Drug abuse technician vs program counselor

The differences between drug abuse technicians and program counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a drug abuse technician, becoming a program counselor takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a program counselor has an average salary of $43,820, which is higher than the $29,180 average annual salary of a drug abuse technician.

The top three skills for a drug abuse technician include drug screens, alcohol screens and drug tests. The most important skills for a program counselor are developmental disabilities, patients, and community integration.

Drug abuse technician vs program counselor overview

	Drug Abuse Technician	Program Counselor
Yearly salary	$29,180	$43,820
Hourly rate	$14.03	$21.07
Growth rate	9%	10%
Number of jobs	87,872	133,491
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 36%	Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Average age	39	41
Years of experience	6	4

Drug abuse technician vs program counselor salary

Drug abuse technicians and program counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Drug Abuse Technician	Program Counselor
Average salary	$29,180	$43,820
Salary range	Between $22,000 And $37,000	Between $33,000 And $58,000
Highest paying City	Dana Point, CA	New York, NY
Highest paying state	Oregon	New York
Best paying company	Choctaw Nation Of Oklahoma	Russell Sage College
Best paying industry	Health Care	Health Care

Differences between drug abuse technician and program counselor education

There are a few differences between a drug abuse technician and a program counselor in terms of educational background:

	Drug Abuse Technician	Program Counselor
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 36%	Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Most common major	Criminal Justice	Psychology
Most common college	San Diego State University	California State University - Long Beach

Drug abuse technician vs program counselor demographics

Here are the differences between drug abuse technicians' and program counselors' demographics:

	Drug Abuse Technician	Program Counselor
Average age	39	41
Gender ratio	Male, 41.5% Female, 58.5%	Male, 35.9% Female, 64.1%
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%

Differences between drug abuse technician and program counselor duties and responsibilities

Drug abuse technician example responsibilities.

Work with outside counsel to develop patent and trademark portfolio and manage patent litigation.
Complete intake procedures for new clients including UA's.
Compose written reports of data collect from patient evaluation and present to department chief for thorough analysis of patient diagnosis.
Administer state require DWI protocols including breathalyzer tests and obtaining specimens.

Program counselor example responsibilities.

Lead recreational activities for adolescents with ADHD and other behavior disorders.
Provide education, within hospital setting, to adolescent psychiatric patients regarding substance abuse and dependency issues.
Receive CPR and first aid certifications.
Attend and receive CPR and basic restraint technique certifications.
Assist each client with compassion to encourage them on their journey to recovery.
Encourage and mentore residents during their recovery and rehabilitation process.

Drug abuse technician vs program counselor skills

Common drug abuse technician skills

Drug Screens, 17%
Alcohol Screens, 17%
Drug Tests, 14%
Test Results, 12%
Vital Signs, 8%
Custody Procedures, 6%

Common program counselor skills

Developmental Disabilities, 11%
Patients, 11%
Community Integration, 9%
CPR, 8%
Social Work, 8%
Medication Administration, 7%

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Drug Abuse Technician
Drug Abuse Technician vs Program Counselor

Updated January 8, 2025

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