Becoming an Addiction Counselor via Online Education?
At the very least, online education can help you lay a foundation and/or open up alternate career paths.
Liberty University Online, one of the highest ranking online
schools,
is a US school (accredited) offering counseling courses to train individuals
to become top-notch
counseling psychologists,
school counselors,
counselors,
christian counselors,
organizational psychologists,
pastoral counselors, etc.
Currently, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics there are 78,470 people employed as
substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors alone in America, and their average annual salary is
$40,420.
Mental health counselors make on average $41,710
per year and there are about 106,920
of them employed today.
Colleges and universities like Liberty University Online that provide online education are successfully launching workers into
this
field.
Typical Work Locations for an Addiction Counselor
- in a public health care clinic
- rehab
- private practice
- in the sports industry
- in the entertainment business
- local clinics
- in a patients home
- in a public place
- in an office building
- in a park
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as an Addiction Counselor
- reach out to others
- share thoughts and concerns
- provide encouragement and direction
- become a friend
- be reliable support
- prevent problems from occuring
- help others maintain postive attitude
- help others overcome adversity
- teach others to manage their own problems
- get satisfaction from improving the lives of others
Potential Drawbacks
- attachment to patients
- difficulty obtaining a steady job
- hard to prevent work stress for carrying on to the home environment
- strong amount of negative exposure
- decreasing pay scale ratio
- job insecurity
- need for a degree
- experience required
- extremely stressful
- emotionally draining
Related Professions to Consider
- Addictions Treatment Counselor
- Outpatient Addictions Counselor
- Addiction Specialist
- Substance Abuse Counselor
- Physician
- Addictions Counselor/Mental Health Therpaists
- Addiction Recovery Counselor
- Outpatient Counselor
- Chemical Dependency Counselor II
- Counselor Assistant
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be an Addiction Counselor
- Have you been addicted to drugs?
- Which drugs have you been addicted too?
- What do you think about Medical Marijuana?
- Where have you worked?
- Who influenced you to quit you previous job and why?
- Why do you want to do this job?
- What is current salary?
- Where do see yourself in 5 years?
- What are the best and worst aspects of your previous job?
- What unique experience or qualifications separate you from other candidates?
Common Collaborating Professions
- Addiction Med Nurse Counselor
- Licensed Counselor
- Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor
- Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor
- Counselor Assistant
- Addiction Counselor
- Certified Addiction Counselor
- Therapist
- Psychologist
- Drug and Alcohol Addictions Counselor
Addiction Counselor Training books
Addiction Counselor (More) Popular books
Potential Companies to Work For
Common College Majors
- Substance Abuse /Addiction Counseling
- Substance Abuse
- Clinical Counseling with Substance Abuse
- Counseling
- Community Counseling psychology
- sociology
- social work
- applied psychology
- mental health
- clinical psychology
Addiction Counselor Salary Information
Category: Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors
| Total # Employed in the US |
78,470 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$19.43/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $11.82 |
$14.36 |
$18.13 |
$23.11 |
$28.87 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$40,420 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $24,580 |
$29,860 |
$37,700 |
$48,060 |
$60,060 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 1.3% |
7.3% |
10.5% |
5.6% |
25.0% |
45.9% |
4.4% |
|
Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Indiana |
$27.08/hr
|
$56,320
|
| North Dakota |
$26.43/hr
|
$54,970
|
| Guam |
$22.48/hr
|
$46,760
|
| Michigan |
$22.33/hr
|
$46,440
|
| Nebraska |
$20.98/hr
|
$43,630
|
| Delaware |
$20.73/hr
|
$43,120
|
| Missouri |
$20.55/hr
|
$42,750
|
| New York |
$20.53/hr
|
$42,700
|
| Alaska |
$20.52/hr
|
$42,690
|
| Oklahoma |
$20.41/hr
|
$42,460
|
| Arkansas |
$20.34/hr
|
$42,310
|
| Pennsylvania |
$20.07/hr
|
$41,750
|
| Oregon |
$19.82/hr
|
$41,230
|
| Puerto Rico |
$19.69/hr
|
$40,960
|
| Mississippi |
$19.63/hr
|
$40,840
|
| Hawaii |
$19.59/hr
|
$40,740
|
| Montana |
$19.43/hr
|
$40,420
|
| South Carolina |
$19.29/hr
|
$40,120
|
| Utah |
$19.18/hr
|
$39,900
|
| New Mexico |
$19.11/hr
|
$39,740
|
| Massachusetts |
$19.05/hr
|
$39,630
|
| North Carolina |
$18.94/hr
|
$39,390
|
| Florida |
$18.74/hr
|
$38,970
|
| Louisiana |
$18.61/hr
|
$38,700
|
| Virginia |
$18.57/hr
|
$38,620
|
| Kentucky |
$18.47/hr
|
$38,420
|
| Kansas |
$18.43/hr
|
$38,340
|
| Iowa |
$18.36/hr
|
$38,190
|
| Tennessee |
$18.29/hr
|
$38,050
|
| Alabama |
$18.23/hr
|
$37,920
|
| Idaho |
$17.93/hr
|
$37,290
|
| Washington |
$17.92/hr
|
$37,280
|
| Colorado |
$17.87/hr
|
$37,180
|
| South Dakota |
$17.82/hr
|
$37,070
|
| Ohio |
$17.41/hr
|
$36,220
|
| New Hampshire |
$17.32/hr
|
$36,030
|
| District of Columbia |
$17.22/hr
|
$35,810
|
| New Jersey |
$17.19/hr
|
$35,750
|
| Wisconsin |
$17.13/hr
|
$35,620
|
| Wyoming |
$16.87/hr
|
$35,100
|
| Maine |
$16.79/hr
|
$34,920
|
| Maryland |
$16.75/hr
|
$34,830
|
| West Virginia |
$16.68/hr
|
$34,700
|
| California |
$16.67/hr
|
$34,670
|
| Connecticut |
$16.42/hr
|
$34,150
|
| Nevada |
$14.52/hr
|
$30,200
|
Category: Mental health counselors
| Total # Employed in the US |
106,920 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$20.05/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $11.65 |
$14.38 |
$18.28 |
$24.11 |
$31.06 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$41,710 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $24,230 |
$29,920 |
$38,010 |
$50,140 |
$64,610 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 1.3% |
7.3% |
10.5% |
5.6% |
25.0% |
45.9% |
4.4% |
|
Mental health counselors — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Michigan |
$26.51/hr
|
$55,150
|
| Alaska |
$25.98/hr
|
$54,030
|
| New York |
$25.37/hr
|
$52,770
|
| Colorado |
$24.96/hr
|
$51,910
|
| Tennessee |
$23.79/hr
|
$49,490
|
| Iowa |
$23.59/hr
|
$49,060
|
| Florida |
$23.29/hr
|
$48,440
|
| California |
$22.75/hr
|
$47,330
|
| District of Columbia |
$22.7/hr
|
$47,220
|
| Montana |
$22.41/hr
|
$46,620
|
| Ohio |
$22.35/hr
|
$46,490
|
| Guam |
$22.35/hr
|
$46,490
|
| North Dakota |
$21.99/hr
|
$45,750
|
| South Carolina |
$20.99/hr
|
$43,650
|
| Kentucky |
$20.88/hr
|
$43,420
|
| Missouri |
$20.62/hr
|
$42,890
|
| New Mexico |
$20.53/hr
|
$42,700
|
| Arkansas |
$20.14/hr
|
$41,890
|
| South Dakota |
$20.13/hr
|
$41,880
|
| Idaho |
$20.02/hr
|
$41,640
|
| Nebraska |
$19.73/hr
|
$41,050
|
| Delaware |
$19.67/hr
|
$40,920
|
| Mississippi |
$19.63/hr
|
$40,840
|
| Connecticut |
$19.48/hr
|
$40,530
|
| Hawaii |
$19.46/hr
|
$40,480
|
| Oregon |
$19.38/hr
|
$40,310
|
| Washington |
$19.38/hr
|
$40,310
|
| Kansas |
$19.27/hr
|
$40,080
|
| Maine |
$19.16/hr
|
$39,850
|
| Indiana |
$19.13/hr
|
$39,790
|
| Nevada |
$18.93/hr
|
$39,370
|
| West Virginia |
$18.93/hr
|
$39,360
|
| Wyoming |
$18.56/hr
|
$38,610
|
| Puerto Rico |
$18.51/hr
|
$38,500
|
| North Carolina |
$18.47/hr
|
$38,420
|
| Alabama |
$18.19/hr
|
$37,830
|
| Utah |
$18.14/hr
|
$37,740
|
| Maryland |
$18.04/hr
|
$37,520
|
| Oklahoma |
$17.9/hr
|
$37,240
|
| Louisiana |
$16.84/hr
|
$35,020
|
| New Hampshire |
$16.28/hr
|
$33,870
|
| Virginia |
$15.5/hr
|
$32,240
|
| Wisconsin |
$14.79/hr
|
$30,770
|
| Massachusetts |
$14.77/hr
|
$30,720
|
| New Jersey |
$14.42/hr
|
$29,980
|
Category: Mental health and substance abuse social workers
| Total # Employed in the US |
127,140 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$19.88/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $11.99 |
$14.66 |
$18.37 |
$23.96 |
$30.17 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$41,350 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $24,940 |
$30,480 |
$38,200 |
$49,840 |
$62,760 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 1.2% |
6.2% |
10.4% |
6.0% |
42.3% |
32.2% |
1.6% |
|
Mental health and substance abuse social workers — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| North Dakota |
$28.36/hr
|
$59,000
|
| Virginia |
$25.05/hr
|
$52,100
|
| Mississippi |
$24.4/hr
|
$50,750
|
| Indiana |
$24.37/hr
|
$50,680
|
| Delaware |
$24.31/hr
|
$50,560
|
| Alaska |
$23.7/hr
|
$49,300
|
| Oklahoma |
$23.52/hr
|
$48,910
|
| Nebraska |
$23.4/hr
|
$48,680
|
| Florida |
$23.05/hr
|
$47,950
|
| New York |
$22.97/hr
|
$47,770
|
| Colorado |
$22.28/hr
|
$46,340
|
| Missouri |
$21.01/hr
|
$43,700
|
| District of Columbia |
$20.37/hr
|
$42,370
|
| Montana |
$19.86/hr
|
$41,300
|
| Oregon |
$19.85/hr
|
$41,290
|
| Guam |
$19.72/hr
|
$41,020
|
| California |
$19.68/hr
|
$40,940
|
| Massachusetts |
$19.5/hr
|
$40,570
|
| Kansas |
$19.47/hr
|
$40,500
|
| North Carolina |
$19.38/hr
|
$40,310
|
| Idaho |
$19.22/hr
|
$39,990
|
| Michigan |
$18.77/hr
|
$39,040
|
| Arkansas |
$18.63/hr
|
$38,750
|
| Utah |
$18.51/hr
|
$38,500
|
| Maine |
$18.16/hr
|
$37,780
|
| New Mexico |
$18.13/hr
|
$37,700
|
| Louisiana |
$17.94/hr
|
$37,310
|
| Tennessee |
$17.9/hr
|
$37,230
|
| South Carolina |
$17.85/hr
|
$37,130
|
| Maryland |
$17.84/hr
|
$37,110
|
| South Dakota |
$17.84/hr
|
$37,100
|
| Ohio |
$17.65/hr
|
$36,710
|
| Pennsylvania |
$17.55/hr
|
$36,500
|
| New Jersey |
$17.3/hr
|
$35,990
|
| Hawaii |
$17.15/hr
|
$35,660
|
| Kentucky |
$17.02/hr
|
$35,400
|
| Iowa |
$16.91/hr
|
$35,180
|
| Wyoming |
$16.64/hr
|
$34,610
|
| West Virginia |
$16.59/hr
|
$34,510
|
| New Hampshire |
$16.47/hr
|
$34,260
|
| Wisconsin |
$16.37/hr
|
$34,050
|
| Nevada |
$16.35/hr
|
$34,010
|
| Connecticut |
$15.84/hr
|
$32,960
|
| Alabama |
$15.68/hr
|
$32,610
|
| Washington |
$13.86/hr
|
$28,830
|
