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The differences between counselors and substance abuse counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a substance abuse counselor has an average salary of $43,069, which is higher than the $36,225 average annual salary of a counselor.
The top three skills for a counselor include patients, crisis intervention and substance abuse. The most important skills for a substance abuse counselor are patients, substance abuse treatment, and social work.
| Counselor | Substance Abuse Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $36,225 | $43,069 |
| Hourly rate | $17.42 | $20.71 |
| Growth rate | 10% | - |
| Number of jobs | 77,536 | 78,643 |
| Job satisfaction | 2 | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Average age | 44 | 39 |
| Years of experience | - | 6 |
Often, counselors are known to be the go-to person in times we are in need of emotional and psychological support. They help people to manage and overcome the issues which affect their mental health and well-being. Counselors face different kind of situations which may involve trauma, addiction, disabilities, abuse, suicide, anger management, career, and even personal relationships. They provide care, counseling, rehabilitation, and support services. Every counseling requires collaborative effort both from the counselor and client to become effective.
Substance abuse counselors act as a support system for people with drug and alcohol problems and other behavioral issues. They help the patients control their behavior until they achieve a full recovery. The mental health counselors aid patients to overcome their chemical dependencies and become self-sufficient individuals. Part of their duty includes meeting clients to evaluate their health and substance issues while creating goals and treatment plans. They teach clients coping mechanisms, refer them to support groups, and engage them in group therapy sessions. Once the patient is stable, they help them re-establish their careers and give updates and reports of progress to the courts. Requirements for the job include a master's degree in counseling and social work.
Counselors and substance abuse counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Counselor | Substance Abuse Counselor | |
| Average salary | $36,225 | $43,069 |
| Salary range | Between $19,000 And $67,000 | Between $27,000 And $67,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Trenton, NJ |
| Highest paying state | California | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | - | Erlanger Health System |
| Best paying industry | Education | Non Profits |
There are a few differences between a counselor and a substance abuse counselor in terms of educational background:
| Counselor | Substance Abuse Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between counselors' and substance abuse counselors' demographics:
| Counselor | Substance Abuse Counselor | |
| Average age | 44 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 38.5% Female, 61.5% | Male, 34.3% Female, 65.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 15.6% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 3.5% White, 63.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% | 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 | 9% | 12% |