Community & Social Service

Substance Abuse Counselors

SOC 21-1011

Help people in recovery from addiction through counseling and support.

Median pay

$59k

$47k to $77k typical range

Outlook

Growing fast

51k openings / yr

Education

Bachelor's plus cert

AI displacement risk

Moderate

How much of this job AI may do instead of the person · our model, not a benchmark

Works with AI

29/100

AI alongside the person rather than instead of them

AI exposure

81st pct

More exposed than 81% of occupations · modeled estimate

Future-proof

71/100

Key skills

Active Listening
Speaking
Critical Thinking
Reading Comprehension
Writing
Monitoring

Where this ranks

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Pay and outlook from BLS (OEWS 2025, Employment Projections 2025-2035). Skills and work activities from O*NET 30.3. AI exposure and future-proof scores are modeled estimates. How these numbers are made.