Drug Counselor Training and Jobs
Schools and Degrees
Usually a master’s degree in psychology, sociology or any related field is required to become a drug counselor. A bachelor’s degree in any mental health related field also helps one become a drug counselor. Certification and licensure is generally required.
Training and Education
Employees normally have a bachelor's degree before landing a job. Degrees are held by 73% of current drug counselors. Post-secondary schooling was enough for 18% of workers. Education topped out at high school for 9% of employees.
Job Overview
Drug counselors talk to people who are addicted to drugs and assist in finding out the issues related to their addiction. They assist people addicted to drugs in understanding the causes for their drug dependency and way to avoid any further use.
Job Requirements
Most states require aspiring drug counselors become licensed before they are permitted to work as a drug counselor. Criteria for this differs greatly from one state to another, so those applying should learn their respective state’s laws. Voluntary certifications are also sometimes available.
Drug counselors can choose to get certified from the National Board for Certified Counselors. This certification is different from state licensing and offers specialty certifications in addiction or drug counseling. However, one is required to pass a supplemental exam before earning this certification. To keep this certification, counselors need to either retake the exam or complete a hundred hours of continuing education.
Drug counselors need to assist those who need their help and yet at the same time must know how to keep themselves from getting personally involved with the problems of their patients. They need to understand the problems of their patients from a neutral point of view and have to be very patient and empathetic listeners. The abilities for reasoning and analysis are also very necessary. Possessing good communication and interpersonal skills are a must for a drug counselor.
Nature of Work
Drug counselors work as both a figure of authority and a friend for patients suffering from drug abuse. They counsel patients in groups and individually. They focus on ways to help the patient stop any further drug abuse. They also need to file paperwork in order to chronicle the progress reports and treatment of the patient. They have to be observant and assess when a patient has to be referred to the next level of care.
Drug counselors usually work in community health organizations or hospitals. They may also work in private practices. Privacy is a must for open and confidential discussions with patients. Drug counselors often work in the evenings to counsel patients who work during the day.
Area Job Conditions
You'll see a lot of drug counselors in Spokane (Washington), Elmira (New York), and Waterbury (Connecticut), and comparatively fewer in Evansville (Indiana), Warren (Michigan), and Raleigh (North Carolina).
Wages for Workers are highest in State College (Pennsylvania), Rochester (Minnesota), and New Orleans (Louisiana), and lowest in Alexandria (Louisiana), Fayetteville (Arkansas), and Grand Rapids (Michigan).
Part-Time and Self Employment
Part-time work suffices for 15% of drug counselors. Workers working on their own make up 6% of the total.
Career Videos
Drug Counselors by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)
In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.
Alabama
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | $38,000 | 410 | +55% |
| Montgomery | $39,000 | 50 | -41% |
Alaska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | $47,000 | 110 | +27% |
Arizona
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kingman | $40,000 | 50 | +125% |
| Phoenix | $47,000 | 520 | -46% |
| Tucson | $39,000 | 300 | +65% |
Arkansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville | $27,000 | 60 | -44% |
| Fort Smith | $35,000 | 90 | +44% |
| Little Rock | $49,000 | 100 | -46% |
California
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield | $38,000 | 160 | +16% |
| Chico | $41,000 | 130 | +284% |
| Fresno | $38,000 | 210 | +24% |
| Los Angeles | $31,000 | 2,840 | +29% |
| Oakland | $43,000 | 760 | +41% |
| Oxnard | $36,000 | 120 | -24% |
| Redding | $51,000 | 30 | +4% |
| Riverside | $41,000 | 740 | +14% |
| Sacramento | $35,000 | 450 | -4% |
| Salinas | $38,000 | 110 | +33% |
| San Diego | $35,000 | 830 | +17% |
| San Francisco | $40,000 | 650 | +21% |
| San Jose | $37,000 | 250 | -48% |
| San Luis Obispo | $54,000 | 40 | -13% |
| Santa Ana | $35,000 | 240 | -70% |
| Santa Barbara | $31,000 | 140 | +61% |
| Santa Cruz | $30,000 | 90 | +108% |
| Stockton | $42,000 | 170 | +55% |
| Visalia | $44,000 | 70 | +2% |
| Yuba City | $34,000 | 140 | +698% |
Colorado
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder | $46,000 | 60 | -24% |
| Colorado Springs | $40,000 | 80 | -40% |
| Denver | $34,000 | 380 | -44% |
| Pueblo | $30,000 | 130 | +378% |
Connecticut
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport | $42,000 | 220 | -4% |
| Danbury | $46,000 | 40 | +21% |
| Hartford | $44,000 | 530 | +71% |
| New Haven | $48,000 | 180 | +25% |
| Norwich | $47,000 | 70 | +12% |
Delaware
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | $36,000 | 180 | +4% |
District of Columbia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $52,000 | 1,060 | -20% |
Florida
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Coral | $46,000 | 100 | -1% |
| Deltona | $35,000 | 110 | +39% |
| Fort Lauderdale | $43,000 | 460 | +22% |
| Gainesville | $46,000 | 200 | +224% |
| Jacksonville | $43,000 | 130 | -60% |
| Miami | $43,000 | 330 | -38% |
| Ocala | $38,000 | 100 | +130% |
| Orlando | $37,000 | 380 | -31% |
| Palm Bay | $40,000 | 100 | -3% |
| Pensacola | $36,000 | 230 | +200% |
| Port St Lucie | $47,000 | 80 | +32% |
| Sarasota | $45,000 | 100 | -23% |
| Tallahassee | $39,000 | 60 | -28% |
| Tampa | $51,000 | 400 | -35% |
| West Palm Beach | $43,000 | 310 | +11% |
Georgia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | $37,000 | 1,130 | -10% |
| Augusta | $38,000 | 110 | +2% |
| Columbus | $29,000 | 70 | +25% |
| Savannah | $31,000 | 70 | -9% |
| Valdosta | $38,000 | 40 | +71% |
Hawaii
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu | $59,000 | 210 | -11% |
Idaho
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise | $39,000 | 270 | +96% |
| Idaho Falls | $37,000 | 150 | +584% |
| Pocatello | $41,000 | 70 | +418% |
Illinois
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $42,000 | 1,370 | -33% |
| Peoria | $38,000 | 40 | -55% |
| Rockford | $35,000 | 100 | +39% |
| Springfield | $46,000 | 40 | -26% |
Indiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elkhart | $35,000 | 60 | +10% |
| Fort Wayne | $35,000 | 50 | -53% |
| Gary | $33,000 | 100 | -30% |
| Indianapolis | $39,000 | 280 | -42% |
| South Bend | $36,000 | 110 | +67% |
| Terre Haute | $28,000 | 90 | +171% |
Iowa
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids | $38,000 | 120 | +68% |
| Davenport | $35,000 | 90 | -7% |
| Des Moines | $45,000 | 110 | -37% |
| Iowa City | $38,000 | 70 | +103% |
| Sioux City | $31,000 | 50 | +41% |
| Waterloo | $37,000 | 50 | +18% |
Kansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topeka | $40,000 | 40 | -28% |
| Wichita | $33,000 | 210 | +38% |
Kentucky
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | $39,000 | 270 | -17% |
Louisiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria | $34,000 | 60 | +93% |
| Baton Rouge | $36,000 | 130 | -35% |
| Lafayette | $30,000 | 40 | -46% |
| Shreveport | $31,000 | 100 | +7% |
Maine
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangor | $61,000 | 50 | +69% |
| Portland | $44,000 | 100 | -5% |
Maryland
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | $43,000 | 1,170 | +65% |
| Bethesda | $42,000 | 170 | -45% |
| Hagerstown | $40,000 | 60 | +24% |
| Salisbury | $40,000 | 40 | +57% |
Massachusetts
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable Town | $56,000 | 40 | -20% |
| Boston | $41,000 | 1,450 | +54% |
| New Bedford | $40,000 | 60 | +91% |
| Peabody | $45,000 | 180 | +252% |
| Springfield | $44,000 | 480 | +203% |
| Worcester | $34,000 | 430 | +224% |
Michigan
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor | $32,000 | 50 | -42% |
| Battle Creek | 50 | +104% | |
| Detroit | $42,000 | 190 | -47% |
| Grand Rapids | $49,000 | 30 | -85% |
| Warren | $50,000 | 200 | -66% |
Minnesota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth | $43,000 | 150 | +126% |
| Mankato | $40,000 | 40 | +49% |
| Minneapolis | $46,000 | 1,110 | +15% |
| Rochester | $44,000 | 160 | +210% |
| St Cloud | $58,000 | 130 | +171% |
Mississippi
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gulfport | $31,000 | 70 | +29% |
| Jackson | $34,000 | 170 | +27% |
Missouri
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Girardeau | $35,000 | 40 | +92% |
| Columbia | $37,000 | 50 | +26% |
| Jefferson City | 60 | +65% | |
| Kansas City | $37,000 | 470 | -14% |
| Springfield | $51,000 | 110 | +10% |
| St Joseph | $36,000 | 30 | +25% |
| St Louis | $34,000 | 440 | -39% |
Montana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billings | $26,000 | 200 | +380% |
Nebraska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln | $36,000 | 110 | +33% |
| Omaha | $41,000 | 280 | +11% |
Nevada
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas | $44,000 | 140 | -70% |
| Reno | $42,000 | 60 | -40% |
New Hampshire
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester | $35,000 | 60 | +15% |
New Jersey
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camden | $46,000 | 200 | -29% |
| Edison | $53,000 | 690 | +24% |
| Newark | $63,000 | 1,820 | +236% |
| Vineland | $44,000 | 90 | +211% |
New Mexico
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $49,000 | 160 | -22% |
| Farmington | $40,000 | 50 | +114% |
New York
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | $39,000 | 560 | +131% |
| Binghamton | $38,000 | 70 | +23% |
| Buffalo | $37,000 | 730 | +145% |
| Elmira | $39,000 | 80 | +356% |
| Kingston | $37,000 | 90 | +209% |
| Nassau | $51,000 | 890 | +30% |
| New York | $48,000 | 4,850 | +71% |
| Poughkeepsie | $38,000 | 320 | +146% |
| Rochester | $42,000 | 510 | +87% |
| Utica | $46,000 | 110 | +73% |
North Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville | $40,000 | 60 | -35% |
| Charlotte | $41,000 | 360 | -22% |
| Durham | $44,000 | 120 | -18% |
| Fayetteville | $38,000 | 110 | +70% |
| Greensboro | $40,000 | 130 | -32% |
| Hickory | $43,000 | 50 | -34% |
| Raleigh | $43,000 | 70 | -75% |
| Wilmington | $59,000 | 70 | 0% |
| Winston Salem | $42,000 | 40 | -64% |
North Dakota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck | $43,000 | 70 | +121% |
| Fargo | $43,000 | 110 | +77% |
Ohio
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akron | $38,000 | 140 | -18% |
| Canton | $39,000 | 40 | -54% |
| Cincinnati | $42,000 | 260 | -53% |
| Cleveland | $40,000 | 480 | -13% |
| Columbus | $48,000 | 300 | -40% |
| Dayton | $37,000 | 210 | +3% |
| Toledo | $39,000 | 100 | -36% |
| Youngstown | $37,000 | 230 | +93% |
Oklahoma
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City | $44,000 | 440 | +41% |
| Tulsa | $46,000 | 210 | -9% |
Oregon
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eugene | $58,000 | 80 | +11% |
| Medford | $32,000 | 30 | -21% |
| Portland | $44,000 | 780 | +41% |
| Salem | $42,000 | 140 | +82% |
Pennsylvania
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown | $39,000 | 380 | +105% |
| Altoona | $44,000 | 100 | +242% |
| Erie | $31,000 | 160 | +144% |
| Harrisburg | $39,000 | 380 | +123% |
| Johnstown | $30,000 | 50 | +86% |
| Lancaster | $35,000 | 160 | +29% |
| Philadelphia | $42,000 | 2,670 | +158% |
| Pittsburgh | $35,000 | 1,940 | +212% |
| Reading | $39,000 | 180 | +108% |
| Scranton | $39,000 | 420 | +204% |
| Williamsport | $36,000 | 60 | +145% |
| York | $33,000 | 110 | +20% |
Rhode Island
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | $38,000 | 290 | -3% |
South Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $40,000 | 170 | -9% |
| Florence | $39,000 | 60 | +53% |
South Dakota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City | $35,000 | 80 | +159% |
| Sioux Falls | $37,000 | 170 | +137% |
Tennessee
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $59,000 | 90 | -25% |
| Kingsport | $34,000 | 70 | +13% |
| Knoxville | $25,000 | 330 | +86% |
| Memphis | $34,000 | 250 | -25% |
| Morristown | 30 | +40% | |
| Nashville | $39,000 | 210 | -48% |
Texas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amarillo | $32,000 | 50 | -7% |
| Austin | $36,000 | 310 | -27% |
| Beaumont | $31,000 | 40 | -52% |
| Brownsville | $30,000 | 30 | -55% |
| College Station | $33,000 | 30 | -35% |
| Corpus Christi | $33,000 | 120 | +29% |
| Dallas | $31,000 | 300 | -74% |
| El Paso | $32,000 | 70 | -52% |
| Fort Worth | $41,000 | 250 | -47% |
| Houston | $42,000 | 580 | -59% |
| Longview | $31,000 | 70 | +46% |
| Lubbock | $38,000 | 100 | +55% |
| Mcallen | $29,000 | 70 | -42% |
| San Antonio | $39,000 | 220 | -53% |
| Tyler | $33,000 | 50 | +11% |
Utah
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ogden | $37,000 | 100 | -4% |
| Salt Lake City | $34,000 | 190 | -42% |
Vermont
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington | $39,000 | 130 | +130% |
Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lynchburg | $47,000 | 60 | +21% |
| Richmond | $39,000 | 370 | +12% |
| Roanoke | $36,000 | 140 | +74% |
| Virginia Beach | $38,000 | 470 | +15% |
Washington
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bremerton | $38,000 | 50 | +22% |
| Kennewick | $38,000 | 70 | +39% |
| Olympia | $43,000 | 80 | +61% |
| Seattle | $40,000 | 680 | -11% |
| Spokane | $34,000 | 300 | +179% |
| Tacoma | $41,000 | 190 | +36% |
| Yakima | $30,000 | 160 | +286% |
Wisconsin
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green Bay | $55,000 | 60 | -31% |
| Janesville | $42,000 | 30 | -2% |
| La Crosse | $47,000 | 50 | +42% |
| Madison | $48,000 | 110 | -39% |
| Milwaukee | $50,000 | 310 | -31% |
| Oshkosh | $46,000 | 70 | +60% |