What Do Substance Abuse Counselors Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for substance abuse counselors?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what substance abuse counselors do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Substance Abuse Counselors Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about substance abuse counselors by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Substance Abuse Counselors this occupation includes the 2018 SOC occupations 21-1011 Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors and 21-1014 Mental Health Counselors.
Popular Job Titles For Substance Abuse Counselors
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Mental Health Therapists
- Mental Health Counselors
- Counselors
- Substance Abuse Counselors
- Licensed Mental Health Therapists
- Licensed Mental Health Counselors
- Behavioral Health Counselors
- Licensed Professional Counselors
- Licensed Clinical Social Workers
- Addictions Counselors
- Behavioral Health Clinicians
- Substance Use Disorder Counselors
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for substance abuse counselors can be found.
Best Industries for Substance Abuse Counselors
Substance Abuse Counselors Jobs By Industry
- Outpatient Care Centers: 20.9%
- Individual and Family Services: 17.3%
- Offices of Other Health Practitioners: 15.5%
- Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities: 10.6%
- Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 6.3%
- Education and Hospitals (Local Government): 4.7%
- Other: 24.7%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of substance abuse counselors can be found working in the Outpatient Care Centers sector. In 2023, about 20.9% of all jobs for substance abuse counselors were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Individual and Family Services (17.3%), Offices of Other Health Practitioners (15.5%), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities (10.6%), Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (6.3%) and Education and Hospitals (Local Government) (4.7%).
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What Do Substance Abuse Counselors Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what substance abuse counselors do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work substance abuse counselors do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that substance abuse counselors tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for substance abuse counselors, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Substance Abuse Counselors
Based on 125,831 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Substance Abuse Counselors
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Mental Health | 63,993 | 51% |
| Treatment Planning | 47,128 | 37% |
| Psychology | 39,808 | 32% |
| Social Work | 39,098 | 31% |
| Behavioral Health | 30,682 | 24% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Substance Abuse Counselors
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 30,560 | 24% |
| Management | 15,849 | 13% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 14,905 | 12% |
| Coordinating | 11,718 | 9% |
| Planning | 11,614 | 9% |
Based on 125,831 job postings related to substance abuse counselors, mental health was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 51% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for treatment planning, psychology, social work, behavioral health and substance abuse were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for substance abuse counselors, followed by management, ethical standards and conduct, coordinating, planning and leadership.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Mental Health | 63,993 | 51% |
| Treatment Planning | 47,128 | 37% |
| Psychology | 39,808 | 32% |
| Social Work | 39,098 | 31% |
| Behavioral Health | 30,682 | 24% |
| Substance Abuse | 27,569 | 22% |
| Case Management | 23,305 | 19% |
| Crisis Intervention | 20,945 | 17% |
| Family Therapy | 18,876 | 15% |
| Psychotherapy | 15,810 | 13% |
| Telehealth | 14,987 | 12% |
| Psychiatry | 13,995 | 11% |
| Mental Health Counseling | 12,135 | 10% |
| Human Services | 11,449 | 9% |
| Billing | 10,715 | 9% |
| Group Therapy | 10,698 | 9% |
| Electronic Medical Record | 10,274 | 8% |
| Discharge Planning | 9,749 | 8% |
| Medical Records | 9,044 | 7% |
| Trauma Care | 8,550 | 7% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 30,560 | 24% |
| Management | 15,849 | 13% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 14,905 | 12% |
| Coordinating | 11,718 | 9% |
| Planning | 11,614 | 9% |
| Leadership | 9,625 | 8% |
| Writing | 9,566 | 8% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 8,674 | 7% |
| Advocacy | 8,666 | 7% |
| Problem Solving | 8,474 | 7% |
| Computer Literacy | 7,825 | 6% |
| Multilingualism | 7,603 | 6% |
| Customer Service | 7,302 | 6% |
| Scheduling | 6,448 | 5% |
| Professionalism | 6,151 | 5% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 6,035 | 5% |
| Time Management | 5,692 | 5% |
| Good Driving Record | 5,556 | 4% |
| Compassion | 5,283 | 4% |
| Microsoft Office | 5,169 | 4% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Substance Abuse Counselors
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Mental Health Therapists | 70,957 | 24.7% |
| Mental Health Counselors | 28,873 | 10% |
| Counselors | 17,769 | 6.2% |
| Substance Abuse Counselors | 20,823 | 7.2% |
| Licensed Mental Health Therapists | 32,463 | 11.3% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2022 and August 2023, the top job sought by employers was mental health therapists, with 11,167 unique job postings. Mental health counselors were second, with 5,808 postings, followed by counselors, substance abuse counselors and licensed mental health therapists.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to substance abuse counselors.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Mental Health Therapists | 70,957 | 24.7% |
| Mental Health Counselors | 28,873 | 10% |
| Counselors | 17,769 | 6.2% |
| Substance Abuse Counselors | 20,823 | 7.2% |
| Licensed Mental Health Therapists | 32,463 | 11.3% |
| Licensed Mental Health Counselors | 17,391 | 6.1% |
| Behavioral Health Counselors | 11,178 | 3.9% |
| Licensed Professional Counselors | 15,949 | 5.6% |
| Licensed Clinical Social Workers | 12,222 | 4.3% |
| Addictions Counselors | 7,360 | 2.6% |
| Behavioral Health Clinicians | 4,003 | 1.4% |
| Substance Use Disorder Counselors | 7,375 | 2.6% |
| Substance Use Counselors | 4,756 | 1.7% |
| Telehealth Therapists | 4,840 | 1.7% |
| Outpatient Mental Health Therapists | 9,592 | 3.3% |
| Mental Health Clinicians | 3,408 | 1.2% |
| Mental Health Associates | 4,498 | 1.6% |
| Licensed Mental Health Professionals | 2,869 | 1% |
| Behavioral Health Consultants | 4,005 | 1.4% |
| Licensed Counselors | 6,990 | 2.4% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for substance abuse counselors? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for substance abuse counselors.
How much do substance abuse counselors make?
Substance Abuse Counselors: How do you become one?
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