Clinical social worker vs addictions counselor

The differences between clinical social workers and addictions counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a clinical social worker, becoming an addictions counselor takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a clinical social worker has an average salary of $63,056, which is higher than the $47,226 average annual salary of an addictions counselor.

The top three skills for a clinical social worker include social work, patients and behavioral health. The most important skills for an addictions counselor are patients, social work, and chemical dependency.

Clinical social worker vs addictions counselor overview

	Clinical Social Worker	Addictions Counselor
Yearly salary	$63,056	$47,226
Hourly rate	$30.32	$22.70
Growth rate	9%	12%
Number of jobs	124,816	79,459
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Master's Degree, 54%	Bachelor's Degree, 53%
Average age	45	39
Years of experience	2	6

What does a clinical social worker do?

A clinical social worker is an individual in social work, which provides help to individuals in need of improving their lives and their well-being. Clinical social workers must work with different individuals to help them address difficulties that they are trying to overcome. To perform counseling services, clinical social workers must take and pass the professional licensure examination. They also help disadvantaged individuals connect to resources and services that they may benefit from.

What does an addictions counselor do?

An Addictions Counselor helps patients overcome personal addiction problems, such as dependence on drugs, alcohol, and other substances. They evaluate the condition of their client through examining, asking questions, and recommending the proper treatment options.

Clinical social worker vs addictions counselor salary

Clinical social workers and addictions counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Clinical Social Worker	Addictions Counselor
Average salary	$63,056	$47,226
Salary range	Between $42,000 And $92,000	Between $32,000 And $68,000
Highest paying City	Santa Rosa, CA	Philadelphia, PA
Highest paying state	California	Pennsylvania
Best paying company	Tucson Electric Power	Wellpath
Best paying industry	Education	Non Profits

Differences between clinical social worker and addictions counselor education

There are a few differences between a clinical social worker and an addictions counselor in terms of educational background:

	Clinical Social Worker	Addictions Counselor
Most common degree	Master's Degree, 54%	Bachelor's Degree, 53%
Most common major	Social Work	Psychology
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	Hunter College of the City University of New York

Clinical social worker vs addictions counselor demographics

Here are the differences between clinical social workers' and addictions counselors' demographics:

	Clinical Social Worker	Addictions Counselor
Average age	45	39
Gender ratio	Male, 21.7% Female, 78.3%	Male, 35.4% Female, 64.6%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 19.9% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.3% Asian, 3.3% White, 58.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%	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	13%	12%

Differences between clinical social worker and addictions counselor duties and responsibilities

Clinical social worker example responsibilities.

Understand manage care, Medicare and Medicaid benefits.
Screen, identify, diagnose using DSM nomenclature, treat and manage mental health and/or substance abuse problems.
Provide clinical services to patients in rehabilitation and oncology including assessment, crisis intervention, grief therapy, and discharge planning.
Provide individual, group, family therapy, team coordination, discharge planning, utilization review and MSW student supervision.
Participate in weekly interdisciplinary team meetings to determine Medicare length of skil nursing stay.
Facilitate therapy, symptom management, and rehabilitation groups for mental health clients in partial hospitalization setting.

Addictions counselor example responsibilities.

Ensure and manage the compliance with Didi Hirsch policies and procedures, contracts and other regulatory agencies, HIPAA and DMH.
Develop treatment plans and recommend a level of care within ASAM and DSM-IV guidelines, and approve requirements.
Restore patients to productive roles by educating them about available community base organizations, and social and employment services.
Perform initial evaluations and intakes, make eligibility determinations, conduct rehabilitation planning and problem solving, and counseling.
Provide drug, alcohol, and rehabilitation counseling and education in a residential therapeutic community for female drug offenders.
Serve as an advocate for family with private/public school-relate agencies (IEP meetings/education plans).

Clinical social worker vs addictions counselor skills

Common clinical social worker skills

Social Work, 28%
Patients, 17%
Behavioral Health, 6%
Patient Care, 5%
Community Resources, 4%
MSW, 3%

Common addictions counselor skills

Patients, 18%
Social Work, 12%
Chemical Dependency, 6%
Crisis Intervention, 6%
Substance Abuse Treatment, 5%
Intake Assessments, 4%

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Clinical Social Worker vs Addictions Counselor

Updated January 8, 2025

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