Learn what brought them in
Talk through the client's substance use, review past records, and ask which change they want support with.
Career profile
Addiction Counselor
Addiction counselors help clients understand their substance use and practice ways to cope in recovery.
Good sessions start with the change a client hopes for. Then the two of you shape it into a treatment plan that fits their life.
A day in the life
Lead a recovery group
Run a group session where people in recovery share what stresses them and how to cope without relapsing.
Measure progress against treatment goals
Compare the client's progress with their treatment goals, and if the plan isn't working, discuss what to change.
Write up the session
Note the session and next steps in the client's electronic record so future care can build on today.
Quick facts
Training requirements vary
United States
Not available
Addiction-only pay is not reported. The broader counseling group provides a comparison in Earnings.
Not available
Addiction-only projections are not reported. The broader counseling group is projected to grow.
Quick orientation
Preparation, pay & outlook
Preparation
Training requirements varyEducation and credentials depend on the state and position. Federal statistics do not report a separate entry-education level for this title.
Pay
Not availableAddiction-only pay is not reported. The broader counseling group provides a comparison in Earnings.
Outlook
Not availableAddiction-only projections are not reported. The broader counseling group is projected to grow.
Fit, tradeoffs & changing tools
You might like this if…
- You can listen without rushing to give advice.
- You stay patient when someone is upset.
- You can write clearly after a demanding conversation.
Things to weigh
- Heavy caseloads and crises can make the work emotionally demanding.
- Residential jobs may include nights or weekends.
Where AI may help
Video appointments let counselors hold individual and group sessions without everyone traveling to the same room.
What people still lead
You still build trust, guide the conversation, and connect each session to the client’s treatment goals.
What we can’t predict yet
How much counseling moves online will depend partly on whether clients can participate privately and stay connected. Group sessions need a backup plan when the connection fails.
Pay in context
Earnings
A national wage for addiction counselors alone is not reported. Use the broader figures below as context when comparing actual job offers.
The broader national pay range
Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors had a median of $59,350 a year, or $28.53 an hour. The annual 10th–90th percentile range was $38,940–$97,590. These are wage percentiles, not starting and experienced salaries.
Openings across the broader group
Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors are projected to grow 18.4%, with about 50,500 openings annually. Openings include replacing workers who leave, as well as new positions.
Getting started
Train for a New York trainee certificate
- What the route involves
- With a high school diploma or equivalent, complete 350 hours of approved addiction education, required one-time courses, an application, and a background check.
- What it can lead to
- Once issued, the Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor Trainee (CASAC-T) certificate lets you gain qualifying work experience toward the full credential.
- What to check
- Trainees need intensive supervision for treatment planning and individual or group counseling.
Enter through an approved human-services degree
- What the route involves
- In New York, submit an approved bachelor’s or master’s degree, employment or intent-to-hire verification, required one-time training, and a background check.
- What it can lead to
- You can qualify for the Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor Provisional (CASAC-P) certificate and begin accumulating required experience after issuance.
- What to check
- This certificate is limited to state-certified treatment settings and has the same counseling supervision limits as the trainee certificate.
Check your state’s credential rules before choosing a program. These two New York routes show how training can lead into the work. Applicants must be at least 18 and meet the state’s residence-or-employment requirement.
After entry
Career paths
This starts where the entry routes leave off: early work, growing capability, and advancement or specialization. This path also has a credential or licensing boundary; see the requirements and limits.
Get established
Build reliable notes and bring difficult cases to staff discussions.
Develop your judgment
Get better at spotting stalled progress and planning support after treatment ends.
Move toward clinical supervision
In New York, a full CASAC, a bachelor’s degree, and 30 hours of approved supervision training form the route to CASAC Advanced Counselor, which permits clinical supervision.
Where you can work
Residential treatment centers
Clients live at the facility during recovery. Your work fits into an ongoing treatment program, and shifts may extend into evenings or weekends.
- Indoors
- Shift work
Clinics with medical and counseling teams
You coordinate treatment with professionals such as nurses, physicians, and social workers, bringing the counseling perspective into shared care decisions.
- Indoors
- Office
Try it
See whether the job clicks before you commit to the path.
Imagine an adult seeking help with alcohol use says, “I want to be more dependable at work.” Write three open questions about that goal and one sentence summarizing it in the person’s words. Notice whether you enjoy listening for their priorities before suggesting solutions.
Stay safe: Keep this fictional; do not ask someone to disclose substance use or try to counsel them.
Sources
- O*NET OnLine. Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors — 21-1011.00. Accessed 2026-10-09.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors. Accessed 2026-10-09.
- O*NET OnLine / U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. National Wages: 21-1011.00. Accessed 2026-10-09.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational projections and worker characteristics. Accessed 2026-10-09.
- New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports. CASAC Application Instructions and Forms. Accessed 2026-10-09.
- New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports. Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor. Accessed 2026-10-09.
- New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports. Substance Use Disorder and Problem Gambling Counselor Scope of Practice. Accessed 2026-10-09.
- New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports. Treatment. Accessed 2026-10-09.
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Telehealth for SUD individual and group therapy. Accessed 2026-10-09.