Details Report for:
21-1011.00 - Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors
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.
Sample of reported job titles: Addictions Counselor, Case Manager, Chemical Dependency Counselor (CD Counselor), Chemical Dependency Professional, Clinical Counselor, Correctional Substance Abuse Counselor, Counselor, Drug and Alcohol Treatment Specialist (DATS), Prevention Specialist, Substance Abuse Counselor (SA Counselor)
Tasks | Technology Skills | Tools Used | Knowledge | Skills | Abilities | Work Activities | Detailed Work Activities | Work Context | Job Zone | Education | Credentials | Interests | Work Styles | Work Values | Related Occupations | Wages & Employment | Job Openings | Additional Information
Tasks Save Table (XLS/CSV)
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Category | Task |
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96 ![]() ![]() |
Core | |
95 ![]() ![]() |
Core | |
92 ![]() ![]() |
Core | |
91 ![]() ![]() |
Core | |
89 ![]() ![]() |
Core | |
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Core | |
85 ![]() ![]() |
Core | |
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Core | |
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Core | |
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Core | |
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82 ![]() ![]() |
Core | |
80 ![]() ![]() |
Core | |
79 ![]() ![]() |
Core | |
79 ![]() ![]() |
Core | |
78 ![]() ![]() |
Core | |
77 ![]() ![]() |
Core | |
74 ![]() ![]() |
Core | |
73 ![]() ![]() |
Core | |
69 ![]() ![]() |
Core | |
79 ![]() ![]() |
Supplemental | |
70 ![]() ![]() |
Supplemental | |
67 ![]() ![]() |
Supplemental |
Technology Skills Save Table (XLS/CSV)
- Analytical or scientific software — Statistical software
- Calendar and scheduling software — Scheduling software
- Data base user interface and query software — Database software; EAG Economic Analysis Group CaseTrack; Online informational database software
- Electronic mail software — Email software; IBM Lotus Notes; Microsoft Outlook
- Internet browser software — Web browser software
- Medical software — Addison Health Systems WritePad EMR Systems; Athena Software Penelope Case Management; STI Computer Services ChartMaker; Varian Medical Systems (see all 14 examples)
- Office suite software — Microsoft Office
- Presentation software — Microsoft PowerPoint
- Project management software — Practice Technology Prevail
- Spreadsheet software — Microsoft Excel
- Word processing software — Microsoft Word
Hot Technology — a technology requirement frequently included in employer job postings.
Knowledge Save Table (XLS/CSV)
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Knowledge |
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97 ![]() ![]() |
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96 ![]() ![]() |
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80 ![]() ![]() |
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79 ![]() ![]() |
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71 ![]() ![]() |
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69 ![]() ![]() |
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68 ![]() ![]() |
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67 ![]() ![]() |
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61 ![]() ![]() |
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59 ![]() ![]() |
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56 ![]() ![]() |
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47 ![]() ![]() |
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36 ![]() ![]() |
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32 ![]() ![]() |
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29 ![]() ![]() |
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29 ![]() ![]() |
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25 ![]() ![]() |
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19 ![]() ![]() |
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18 ![]() ![]() |
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12 ![]() ![]() |
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10 ![]() ![]() |
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10 ![]() ![]() |
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10 ![]() ![]() |
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9 ![]() ![]() |
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7 ![]() ![]() |
Skills Save Table (XLS/CSV)
![]() Importance |
Skill |
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---|---|---|
78 ![]() ![]() |
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78 ![]() ![]() |
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78 ![]() ![]() |
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75 ![]() ![]() |
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75 ![]() ![]() |
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72 ![]() ![]() |
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69 ![]() ![]() |
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69 ![]() ![]() |
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69 ![]() ![]() |
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69 ![]() ![]() |
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63 ![]() ![]() |
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60 ![]() ![]() |
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60 ![]() ![]() |
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56 ![]() ![]() |
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25 ![]() ![]() |
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25 ![]() ![]() |
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25 ![]() ![]() |
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19 ![]() ![]() |
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19 ![]() ![]() |
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19 ![]() ![]() |
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16 ![]() ![]() |
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16 ![]() ![]() |
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13 ![]() ![]() |
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6 ![]() ![]() |
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3 ![]() ![]() |
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0 ![]() |
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0 ![]() |
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0 ![]() |
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0 ![]() |
Abilities Save Table (XLS/CSV)
Work Activities Save Table (XLS/CSV)
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Work Activity |
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91 ![]() ![]() |
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86 ![]() ![]() |
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85 ![]() ![]() |
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84 ![]() ![]() |
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83 ![]() ![]() |
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79 ![]() ![]() |
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75 ![]() ![]() |
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75 ![]() ![]() |
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74 ![]() ![]() |
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69 ![]() ![]() |
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66 ![]() ![]() |
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32 ![]() ![]() |
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28 ![]() ![]() |
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21 ![]() ![]() |
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16 ![]() ![]() |
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10 ![]() ![]() |
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5 ![]() ![]() |
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3 ![]() ![]() |
Detailed Work Activities Save Table (XLS/CSV)
- Maintain client records.
- Write reports or evaluations.
- Counsel clients or patients with substance abuse issues.
- Collaborate with other professionals to assess client needs or plan treatments.
- Interview clients to gather information about their backgrounds, needs, or progress.
- Develop treatment plans for patients or clients.
- Monitor clients to evaluate treatment progress.
- Intervene in crisis situations to assist clients.
- Modify treatment plans to accommodate client needs.
- Maintain professional social services knowledge.
- Present social services program information to the public.
- Refer clients to community or social service programs.
- Supervise workers providing client or patient services.
- Train staff members in social services skills.
- Advocate for individual or community needs.
- Administer drug screening tests.
- Counsel family members of clients or patients.
- Confer with family members to discuss client treatment plans or progress.
- Collaborate with other professionals to develop education or assistance programs.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of counseling or educational programs.
- Plan programs to address community health issues.
Find occupations related to multiple detailed work activities
Work Context Save Table (XLS/CSV)
Job Zone Save Table (XLS/CSV)
Title | Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed |
Education | Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree). |
Related Experience | Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job. |
Job Training | Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training. |
Job Zone Examples | These occupations often involve coordinating, training, supervising, or managing the activities of others to accomplish goals. Very advanced communication and organizational skills are required. Examples include pharmacists, lawyers, astronomers, biologists, clergy, neurologists, and veterinarians. |
SVP Range | (8.0 and above) |
Education
Interests Save Table (XLS/CSV)
![]() Occupational Interest |
Interest |
|
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100 ![]() ![]() |
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56 ![]() ![]() |
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50 ![]() ![]() |
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33 ![]() ![]() |
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17 ![]() ![]() |
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6 ![]() ![]() |
Realistic — Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others. ![]() |
Work Styles Save Table (XLS/CSV)
![]() Importance |
Work Style |
|
---|---|---|
94 ![]() ![]() |
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93 ![]() ![]() |
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93 ![]() ![]() |
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91 ![]() ![]() |
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91 ![]() ![]() |
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85 ![]() ![]() |
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78 ![]() ![]() |
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78 ![]() ![]() |
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77 ![]() ![]() |
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73 ![]() ![]() |
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65 ![]() ![]() |
Related Occupations Save Table (XLS/CSV)
21-1012.00 | Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors ![]() |
21-1014.00 | Mental Health Counselors ![]() |
21-1021.00 | Child, Family, and School Social Workers ![]() |
21-1023.00 | Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers ![]() |
21-1091.00 | Health Education Specialists ![]() |
21-1092.00 | Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists |
21-1093.00 | Social and Human Service Assistants ![]() |
21-2021.00 | Directors, Religious Activities and Education |
25-2031.00 | Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education |
39-9041.00 | Residential Advisors ![]() |
Wages & Employment Trends
Median wage data for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors.
Employment data for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors.
Industry data for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors.
Median wages (2019) | $22.23 hourly, $46,240 annual |
State wages | |
Local wages | |
Employment (2019) | 319,400 employees |
Projected growth (2019-2029) | ![]() |
Projected job openings (2019-2029) | 39,400 |
State trends | |
Top industries (2019) | Health Care and Social Assistance (74% employed in this sector)
|
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2019 wage data
and 2019-2029 employment projections
.
"Projected growth" represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2019-2029). "Projected job openings" represent openings due to growth and replacement.
Sources of Additional Information
Disclaimer: Sources are listed to provide additional information on related jobs, specialties, and/or industries. Links to non-DOL Internet sites are provided for your convenience and do not constitute an endorsement.
- American Academy of Health Care Providers in the Addictive Disorders
- American Counseling Association
- American Psychological Association
- Association for Addiction Professionals
- Employee Assistance Professionals Association
- International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium
- International Profession Certification Association
- National Alliance on Mental Illness
- Occupational Outlook Handbook: Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors
- Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association