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The differences between substance abuse technicians and addictions 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 technician and an addictions counselor. Additionally, an addictions counselor has an average salary of $47,226, which is higher than the $35,408 average annual salary of a substance abuse technician.
The top three skills for a substance abuse technician include substance abuse treatment, patients and mental health. The most important skills for an addictions counselor are patients, social work, and chemical dependency.
| Substance Abuse Technician | Addictions Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $35,408 | $47,226 |
| Hourly rate | $17.02 | $22.70 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 12% |
| Number of jobs | 90,710 | 79,459 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A substance abuse technician works at facilities that aim to support the treatment of clients suffering from alcoholism, drug addiction, and other interfering behavior. They work alongside counselors and fellow technicians in the joint effort to implement rehabilitation programs and help patients reach their journey to sobriety. Moreover, a substance abuse technician develops and coordinates treatment plans with health care professionals, conducts research and assessments, administers medications according to protocols, and monitors the patients' progress throughout the rehabilitation processes.
An Addictions Counselor helps patients overcome personal addiction problems, such as dependence on drugs, alcohol, and other substances. They evaluate the condition of their client through examining, asking questions, and recommending the proper treatment options.
Substance abuse technicians and addictions counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Substance Abuse Technician | Addictions Counselor | |
| Average salary | $35,408 | $47,226 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $49,000 | Between $32,000 And $68,000 |
| Highest paying City | Kingman, AZ | Philadelphia, PA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Pennsylvania |
| Best paying company | Sea Mar Community Health Centers | Wellpath |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Non Profits |
There are a few differences between a substance abuse technician and an addictions counselor in terms of educational background:
| Substance Abuse Technician | Addictions Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| 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 technicians' and addictions counselors' demographics:
| Substance Abuse Technician | Addictions Counselor | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 33.7% Female, 66.3% | Male, 35.4% Female, 64.6% |
| 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, 11.4% 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% |