How to hire a substance abuse technician

How to hire a substance abuse technician, step by step

Here's a step-by-step substance abuse technician hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a substance abuse technician job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new substance abuse technician
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a substance abuse technician do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your substance abuse technician job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a substance abuse technician for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect substance abuse technician also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list presents substance abuse technician salaries for various positions.

   Type of Substance Abuse Technician	Description	Hourly rate
   Substance Abuse Technician	Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors advise people who suffer from alcoholism, drug addiction, eating disorders, or other behavioral problems. They provide treatment and support to help the client recover from addiction or modify problem behaviors.	$12-23
   Behavioral Therapist	A behavioral therapist is responsible for supporting patients with various developmental disorders and behavioral difficulties. Behavioral therapists conduct counseling to the patients, identifying their personal and social challenges, and administering treatment plans to modify unusual behaviors... Show more	$12-24
   Family Therapist	A Family Therapist works with couples and families to help ameliorate marital and family issues. They can work in hospitals, treatment programs, government agencies, health organizations, and private practices.	$17-32

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Substance Abuse Treatment
   • Patients
   • Mental Health
   • Rehabilitation
   • Patient Care
   • Client Transportation
   • Crisis Intervention
   • Social Work
   • Detox
   • CPR
   • Drug Abuse
   • Mental Illness
   • Vital Signs
   • Drug Screens

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Work with outside counsel to develop patent and trademark portfolio and manage patent litigation.
   • Coordinate community base services, identifies high-risk patients, veterans and provides case management and crisis intervention services.
   • Provide care to chemically dependent patients in short-term social model detox program working directly with patients/families in all areas of recovery.
   • Collect sample for DNA testing.
   • Compose written reports of data collect from patient evaluation and present to department chief for thorough analysis of patient diagnosis.
   • Maintain the integrity of all specimens under DOT/non-DOT guidelines.

   More substance abuse technician duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your substance abuse technician job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A substance abuse technician salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, substance abuse technicians' average salary in georgia is 39% less than in hawaii.
   • Seniority. Entry-level substance abuse technicians earn 49% less than senior-level substance abuse technicians.
   • Certifications. A substance abuse technician with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a substance abuse technician's salary.

   Average substance abuse technician salary

   $35,408yearly

   $17.02 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level substance abuse technician salary

   $25,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

   Average substance abuse technician salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Arizona	$35,169	$17
   2	Illinois	$34,344	$17
   3	California	$34,069	$16
   4	District of Columbia	$34,051	$16
   5	Massachusetts	$33,815	$16
   6	Washington	$33,515	$16
   7	New Mexico	$31,494	$15
   8	Missouri	$29,071	$14
   9	Texas	$26,596	$13

   Average substance abuse technician salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Sea Mar Community Health Centers	$34,565	$16.62	74
   2	Hackensack Meridian Health	$33,861	$16.28	44
   3	The GEO Group	$33,800	$16.25	108
   4	Ascension Michigan	$33,314	$16.02	66
   5	Power International Holding	$32,760	$15.75	1
   6	Americorps	$32,719	$15.73	18
   7	Universal Health Services	$31,821	$15.30	291
   8	St. Mary's Health Care System	$30,581	$14.70	4
   9	Texas Department of Transportation	$30,398	$14.61	9
   10	Burrell Behavioral Health	$30,115	$14.48	49
   11	Acadia Healthcare	$28,927	$13.91	285

4. Writing a substance abuse technician job description

   A substance abuse technician job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a substance abuse technician job description:

   Substance abuse technician job description example

   Centerstone is among the nation's leading nonprofit behavioral health systems with thousands of employees dedicated to delivering care that changes people's lives. A dynamic, well-established organization, we offer rewarding opportunities to serve all ages in a variety of settings. Come talk to us about joining the Centerstone team!
   Job Description:
   This position is Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday shift. The shift time is 12-10pm.
   This is an entry-level position. The Recovery Technician will work in a substance use/ co-occurring disorder Centerstone Recovery Transitional Program and tracks, monitors and documents client behaviors and interactions. Recovery Technicians complete day-to-day program tasks, monitor clients and the program facility to ensure safety and compliance with program guidelines, communicate professionally and respectfully with clients and treatment team.
   
   Observes and documents client compliance with medication regimes as dictated in the treatment plan; assists clinical staff in meeting and monitoring the client's medical and health care needs.
   Assists in the implementation of program schedule.
   Regular and reliable attendance is required.
   Assist in census management, Assist with admissions, discharges,
   
   Time Type:
   Full time
   Delivering care that changes people's lives starts with our employees. Below are just some of the great benefits Centerstone employees enjoy:
   
   Medical, dental, and vision health coverage Flexible Spending and Health Savings Accounts403b retirement plan with company match Paid time off and ten paid holidays AD&D Insurance, Life Insurance, and Long Term Disability (company paid) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion employee resource groups Continuing education opportunities Employee Assistance Program
   
   Centerstone is an equal opportunity employer. Employment at Centerstone is based solely on a person's merit and qualifications directly related to professional competence. Centerstone does not discriminate against any employee or applicant because of race, creed, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy or related condition (including breastfeeding), or any other basis protected by law.
   
   At Centerstone, we use our values as a guide for what we do. Respect, Expertise, Integrity and Empowerment are at the heart of every interaction at Centerstone, and particularly rooted in our beliefs toward diversity and inclusion.
   
   Our approach to diversity is simple-it's about embracing everyone. Together, we continue to develop an inclusive culture that encourages, supports and celebrates the diverse voices and experiences of our employees. It powers our innovation and connects us closer to each other, to our clients and the communities we serve. We strive to create a workplace that reflects the growing world around us, and where everyone feels empowered, safe and welcomed.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find substance abuse technicians for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your substance abuse technician job on Zippia to find and recruit substance abuse technician candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit substance abuse technicians, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new substance abuse technician

   Once you've selected the best substance abuse technician candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new substance abuse technician first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a substance abuse technician?