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The differences between substance abuse counselors and alcohol and drug counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a substance abuse counselor and an alcohol and drug counselor. Additionally, an alcohol and drug counselor has an average salary of $45,758, which is higher than the $43,069 average annual salary of a substance abuse counselor.
The top three skills for a substance abuse counselor include patients, substance abuse treatment and social work. The most important skills for an alcohol and drug counselor are patients, social work, and crisis intervention.
| Substance Abuse Counselor | Alcohol And Drug Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $43,069 | $45,758 |
| Hourly rate | $20.71 | $22.00 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 78,643 | 77,461 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
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.
A drug & alcohol counselor treats addicts in either one-on-one or group settings. They help by educating and developing possible treatment plans for patients to support them in coping with their addictive personalities. A drug and alcohol counselor will evaluate to determine the progress has been successfully made towards recovery. They help patients better understand and overcome their addictions. Counselors help through offering support, rehabilitation, and guidance by using various techniques. Drug & alcohol counselors seek to help an addict find the source of their addiction.
Substance abuse counselors and alcohol and drug counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Substance Abuse Counselor | Alcohol And Drug Counselor | |
| Average salary | $43,069 | $45,758 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $67,000 | Between $30,000 And $68,000 |
| Highest paying City | Trenton, NJ | Santa Rosa, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Hampshire | California |
| Best paying company | Erlanger Health System | Montage Health |
| Best paying industry | Non Profits | Professional |
There are a few differences between a substance abuse counselor and an alcohol and drug counselor in terms of educational background:
| Substance Abuse Counselor | Alcohol And Drug Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between substance abuse counselors' and alcohol and drug counselors' demographics:
| Substance Abuse Counselor | Alcohol And Drug Counselor | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 34.3% Female, 65.7% | Male, 37.5% Female, 62.5% |
| 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, 11.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.4% Asian, 4.6% White, 63.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 12% |