The median pay for Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors is $60,320 a year ($29.00/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 10.9% through 2035, with about 97,700 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed.
- SOC 21-1011
- Community and Social Service
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselor in four numbers
- Median pay
- $60,320a year, or $29.00/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $39KTop 10% $101K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +10.9%Much faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+10.9%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +10.9% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 97,7001,145,900 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 20251.1M
- Projected 20351.3M
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 1.1M Projected 2035 1.3M - Typical education
- Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Neededneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
Also advertised as: Addictions Counselor, CADC (Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor), Case Manager, Chemical Dependency Counselor (CD Counselor), Chemical Dependency Professional, Counselor.
Pay
How much do Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors make?
Every substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselor in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$60,320
Middle half earn $47,560 to $78,260
- 10th
- $39,250
- 25th
- $47,560
- 75th
- $78,260
- 90th
- $100,900
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $39,250 |
| 25th | $47,560 |
| Median | $60,320 |
| 75th | $78,260 |
| 90th | $100,900 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $60,320
- Median hourly wage
- $29.00/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $66,300
- People employed
- 1,035,300
Versus all US occupations
At $60,320, Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors earn 18% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $9,340 a year.
Versus community and social service occupations
The median is typical for the Community and Social Service group, where the middle occupation pays $60,300.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $100,900 or more while the bottom 10% earn $39,250, a gap of 2.6×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 33% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Job outlook
Is Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselor a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Much faster than average. +10.9% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors | +10.9% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Much faster than average
BLS projects employment of Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors to change 10.9% over 2025–2035, roughly 3.1× the 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 124,800 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 97,700 openings are projected each year, 8.5% of the 1,145,900 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselor
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
N/A
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
N/A
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Considerable preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
The work
What does a Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselor do?
Counsel and advise individuals with alcohol, tobacco, drug, or other problems, such as gambling and eating disorders. May counsel individuals, families, or groups or engage in prevention programs.
Day-to-day tasks
- Attend training sessions to increase knowledge and skills.
- Counsel clients or patients, individually or in group sessions, to assist in overcoming dependencies, adjusting to life, or making changes.
- Complete and maintain accurate records or reports regarding the patients' histories and progress, services provided, or other required information.
- Intervene as an advocate for clients or patients to resolve emergency problems in crisis situations.
- Participate in case conferences or staff meetings.
- Provide clients or family members with information about addiction issues and about available services or programs, making appropriate referrals when necessary.
- Review and evaluate clients' progress in relation to measurable goals described in treatment and care plans.
- Plan or implement follow-up or aftercare programs for clients to be discharged from treatment programs.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeSeated for more than half the working day.
Standing
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening4.3
- Speaking4.1
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Writing4.0
- Monitoring4.0
- Critical Thinking3.9
- Active Learning3.9
- Learning Strategies3.3
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 4.3 |
| Speaking | 4.1 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 |
| Writing | 4.0 |
| Monitoring | 4.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.9 |
| Active Learning | 3.9 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Social Perceptiveness4.3
- Coordination3.9
- Persuasion3.9
- Service Orientation3.9
- Complex Problem Solving3.8
- Judgment and Decision Making3.8
- Negotiation3.4
- Systems Evaluation3.4
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Social Perceptiveness | 4.3 |
| Coordination | 3.9 |
| Persuasion | 3.9 |
| Service Orientation | 3.9 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.8 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.8 |
| Negotiation | 3.4 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Analytical or scientific software
- Calendar and scheduling software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Internet browser software
- Medical software
- Project management software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselor?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselor |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 2 |
| Investigative | 4 |
| Artistic | 3 |
| Social | 7 |
| Enterprising | 3 |
| Conventional | 3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around teaching, helping and working directly with other people, combined with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data.
- Social6.7
- Investigative3.8
- Conventional3.2
- Enterprising2.7
- Artistic2.6
- Realistic1.6
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselor
O*NET related occupations
- Community and Social Service
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker
$60,280median a year
Most earn $40K to $104K
+10.3%Master's - Community and Social Service
Mental Health Counselor
$60,320median a year
Most earn $39K to $101K
+10.9%Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed - Community and Social Service
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Community and Social Service
- Community and Social Service
More community and social service careers
Median annual pay, with substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors highlighted
- Healthcare Social Worker$67,880
- Marriage and Family Therapist$66,940
- Probation Officer and Correctional Treatment Specialist$66,270
- Health Education Specialist$64,070
- Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselor$60,320
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker$60,280
- Community Health Worker$51,850
- Rehabilitation Counselor$46,850
- Social and Human Service Assistant$45,930
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Healthcare Social Worker | $67,880 |
| Marriage and Family Therapist | $66,940 |
| Probation Officer and Correctional Treatment Specialist | $66,270 |
| Health Education Specialist | $64,070 |
| Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselor | $60,320 |
| Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker | $60,280 |
| Community Health Worker | $51,850 |
| Rehabilitation Counselor | $46,850 |
| Social and Human Service Assistant | $45,930 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselor appears on
Questions
Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselor: frequently asked questions
How much do Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors make?
Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors earn a median of $60,320 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 18% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $29.00/hr. The middle half earn between $47,560 and $78,260. The top 10% earn $100,900 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselor?
Yes. BLS reports a job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed as the typical entry-level education for Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as considerable preparation.
Is Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselor a growing career?
Yes, strongly. Employment is projected to grow 10.9% over 2025–2035, more than double the 3.5% projected for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 97,700 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselor do?
Counsel and advise individuals with alcohol, tobacco, drug, or other problems, such as gambling and eating disorders. A core O*NET task: attend training sessions to increase knowledge and skills. Employers most often ask for Electronic mail software, Office suite software, Presentation software.
What personality type suits a Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselor?
O*NET scores Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors highest on the Social, Investigative and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes teaching, helping and working directly with other people with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ENFJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.