Work counselor vs substance abuse counselor

The differences between work counselors and substance abuse counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a work counselor, becoming a substance abuse counselor takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a work counselor has an average salary of $55,384, which is higher than the $43,069 average annual salary of a substance abuse counselor.

The top three skills for a work counselor include social work, discharge planning and substance abuse. The most important skills for a substance abuse counselor are patients, substance abuse treatment, and social work.

Work counselor vs substance abuse counselor overview

	Work Counselor	Substance Abuse Counselor
Yearly salary	$55,384	$43,069
Hourly rate	$26.63	$20.71
Growth rate	11%	-
Number of jobs	77,184	78,643
Job satisfaction	-	5
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 56%	Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Average age	45	39
Years of experience	12	6

What does a work counselor do?

A work counselor's responsibility is to know the employee's problems including stress, workplace depression, declining productivity, and anxiety, and help solve them by resolving negative patterns, rehabilitation, and prevention to improve quality of life. Such purpose is to reduce sickness absence and pressure. Part of their helping profession is to respect the employees' privacy by sharing information and opinions on resources that the client needs since they are not tasked to disclose information and give advice.

What does a substance abuse counselor do?

Substance abuse counselors act as a support system for people with drug and alcohol problems and other behavioral issues. They help the patients control their behavior until they achieve a full recovery. The mental health counselors aid patients to overcome their chemical dependencies and become self-sufficient individuals. Part of their duty includes meeting clients to evaluate their health and substance issues while creating goals and treatment plans. They teach clients coping mechanisms, refer them to support groups, and engage them in group therapy sessions. Once the patient is stable, they help them re-establish their careers and give updates and reports of progress to the courts. Requirements for the job include a master's degree in counseling and social work.

Work counselor vs substance abuse counselor salary

Work counselors and substance abuse counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Work Counselor	Substance Abuse Counselor
Average salary	$55,384	$43,069
Salary range	Between $46,000 And $66,000	Between $27,000 And $67,000
Highest paying City	Chicago, IL	Trenton, NJ
Highest paying state	New Jersey	New Hampshire
Best paying company	The Travelers Companies	Erlanger Health System
Best paying industry	Hospitality	Non Profits

Differences between work counselor and substance abuse counselor education

There are a few differences between a work counselor and a substance abuse counselor in terms of educational background:

	Work Counselor	Substance Abuse Counselor
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 56%	Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Most common major	Social Work	Psychology
Most common college	Columbia University in the City of New York	California State University - Long Beach

Work counselor vs substance abuse counselor demographics

Here are the differences between work counselors' and substance abuse counselors' demographics:

	Work Counselor	Substance Abuse Counselor
Average age	45	39
Gender ratio	Male, 37.0% Female, 63.0%	Male, 34.3% Female, 65.7%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 13.7% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 10.8% Asian, 2.9% White, 66.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.7%	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	21%	12%

Differences between work counselor and substance abuse counselor duties and responsibilities

Work counselor example responsibilities.

Manage litigation involving the agency, and drafts bills and amendments for legislative consideration.
Complete FARS, PERFS, and ASAMS as required.
Train in OMRDD requirements such as S.K.I.P, compass one, first aid, and CPR
Work as an in-home counselor for high intensity children's cases.
Assist with life skills, behavior modification, medication, and when necessary restraints.
Translate IPP reports verbally and in writing in designate second language (Spanish).

Substance abuse counselor example responsibilities.

Ensure and manage the compliance with Didi Hirsch policies and procedures, contracts and other regulatory agencies, HIPAA and DMH.
Conduct group check-in and co-lead group psychotherapy sessions to help clients identify and manage problems associate with psychiatric conditions.
Perform assessment of patients using ASAM criteria and recommendation for appropriate level of programming.
Process detox patient admissions on computer system which include - conducting alcohol and drug assessment, taking psycho/social history.
Provide clinical services, patient care, education and opiate addiction counseling services to patients receiving methadone maintenance and detoxification treatment.
Certify for first aid and CPR.

Work counselor vs substance abuse counselor skills

Common work counselor skills

Social Work, 38%
Discharge Planning, 10%
Substance Abuse, 5%
Community Resources, 5%
Mental Health, 4%
Crisis Intervention, 4%

Common substance abuse counselor skills

Patients, 16%
Substance Abuse Treatment, 11%
Social Work, 8%
Crisis Intervention, 8%
Intake Assessments, 5%
Rehabilitation, 4%

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Work Counselor
Work Counselor vs Substance Abuse Counselor

Updated January 8, 2025

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