out ways to improve them. Graduates need strong information literacy skills so they can parse out sound sources of information to continue to grow their professional knowledge. They need to be adaptive, flexible, and creative to address client and agency needs while maintaining ethical standards.
More than ever, graduates must prepare themselves to be stretched upon entering practice, meeting demands within ever-changing contexts. For example, I had a graduate with a bachelor's degree in social work accept a leadership position with an organization, start providing direct services to clients, and successfully write for a federal grant to increase the agency's programs all within a few months of earning her degree. While the graduate's education grounded her in the basics of these practices, she continued to develop her professional skills within the context of her employment.
What experience really stands out on Chemical Dependency Professional resumes?
Donna Aguiniga Ph.D.: I encourage students to self-evaluate, to think now about how they can make themselves stand out amongst their peers and gain additional practical knowledge. There are many ways to do this. Participating in volunteer work, service-learning classes, study abroad, and student organizations can provide a way for students to gain experience and help their resumes stand out. However, many students have to work full-time and are limited in their opportunity to participate in activities and programs. A strong work history, regardless of the field, demonstrates responsibility in a way that is attractive to potential employers and can showcase desirable skills such as teamwork and problem-solving. In addition, all social work students are required to complete practicum experiences under the supervision of a professional social worker. The practicum is invaluable experience for a resume and has often led directly to job offers.
Dr. Richard Hazler Ph.D.
ProfessorThe Pennsylvania State University
Department of Educational Psychology, Counseling, & Special Education
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Chemical Dependency Professional job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Richard Hazler Ph.D.: Schools still need to hire, but there is hesitancy as they figure out what their budgets are actually going to look like next year. The bottom line is that the pandemic has only upped the amount of stress and emotional problems for children that directly interfere with student learning. Everyone in a school (teachers, administrators, staff, and parents) want people who can help with these problems and who know how to work within the school context. The need and hiring of school counselors continues to increase.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Chemical Dependency Professionals to find work opportunities?
Dr. Richard Hazler Ph.D.: Any place in the country that is growing in suburban population is looking for counselors. Over the past ten years, areas of eastern Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina and areas in California and Florida have been consistently hiring.
Erik Longnecker
Program ManagerBureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Office of Public and Governmental Affairs Public Affairs Division
What general advice would you give to a Chemical Dependency Professional?
Erik Longnecker: ATF Deputy Assistant Director of Human Resources & Professional Development, Peter J. Forcelli, who oversees Training & Professional Development for the agency commented, "There have been a number of challenges in 2020 to onboarding new ATF Special Agents. COVID restrictions made changes to the way we were recruiting. In the past, we primarily recruited in person; in March we turned to technology and the use of the internet to participate in virtual job fairs. We followed the recommendations on the wearing of masks and using appropriate social distancing and continued to get Special Agent applicants through the examination, the Physical Task Test, the panel interview, the polygraph and medical examinations, and a rigorous background investigation, in order to receive a Top-Secret Security Clearance. In addition to continuing these requirements, I am happy to report that in Fiscal Year 2020, despite challenges from COVID and the civil unrest, 186 individuals from very diverse backgrounds became ATF Special Agents. Many have already completed the entire training regimen to include the Criminal Investigator's Training Program at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Brunswick, Georgia, followed by ATF's Special Agent Basic Training Program at the ATF National Academy, which is 14-weeks long, and involves extensive training in firearms technology, interviewing, case management, tactics, post-blast investigations, arson investigations, and federal firearms laws. Law enforcement is a calling for most who enter this field, and we persevere. As a former NYPD Detective and having been an ATF Agent for almost 20 years, it is a rewarding career - and I have never looked back. I expect the young men and women who became ATF Special Agents during this unpredictable year to feel the same way. I'm proud they chose ATF and confident in their abilities to meet our mission and continue protecting the American people from violent gun crime.