How to hire a treatment specialist

How to hire a treatment specialist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step treatment specialist hiring guide:

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

What does a treatment specialist do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a treatment specialist, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or 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 treatment specialist 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 shows salaries for various types of treatment specialists.

   Type of Treatment Specialist	Description	Hourly rate
   Treatment Specialist	Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists monitor and work with probationers to prevent them from committing new crimes.	$16-39
   Youth Counselor	A Youth Counselor's role is to provide guidance and interact with children or teenagers in need of care and counseling. The duty of a Youth Counselor is diverse, and it highly depends on the organization or employer... Show more	$12-23
   Counselor	Often, counselors are known to be the go-to person in times we are in need of emotional and psychological support. They help people to manage and overcome the issues which affect their mental health and well-being... Show more	$9-32

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Social Work
   • Mental Health
   • Rehabilitation
   • Criminal Justice
   • Crisis Intervention
   • Substance Abuse
   • Behavioral Issues
   • Community Resources
   • Mental Illness
   • Social Histories
   • Developmental Disabilities
   • CPR
   • Drug Abuse
   • Individual Therapy

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Provide individualize intervention for problematic behaviors using TCI techniques such as de-escalation, to prevent and/or manage crisis.
   • Med aid, CPR, and a certified.
   • Med train, CPR certify.
   • Provide administrative oversight to several projects, including a provider incentive program and the drafting of the Medicaid request for qualifications.
   • Work with students within the classroom and develop interventions to increase progress towards IEP goals.
   • Retain proper certifications for cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, first aid, driver's license and insurance.

   More treatment specialist duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, treatment specialists' average salary in missouri is 63% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level treatment specialists earn 59% less than senior-level treatment specialists.
   • Certifications. A treatment specialist 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 treatment specialist's salary.

   Average treatment specialist salary

   $53,673yearly

   $25.80 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level treatment specialist salary

   $34,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 20, 2026

   Average treatment specialist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	District of Columbia	$71,076	$34
   2	California	$70,315	$34
   3	New York	$68,607	$33
   4	Connecticut	$67,358	$32
   5	Massachusetts	$60,065	$29
   6	Washington	$57,613	$28
   7	Arizona	$53,806	$26
   8	Ohio	$51,734	$25
   9	Pennsylvania	$51,652	$25
   10	Illinois	$51,435	$25
   11	Puerto Rico	$50,734	$24
   12	Kansas	$46,845	$23
   13	Michigan	$46,489	$22
   14	Texas	$45,938	$22
   15	Colorado	$43,900	$21
   16	North Carolina	$42,550	$20
   17	Indiana	$39,426	$19
   18	Florida	$39,084	$19
   19	Oklahoma	$38,794	$19
   20	Wisconsin	$38,365	$18

   Average treatment specialist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Delaware State Government	$66,593	$32.02	13
   2	Maxim Healthcare Group	$66,102	$31.78	52
   3	Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation Inc.	$56,858	$27.34	5
   4	Washington State University	$55,486	$26.68
   5	Helio Health	$50,806	$24.43
   6	UCHealth	$49,276	$23.69	12
   7	The State of Oregon	$48,688	$23.41	4
   8	Cornerstone Care	$47,812	$22.99	32
   9	UC Health	$47,343	$22.76	4
   10	Presidio of San Francisco	$46,373	$22.29
   11	Wisconsin	$46,225	$22.22
   12	National Transportation Safety Board	$46,225	$22.22
   13	Pico de Gallo	$46,219	$22.22	73
   14	Geisinger Medical Center	$46,128	$22.18	24
   15	Pioneer Human Services	$45,826	$22.03	4
   16	Saint Francis Community Services Inc	$45,624	$21.93
   17	Wedgwood Christian Services	$45,353	$21.80	20
   18	Wisconsin Community Services	$44,877	$21.58	1
   19	Indian Health Service	$44,211	$21.26	15
   20	HealthTrust	$43,388	$20.86

4. Writing a treatment specialist job description

   A treatment specialist 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 treatment specialist job description:

   Treatment specialist job description example

   Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI), is a leading not-for-profit organization providing healing, justice and wholeness to people and communities. For over 150 years, LSSI has made a difference in the lives of children and families, and we're still a strong, viable presence in the State of Illinois, continuing that commitment to making a difference.
   LSSI is seeking a full-time Residential Treatment Specialist. Under the general supervision of the program manager and director or designee, provide counseling and case management services to mentally ill adults in a group home setting in order to promote recovery and independent living skills.
   
   *This position complies with the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rule, which requires that employees working in certain programs are fully vaccinated unless you have a medical or religious exemption. Routine COVID-19 Testing is required from the COVID-19 vaccination*
   
   Benefits and Perks:
   LSSI is growing! Come be a part of this rewarding environment, and enjoy the knowledge that you’re helping make a positive difference in the lives of others, as well as these career advantages: On Demand Flexible Paydays for earned wages through an app called Dayforce Wallet. Competitive salary based upon relevant education, experience and licensure. Comprehensive benefits package including healthcare insurance, 26 days of paid time off per calendar year, 11 paid holidays, Sick time, 403(b) plan, Employee Assistance Program, Flexible hours. Training. Come be a part of this challenging and rewarding environment! Essential Functions: Execute case management services in the community and at the group home for a caseload of 8-11 clients. Monitor group home milieu, provide skills training and crisis intervention to clients as needed. Complete HUD housing Report. Complete IMCANS recertification. Achieve mastery of carelogic EHR system. Maintain accurate and timely clinical and administrative documentation within accreditation and licensure standards. Facilitate the maintenance of safe, secure and sanitary GH milieu according to house/program rules and governmental standards. Provide shift coverage across 3 group homes as needed. Meet daily billing/productivity expectations and complete documentation in a timely manner. Position Qualifications: Bachelors in human/social services or psychology preferred. Must have good written and oral communication skills and proficiency in English language. Must have valid driver’s license and access to insured vehicles. Basic technology proficiency required (e-mail, phone, word documents). Ability to work overnight and weekend shifts. We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, pregnancy, any other characteristic protected by law.
   
   
   #ZR
   Company DescriptionLutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI) is one of the largest statewide providers of social services. Our dedicated staff help children, adults, and seniors to transform their lives. We provide services to one of every 300 people in Illinois! Our skilled and diverse workforce has a passion for making a difference—in our clients’ lives and in the social services field. We provide foundational tools and professional development to help staff strengthen the impact of their work and further their careers. LSSI uses a whole person philosophy of care and leads the way in applying innovation and best practices in our programs.
   
   Our services include foster care, family intervention, early childhood education, mental health, counseling, addiction treatment, support for people with disabilities, affordable senior housing, home care for older adults, and re-entry programs for formerly incarcerated individuals.
   
   Whether you are an experienced professional, a recent college grad, reentering the workforce, or just starting out, consider a career with LSSI. We have over 50 offices across Illinois. Be a part of our team and make a difference! A wide variety of rewarding opportunities await you at LSSI! Join the Lutheran Social Services of Illinois Talent Network today!
   
   What is a Talent Network?
   Joining our Talent Network will enhance your job search and application process. Whether you choose to apply or just leave your information, we look forward to staying connected with you.
   Why Join?
   Receive alerts with new job opportunities that match your interests
   Share job opportunities with family and friends through Social Media or email

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find treatment specialists for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any treatment specialists they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level treatment specialists with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit treatment specialists, 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.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   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 treatment specialist

   Once you've decided on a perfect treatment specialist candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

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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