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Substance abuse technician vs social worker

The differences between substance abuse technicians and social workers 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 social worker takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a social worker has an average salary of $50,102, 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 social worker are social work, patients, and patient care.

Substance abuse technician vs social worker overview

Substance Abuse TechnicianSocial Worker
Yearly salary$35,408$50,102
Hourly rate$17.02$24.09
Growth rate4%9%
Number of jobs90,71077,340
Job satisfaction-4.5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 46%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Average age3945
Years of experience62

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 social worker do?

Social workers help their clients get through problems that they may be facing. Social workers help identify individuals or groups of people, usually families, who may need assistance, generally through a set of pre-determined criteria. They then determine the best ways to help their clients by interviewing them, getting to know them, and understanding the context of their lives. They create plans that will help their clients become better, such as integrating into a new environment, assisting them in their needs, or even rescuing them from their current place. Social workers have good interpersonal skills and communication skills.

Substance abuse technician vs social worker salary

Substance abuse technicians and social workers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Substance Abuse TechnicianSocial Worker
Average salary$35,408$50,102
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $49,000Between $37,000 And $67,000
Highest paying CityKingman, AZPortland, OR
Highest paying stateHawaiiOregon
Best paying companySea Mar Community Health CentersHealth Advocates
Best paying industryManufacturingGovernment

Differences between substance abuse technician and social worker education

There are a few differences between a substance abuse technician and a social worker in terms of educational background:

Substance Abuse TechnicianSocial Worker
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 46%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Most common majorPsychologySocial Work
Most common collegeCalifornia State University - Long BeachUniversity of Pennsylvania

Substance abuse technician vs social worker demographics

Here are the differences between substance abuse technicians' and social workers' demographics:

Substance Abuse TechnicianSocial Worker
Average age3945
Gender ratioMale, 33.7% Female, 66.3%Male, 19.5% Female, 80.5%
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, 19.9% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.3% Asian, 3.3% White, 58.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage12%13%

Differences between substance abuse technician and social worker 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.
  • Show more

Social worker example responsibilities.

  • Assist clients in achieving treatment goals such as anger, ADHD, grief, social skills, and manners.
  • Lead and co-le CBT and DBT skills-base groups with participants, as well as relapse prevention, mindfulness and process groups.
  • Support patient questions and issues regarding Medicare ESRD entitlement and Medicaid and assist in the completion of the appropriate documentation.
  • Coordinate IPU discharge planning patients to SNF, ALF, PCH or in-home care with necessary support for care.
  • Facilitate relationships with AKF and other patient assistance programs, VA, Medicare, Medicaid and other insurance providers.
  • Complete Medicaid and Medicare applications as needed.
  • Show more

Substance abuse technician vs social worker skills

Common substance abuse technician skills
  • Substance Abuse Treatment, 16%
  • Patients, 13%
  • Mental Health, 10%
  • Rehabilitation, 8%
  • Patient Care, 7%
  • Client Transportation, 5%
Common social worker skills
  • Social Work, 30%
  • Patients, 15%
  • Patient Care, 5%
  • MSW, 4%
  • Discharge Planning, 4%
  • Home Health, 4%

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