Substance abuse counselor vs clinical counselor

The differences between substance abuse counselors and clinical 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 substance abuse counselor, becoming a clinical counselor takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a clinical counselor has an average salary of $54,191, 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 a clinical counselor are social work, patients, and foster care.

Substance abuse counselor vs clinical counselor overview

	Substance Abuse Counselor	Clinical Counselor
Yearly salary	$43,069	$54,191
Hourly rate	$20.71	$26.05
Growth rate	-	17%
Number of jobs	78,643	146,133
Job satisfaction	5	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 57%	Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Average age	39	41
Years of experience	6	4

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.

What does a clinical counselor do?

A Clinical Counselor interviews clients to assess their mental health and behavioral problems. They examine issues such as substance abuse, depression, stress, aging and self-image.

Substance abuse counselor vs clinical counselor salary

Substance abuse counselors and clinical counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Substance Abuse Counselor	Clinical Counselor
Average salary	$43,069	$54,191
Salary range	Between $27,000 And $67,000	Between $43,000 And $67,000
Highest paying City	Trenton, NJ	Bethesda, MD
Highest paying state	New Hampshire	Maryland
Best paying company	Erlanger Health System	Novo Nordisk
Best paying industry	Non Profits	Professional

Differences between substance abuse counselor and clinical counselor education

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

	Substance Abuse Counselor	Clinical Counselor
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 57%	Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Most common major	Psychology	Psychology
Most common college	California State University - Long Beach	California State University - Long Beach

Substance abuse counselor vs clinical counselor demographics

Here are the differences between substance abuse counselors' and clinical counselors' demographics:

	Substance Abuse Counselor	Clinical Counselor
Average age	39	41
Gender ratio	Male, 34.3% Female, 65.7%	Male, 28.4% Female, 71.6%
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 substance abuse counselor and clinical counselor duties and responsibilities

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.

Clinical counselor example responsibilities.

Manage a caseload of individuals in programs design to provide vocational rehabilitation and other services to the developmentally disable.
Conduct group check-in and co-lead group psychotherapy sessions to help clients identify and manage problems associate with psychiatric conditions.
Perform client intake assessments and conduct monthly assessments to identify progress of patients and determine individuals ready to graduate from program.
Review charts to ensure that they are in compliance with OASAS standards.
Initial assessment, diagnosis, ASAM criteria, treatment planning , 3rd party contact, group and individual therapy.
Maintain appropriate documentation per NYS OASAS regulations and APG guidelines

Substance abuse counselor vs clinical counselor skills

Common substance abuse counselor skills

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

Common clinical counselor skills

Social Work, 36%
Patients, 8%
Foster Care, 7%
Independent Living, 6%
Child Abuse, 4%
Clinical Services, 3%

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Substance Abuse Counselor
Substance Abuse Counselor vs Clinical Counselor

Updated January 8, 2025

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