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Substance abuse technician vs mental health clinician

The differences between substance abuse technicians and mental health clinicians 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 technician, becoming a mental health clinician takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a mental health clinician has an average salary of $54,359, 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 a mental health clinician are social work, patients, and mental health.

Substance abuse technician vs mental health clinician overview

Substance Abuse TechnicianMental Health Clinician
Yearly salary$35,408$54,359
Hourly rate$17.02$26.13
Growth rate4%9%
Number of jobs90,71091,347
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 46%Master's Degree, 49%
Average age3945
Years of experience64

What does a substance abuse technician do?

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.

What does a mental health clinician do?

A Mental Health Clinician provides psychotherapeutic and rehabilitation services for patients with mental health problems. They manage the treatment of clients and help them to obtain stable physical health.

Substance abuse technician vs mental health clinician salary

Substance abuse technicians and mental health clinicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Substance Abuse TechnicianMental Health Clinician
Average salary$35,408$54,359
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $49,000Between $36,000 And $80,000
Highest paying CityKingman, AZSan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateHawaiiCalifornia
Best paying companySea Mar Community Health CentersCity and County of Denver Government
Best paying industryManufacturingEducation

Differences between substance abuse technician and mental health clinician education

There are a few differences between a substance abuse technician and a mental health clinician in terms of educational background:

Substance Abuse TechnicianMental Health Clinician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 46%Master's Degree, 49%
Most common majorPsychologyPsychology
Most common collegeCalifornia State University - Long BeachCalifornia State University - Long Beach

Substance abuse technician vs mental health clinician demographics

Here are the differences between substance abuse technicians' and mental health clinicians' demographics:

Substance Abuse TechnicianMental Health Clinician
Average age3945
Gender ratioMale, 33.7% Female, 66.3%Male, 24.3% Female, 75.7%
Race ratioBlack 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, 7.9% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 3.1% White, 74.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage12%15%

Differences between substance abuse technician and mental health clinician duties and responsibilities

Substance abuse technician example 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.
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Mental health clinician example responsibilities.

  • Work with children with autism and developmental impairment, providing weekly therapeutic sessions.
  • Provide individual and group psychotherapy for adult population with goal of rehabilitation and community reintegration.
  • Meet productivity standards comply with all DMH documentation standards and participate in on call crisis intervention rotation.
  • Provide psychotherapy with empathy and concern as indicated by supervisory observation and feedback from patients, family and fellow team members.
  • Provide clinical therapeutic services to patients, including individual and group therapy and coordination of treatment for participants with co-occurring disorders.
  • Assess, diagnose, provide psychotherapy and rehabilitation for seriously mentally ill adults, children and adolescents with severe emotional disturbance.
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Substance abuse technician vs mental health clinician skills

Common substance abuse technician skills
  • Substance Abuse Treatment, 16%
  • Patients, 13%
  • Mental Health, 10%
  • Rehabilitation, 8%
  • Patient Care, 7%
  • Client Transportation, 5%
Common mental health clinician skills
  • Social Work, 28%
  • Patients, 15%
  • Mental Health, 5%
  • Discharge Planning, 3%
  • Community Resources, 3%
  • Rehabilitation, 2%

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