Careers in Addiction Counseling

Addiction counselors offer treatment and support to persons and families struggling to overcome a variety of addictions, including opioid use, alcohol use, food disorders and other behavioral compulsions. This dynamic profession offers a wide array of career options including:

• Substance abuse, behavioral disorder and mental health counselors
• Rehabilitation counselors
• Social and community services managers
• Health educators and community health workers
• Corrections officers and crisis responders

Based on most recent national estimates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2021, median salary for addiction counselors with a bachelor's degree was $48,520 per year. There were over 351,000 addiction counselors employed throughout the country, and that number is projected to increase by 22% in the next decade.