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The differences between family intervention specialists and substance abuse counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a family intervention specialist, becoming a substance abuse counselor takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a substance abuse counselor has an average salary of $43,069, which is higher than the $42,045 average annual salary of a family intervention specialist.
The top three skills for a family intervention specialist include social work, family therapy and at-risk youth. The most important skills for a substance abuse counselor are patients, substance abuse treatment, and social work.
| Family Intervention Specialist | Substance Abuse Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $42,045 | $43,069 |
| Hourly rate | $20.21 | $20.71 |
| Growth rate | 9% | - |
| Number of jobs | 76,990 | 78,643 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Average age | 42 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
A family intervention specialist provides family-centered care by visiting children and youth with alcohol addiction, substance abuse, and mental or behavioral health disorders. Typical duties include providing assessment and counseling using evidence-based practices, coordinating with treatment providers to implement services for children and their families. Additionally, as a family intervention specialist, you will be responsible for maintaining up-to-date and accurate reporting, clinical charts, and billing records.
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.
Family intervention specialists and substance abuse counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Family Intervention Specialist | Substance Abuse Counselor | |
| Average salary | $42,045 | $43,069 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $49,000 | Between $27,000 And $67,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Trenton, NJ |
| Highest paying state | - | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | - | Erlanger Health System |
| Best paying industry | - | Non Profits |
There are a few differences between a family intervention specialist and a substance abuse counselor in terms of educational background:
| Family Intervention Specialist | Substance Abuse Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | Hunter College of the City University of New York | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between family intervention specialists' and substance abuse counselors' demographics:
| Family Intervention Specialist | Substance Abuse Counselor | |
| Average age | 42 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 22.4% Female, 77.6% | Male, 34.3% Female, 65.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 13.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 2.7% White, 63.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5% | 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 | 10% | 12% |