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The differences between substance abuse counselors and intensives in-home counselor 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 an intensive in-home counselor takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an intensive in-home counselor has an average salary of $51,428, 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 intensive in-home counselor are family therapy, mental health issues, and crisis intervention.
| Substance Abuse Counselor | Intensive In-Home Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $43,069 | $51,428 |
| Hourly rate | $20.71 | $24.73 |
| Growth rate | - | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 78,643 | 122,300 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| 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.
An Intensive In-Home Counselor conducts individual counseling sessions for parents and deals with delicate issues like sexual addiction. They also prepare progress reports for clients.
Substance abuse counselors and intensives in-home counselor have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Substance Abuse Counselor | Intensive In-Home Counselor | |
| Average salary | $43,069 | $51,428 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $67,000 | Between $40,000 And $66,000 |
| Highest paying City | Trenton, NJ | Lincoln, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Hampshire | Maine |
| Best paying company | Erlanger Health System | Family & Children Assoc |
| Best paying industry | Non Profits | Utilities |
There are a few differences between a substance abuse counselor and an intensive in-home counselor in terms of educational background:
| Substance Abuse Counselor | Intensive In-Home Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | Hunter College of the City University of New York |
Here are the differences between substance abuse counselors' and intensives in-home counselor' demographics:
| Substance Abuse Counselor | Intensive In-Home Counselor | |
| Average age | 39 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 34.3% Female, 65.7% | Male, 29.0% Female, 71.0% |
| 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% |