Substance Abuse Counselor - Must have a CAC II certification!
Listed compensation
$60 per hour
The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed
Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, nights and shift pattern and time off.
Job Description
Must have a CAC II certification!
We are seeking dedicated and compassionate Substance Abuse Counselors to join our team!
The ideal candidate will possess a strong understanding of addiction and recovery processes, providing support and guidance to individuals struggling with substance use disorders. This role involves conducting assessments, developing treatment plans, and facilitating therapeutic interventions to promote recovery and improve the overall well-being of clients.
Experience
We are currently identifying qualified Substance Abuse Counselors to provide services under our contract with the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA) in Washington, DC.
This is a 1099 independent contractor opportunity with flexible scheduling. Details are as follows:
- Substance Abuse Assessments: One-hour assessments at $60 per hour
- Substance Abuse Group Counseling: Two-hour group counseling sessions at $75 per hour. Groups may consist of approximately 2–15 participants.
- Schedule: Contractors may establish their own availability and can offer availability throughout the week, including weekends.
- Service Delivery: Services are provided in person at one or both CSOSA locations in Washington, DC:
- Indiana Avenue NW location
- Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE location
Key Responsibilities
The counselor will conduct substance abuse assessments and develop individualized treatment plans for clients. They will also facilitate group counseling sessions to support recovery and improve client well-being.
Requirements
Candidates must possess a CAC II certification to be eligible for this role. Experience in providing substance abuse counseling services is required.
Qualifications
- Education
- Professional certificate or licensure
- Experience
- 2+ years of experience
Key Skills
Addiction Medicine — Counselor Career Context
Of the 50 active Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings this role was benchmarked against, 74% are remote, 30% have no call, 60% require no weekends.
The cost-of-living index for District of Columbia is 109.9 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$140k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $128k in an average-cost state. 64.3% of District of Columbia clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
| Measure | This job | Market |
|---|---|---|
| Listed pay | $125k–$156k | Substance Use / Addiction Counselor median $85k (middle half $67k–$114k)21 comparable listings, Nov 2026 |
| Cost-of-living adjusted pay | ~$128k in purchasing power | District of Columbia index 109.9 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) |
| Addiction Medicine listings in District of Columbia | 10 active | —live on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| All substance use / addiction counselor listings in District of Columbia | 53 active | 13,400 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| Work setting | on-site | peers: 74% remote · 30% no call · 60% no weekends50 benchmarked listings |
| Sign-on & loan repayment | not stated | US counselor listings (all specialties): 12% state a sign-on bonus (median $3k) · 16% offer loan repayment1,000 active listings, Nov 2026 |
| New Addiction Medicine listings | 428 in the last 30 days | 235 the 30 days before (+82%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
Top contract/1099 Counselor Jobs
34 matches · ranked by paySalary Distribution
34 jobs · 22 employersAnnual compensation range
Benefits & Perks
29 jobs · 22 employersShare of similar jobs offering each benefit
Inpatient Clinical Director (LCSW, LMFT, LPCC) - Mental Health 105
Telecare · Redwood City, California
Dental Therapist
InterDent Service · Salem, Oregon
Licensed Mental Health Therapist
$123k-$141kLicensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
$123k-$141kWork-life snapshot
Listing-based score, 0–10, across 1,008 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.
- Includes weekends
Benefits & Perks
Living in Washington
- Typical 3-bedroom home value
- $638k
- Typical market rent
- $2,484/mo
- Residents’ average commute
- 30 min
- Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
- 108.9
- State income tax
- Up to 10.8%
Sources & methodology
Sources: Zillow home values (Sep 2026), Zillow market rents (Sep 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.
BEA 2024 · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.
City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.