Hospital social worker vs substance abuse counselor

The differences between hospital social workers and substance abuse 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 hospital social worker, becoming a substance abuse counselor takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a hospital social worker has an average salary of $54,774, which is higher than the $43,069 average annual salary of a substance abuse counselor.

The top three skills for a hospital social worker include social work, patients and patient care. The most important skills for a substance abuse counselor are patients, substance abuse treatment, and social work.

Hospital social worker vs substance abuse counselor overview

	Hospital Social Worker	Substance Abuse Counselor
Yearly salary	$54,774	$43,069
Hourly rate	$26.33	$20.71
Growth rate	9%	-
Number of jobs	105,520	78,643
Job satisfaction	-	5
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 48%	Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Average age	45	39
Years of experience	2	6

What does a hospital social worker do?

The job of a hospital social worker is one that constantly puts them in the limelight. They perform duties to help patients as they navigate the process of being sick and hospitalized. They assist patients in dealing with the effects of hospitalization. They function as the middleman between patients and the hospital staff. They must also connect patients to much-needed services and assist with coordinating insurance reimbursements.

What does a substance abuse counselor do?

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.

Hospital social worker vs substance abuse counselor salary

Hospital social workers and substance abuse counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Hospital Social Worker	Substance Abuse Counselor
Average salary	$54,774	$43,069
Salary range	Between $38,000 And $77,000	Between $27,000 And $67,000
Highest paying City	Santa Rosa, CA	Trenton, NJ
Highest paying state	Alaska	New Hampshire
Best paying company	Medical Billing	Erlanger Health System
Best paying industry	Health Care	Non Profits

Differences between hospital social worker and substance abuse counselor education

There are a few differences between a hospital social worker and a substance abuse counselor in terms of educational background:

	Hospital Social Worker	Substance Abuse Counselor
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 48%	Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Most common major	Social Work	Psychology
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	California State University - Long Beach

Hospital social worker vs substance abuse counselor demographics

Here are the differences between hospital social workers' and substance abuse counselors' demographics:

	Hospital Social Worker	Substance Abuse Counselor
Average age	45	39
Gender ratio	Male, 22.9% Female, 77.1%	Male, 34.3% Female, 65.7%
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 hospital social worker and substance abuse counselor duties and responsibilities

Hospital social worker example responsibilities.

Screen, identify, diagnose using DSM nomenclature, treat and manage mental health and/or substance abuse problems.
Provide individual therapy, case management, and insurance coverage reviews for individuals undergoing short-term rehabilitation.
Provide orientation, support and information to patients and their families to facilitate active involvement in the rehabilitation environment.
Perform assessments/social history upon admission to better understand the patient's needs and personal circumstances as they relate to their rehabilitation.
Coordinate care with community providers for follow up if patient are discharged, prepare documentation for admission to inpatient psychiatry unit.
Analyze psychological / psycho-social evaluations, IEP's, and medical histories within a referral packet to determine eligibility.

Substance abuse counselor example responsibilities.

Ensure and manage the compliance with Didi Hirsch policies and procedures, contracts and other regulatory agencies, HIPAA and DMH.
Conduct group check-in and co-lead group psychotherapy sessions to help clients identify and manage problems associate with psychiatric conditions.
Perform assessment of patients using ASAM criteria and recommendation for appropriate level of programming.
Process detox patient admissions on computer system which include - conducting alcohol and drug assessment, taking psycho/social history.
Provide clinical services, patient care, education and opiate addiction counseling services to patients receiving methadone maintenance and detoxification treatment.
Certify for first aid and CPR.

Hospital social worker vs substance abuse counselor skills

Common hospital social worker skills

Social Work, 28%
Patients, 21%
Patient Care, 7%
MSW, 6%
Behavioral Health, 5%
Acute Care, 4%

Common substance abuse counselor skills

Patients, 16%
Substance Abuse Treatment, 11%
Social Work, 8%
Crisis Intervention, 8%
Intake Assessments, 5%
Rehabilitation, 4%

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Hospital Social Worker
Hospital Social Worker vs Substance Abuse Counselor

Updated January 8, 2025

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