Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors
Overview
Introduction
Alcohol and drug abuse counselors (sometimes called substance abuse counselors) work with people who abuse or are addicted to drugs or alcohol. Through individual and group counseling sessions, they help their clients understand and change their destructive substance abuse behaviors. Approximately 267,730 substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors are employed in the United States.
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
Salaries of alcohol and drug abuse counselors depend on their education level, amount of experience, and place of employment. Generally, the more education and experience a counselor has, the higher his or her earnings will be.
Alcohol and drug abuse counselors earned a median annual salary of $44,630 in May 2018, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The lowest 10 percent earned l...
Work Environment
The hours that an alcohol and drug abuse counselor works depend upon where he or she is employed. Many residential treatment facilities and mental health centers—and all crisis centers—have counselors on duty during evening and weekend hours. Other employers, such as government agencies and universities, are likely to have more conventional working hours.
Work settings for counselors als...
Outlook
Employment of alcohol and drug abuse counselors is projected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through 2028, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. More job opportunities for counselors are expected due to recent federal legislation that mandates individual health coverage, which includes treatment for mental health issues and behavioral disorders. Previously uninsure...
