Substance abuse counselors help people address addiction and substance use disorders through assessment, treatment planning, counseling, and ongoing recovery support. On Ladders, explore vetted opportunities for experienced professionals, including roles in behavioral health organizations, hospitals, treatment centers, and community-based programs. Many listings target positions paying $100,000 or more, particularly for senior clinicians, program leaders, and specialized practitioners.
Responsibilities vary by setting and credentials, but may include evaluating clients, developing individualized care plans, conducting individual or group counseling, coordinating referrals, documenting progress, and supporting relapse prevention. Counselors often collaborate with physicians, therapists, social workers, and families to help clients navigate recovery.
Related titles include addiction counselor, substance use disorder counselor, clinical counselor, behavioral health therapist, recovery services manager, and addiction treatment program director. With experience and advanced qualifications, professionals may move into clinical supervision, program management, or organizational leadership.
Employers commonly seek strong counseling and communication skills, knowledge of evidence-based treatment approaches, sound clinical judgment, and experience with treatment documentation and care coordination. Licensing and certification requirements vary by state and employer. Some roles require a master’s degree, independent clinical licensure, or specialized credentials, while others accept different combinations of education and supervised experience.
Use Ladders to explore vetted professional jobs with compensation of $100,000 or more. Compare opportunities by seniority, location, employer, and responsibilities to identify roles that fit your experience and career goals. Review each listing carefully for its salary range, credential requirements, and work setting.
$80K - $95K *
Help us lead a dynamic team in delivering exceptional patient support services. Oversee operations, enhance performance, and ensure quality care while fostering a collaborative environment to achieve...
2 days ago
Associate Manager, Clinical Quality (Prior Authorization)- Remote
$71K - $102K *
Engage in quality assurance leadership for Prior Authorization reviews, ensuring compliance, accuracy, and efficiency. Oversee a team of auditors, drive improvement initiatives, and enhance provider a...
1 week ago
$80K - $95K *
Elevate customer satisfaction by addressing complex inquiries and issues. Collaborate with diverse teams to enhance processes and ensure effective communication, while monitoring case health and imple...
2 weeks ago
Principal Solutions Architect - Network
$150K - $275K *
Unlock potential by leading enterprise networking solutions, guiding teams through complex architectures, and translating business needs into scalable strategies. Collaborate with stakeholders to ensu...
Yesterday
$133K - $156K *
Innovate solutions as an associate actuary, collaborating with a dynamic team to enhance workers' compensation coverage and drive strategic insights that impact stakeholders across Oregon and beyond...
1 week ago
Strategic Account Specialist -- Charleston SC
$125K - $155K *
Lead the charge in driving regional sales impact by engaging high-value gastroenterology customers. Collaborate with field teams and serve as a regional trainer, leveraging your clinical expertise to...
3 weeks ago
Supervisor, Utilization Management
$75K - $135K *
Shape healthcare delivery by supervising a utilization management team, ensuring quality adherence to standards. Drive process improvements while mentoring staff in effective care management strategie...
3 weeks ago
$80K - $95K *
Optimize coding education and compliance for healthcare providers. Lead a team to enhance clinical documentation, develop training plans, and ensure adherence to regulations, driving improvements in b...
1 week ago
$135K - $237K *
Unlock potential by leading actuarial strategies that drive innovation and performance. Oversee a team, develop statistical models, and engage with regulators to ensure compliance and support business...
2 weeks ago
$99K - $138K *
Help us streamline partner diligence and change management processes, ensuring compliance and operational efficiency. Collaborate across teams to enhance partner relationships and support their lendin...
2 weeks ago
Senior Billing Process Systems Analyst
$79K - $150K *
Elevate billing processes by overseeing design and governance within Oracle, ensuring efficiency and accuracy in invoicing. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive improvements and mentor jun...
2 weeks ago
Manager, Credentialing & Medical Staff Services
$110K - $125K *
Elevate healthcare operations by leading credentialing and medical staff services across multiple states. Drive compliance, streamline onboarding, and enhance workflows to support over 200 professiona...
1 week ago
Clinical Supervisor (BCBA) Remote
$65K - $115K *
Transform patient care by leading clinical teams, developing treatment plans, and ensuring quality supervision to enhance skills and behaviors for individuals with autism in diverse settings. Empower...
Reposted 1 week ago
$100K - $115K *
Drive operational excellence by overseeing daily functions, enhancing customer satisfaction, and fostering innovation. Collaborate with stakeholders to manage projects and maintain high-quality standa...
4 days ago
Data Analyst III Healthcare Analytics, Medical Economics
$70K - $126K *
Unlock potential by leveraging comprehensive datasets to drive impactful business decisions. Collaborate with stakeholders to analyze trends, develop solutions, and improve clinical outcomes while man...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
Sr. Director | Industry Relations - US Remote
$138K - $231K *
Build relationships and drive strategic initiatives as a leader overseeing biopharma partnerships. Guide teams to enhance patient access, optimize commercial performance, and deliver innovative oncolo...
4 weeks ago
Speech Language Pathologist (SLP)
$104K *
Join our team as a Speech-Language Pathologist, providing essential therapy services to K-12 students. Collaborate with educators and families to enhance communication skills and support student succe...
2 weeks ago
Senior Manager, Sales Compensation & Commissions
$160K - $231K *
Take ownership of sales compensation operations, driving accurate commission calculations and seamless platform administration. Lead impactful reporting and process improvements while collaborating wi...
4 weeks ago
VP, Content Expert, Market Access
$160K - $200K *
Shape the future of market access strategy by integrating payer, provider, and patient perspectives. Lead cross-functional teams to develop impactful strategies that enhance therapy positioning and su...
Yesterday
Client Success Manager (Midwest)
$80K - $110K *
Drive client success by managing small to medium accounts, enhancing engagement, and leveraging data insights to improve health outcomes and revenue growth. Collaborate with teams to implement solutio...
2 days ago
$110K - $130K *
Join our team to provide legal and regulatory guidance in mortgage lending and insurance. You'll research, advise, and manage compliance matters while collaborating with stakeholders to mitigate risks...
3 weeks ago
Regional Sales Director - Long Island
$180K - $215K *
Inspire growth by leading regional launch strategies and building high-performing sales teams. Drive market success through strong customer relationships and cross-functional collaboration in a fast-p...
3 days ago
Key Account Manager, Boston, MA
$110K - $130K *
Join a team that's passionate about patient care and responsible for educating healthcare professionals about critical product access and reimbursement solutions while achieving sales objectives and f...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
Compliance & Regulatory Counsel
$180K - $200K *
Manage compliance and regulatory functions for a global SaaS provider, advising on laws impacting enterprise clients. Collaborate cross-functionally to ensure timely compliance and develop best practi...
1 week ago
$86K - $138K *
Lead actuarial initiatives by leveraging your expertise to analyze complex data, mentor junior staff, and develop innovative solutions that drive informed decision-making and enhance operational effic...
1 week ago
What does a substance abuse counselor do?
A substance abuse counselor assesses clients’ needs, supports treatment planning, provides individual or group counseling, tracks progress, and helps clients build strategies for recovery. Duties depend on the role, employer, and credentials.
What qualifications are needed for substance abuse counselor jobs?
Requirements vary by state and employer. Jobs may call for relevant education, supervised clinical experience, state licensure or certification, and training in addiction treatment. Senior or independently licensed roles may require a graduate degree and advanced credentials.
Can substance abuse counselors earn $100,000 or more?
Some experienced substance abuse counselors and related professionals earn $100,000 or more, especially in senior clinical, supervisory, specialized, or program leadership positions. Compensation depends on location, qualifications, employer, and scope of responsibility.
Where do substance abuse counselors work?
They work in settings such as addiction treatment centers, hospitals, behavioral health clinics, community organizations, and other recovery or social service programs.
What are common career paths for substance abuse counselors?
Career paths can include clinical specialization, independent counseling, clinical supervision, treatment program management, and behavioral health leadership. Advancement often depends on experience, education, and applicable licensure.