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The differences between substance abuse counselors and group 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 group counselor takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a substance abuse counselor has an average salary of $43,069, which is higher than the $40,155 average annual salary of a group counselor.
The top three skills for a substance abuse counselor include patients, substance abuse treatment and social work. The most important skills for a group counselor are mental health, patients, and crisis intervention.
| Substance Abuse Counselor | Group Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $43,069 | $40,155 |
| Hourly rate | $20.71 | $19.31 |
| Growth rate | - | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 78,643 | 84,413 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Average age | 39 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
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 group counselor provides counseling services primarily in a group setting, aiming to provide clients with a supportive and healthy environment where they can work on different issues and reach personal goals. They typically conduct research and assessments, establish program objectives and guidelines, arrange various activities, and facilitate positive interactions to support one another. Additionally, a group counselor has the duty to implement policies and standards, create treatment plans, and optimize strategies to ensure clients receive optimal support and services.
Substance abuse counselors and group counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Substance Abuse Counselor | Group Counselor | |
| Average salary | $43,069 | $40,155 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $67,000 | Between $14,000 And $110,000 |
| 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 substance abuse counselor and a group counselor in terms of educational background:
| Substance Abuse Counselor | Group Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| 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 group counselors' demographics:
| Substance Abuse Counselor | Group Counselor | |
| Average age | 39 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 34.3% Female, 65.7% | Male, 40.8% Female, 59.2% |
| 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% |