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Drug and alcohol treatment specialist vs counselor

The differences between drug and alcohol treatment specialists and counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a counselor has an average salary of $36,225, which is higher than the $32,253 average annual salary of a drug and alcohol treatment specialist.

The top three skills for a drug and alcohol treatment specialist include mental health, crisis intervention and group therapy sessions. The most important skills for a counselor are patients, crisis intervention, and substance abuse.

Drug and alcohol treatment specialist vs counselor overview

Drug And Alcohol Treatment SpecialistCounselor
Yearly salary$32,253$36,225
Hourly rate$15.51$17.42
Growth rate-10%
Number of jobs67,19277,536
Job satisfaction52
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Average age3944
Years of experience6-

Drug and alcohol treatment specialist vs counselor salary

Drug and alcohol treatment specialists and counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Drug And Alcohol Treatment SpecialistCounselor
Average salary$32,253$36,225
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $39,000Between $19,000 And $67,000
Highest paying CityOxnard, CA-
Highest paying stateHawaiiCalifornia
Best paying companyCommonwealth Of Pennsylvania-
Best paying industryGovernmentEducation

Differences between drug and alcohol treatment specialist and counselor education

There are a few differences between a drug and alcohol treatment specialist and a counselor in terms of educational background:

Drug And Alcohol Treatment SpecialistCounselor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Most common majorPsychologyPsychology
Most common collegeSUNY at AlbanyUniversity of Pennsylvania

Drug and alcohol treatment specialist vs counselor demographics

Here are the differences between drug and alcohol treatment specialists' and counselors' demographics:

Drug And Alcohol Treatment SpecialistCounselor
Average age3944
Gender ratioMale, 33.9% Female, 66.1%Male, 38.5% Female, 61.5%
Race ratioBlack 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, 15.6% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 3.5% White, 63.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%
LGBT Percentage12%9%

Differences between drug and alcohol treatment specialist and counselor duties and responsibilities

Drug and alcohol treatment specialist example responsibilities.

  • Provide individualize intervention for problematic behaviors using TCI techniques such as de-escalation, to prevent and/or manage crisis.
  • Conduct substance abuse assessments and submit treatment recommendations for DUI and felony offenders.
  • Facilitate positive consumer and personal relationships base on positive consumer and personal relationships base on courtesy, compassion, and respect.
  • Provide individualize intervention for problematic behaviors using TCI techniques such as de-escalation, to prevent and/or manage crisis.

Counselor example responsibilities.

  • Maintain a safe program through ongoing CPI training.
  • Utilize de-escalation skills (CPI) when necessary.
  • Instill confidence, improve all components of writing and reading, and study strategies.
  • Arrange ESL tutoring and perform as liaison between students, parents, and school administrators.
  • Advise students into their major field of study, and assisting them with choosing the correct curriculum.
  • Operate a full service litigation office that evolve from general litigation to criminal litigation to federal criminal trials.
  • Show more

Drug and alcohol treatment specialist vs counselor skills

Common drug and alcohol treatment specialist skills
  • Mental Health, 31%
  • Crisis Intervention, 9%
  • Group Therapy Sessions, 8%
  • Substance Abuse Issues, 8%
  • Motivational, 7%
  • Community Programs, 7%
Common counselor skills
  • Patients, 13%
  • Crisis Intervention, 12%
  • Substance Abuse, 12%
  • Social Work, 10%
  • Community Resources, 4%
  • CPR, 4%

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