Substance Use Counselor

Addiction Counselor 8.0 Work-LifeNo callNo weekendsFull-Time

Listed compensation

$22.83-$31.92/hr

The week · per this posting · Tuesday – Friday

Ask the employer about the work setting, nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 24m ago · Verified live

Job Description

  • Outpatient MAT Opioid Treatment Program
  • Seeking: Substance Use Counselor
  • Maine CADC or LADC is required

CCS Also Considered

Calculated Salary Range for the role: $22.83 - $31.92 per hour

Full Time Hours

  • Monday, 5:00 AM - 9:00 AM
  • Tuesday - Friday, 5:00 AM - 1:30 PM

Our Benefits

  • Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
  • Competitive 401(k) plan
  • Paid vacation and sick time
  • Employer-paid clinical supervision (free to employees)
  • Free and unlimited access to 500+ accredited Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offering continued support to employee lifestyle and well-being
  • Early morning hours offering a great work/life balance
  • Opportunity for growth that is second to none in the industry

Our Team

Waterville Comprehensive Treatment Center (CTC), located in Waterville, Maine, is part of Acadia Healthcare's Comprehensive Treatment Centers, the leading provider of medication-assisted treatment in the nation. Our counseling team provides compassionate, high-quality counseling and therapy to patients that are seeking recovery from Opioid Use Disorder.

Your Job as a Substance Use Counselor

The Substance Use Counselor is instrumental in our patient’s treatment and recovery from opioid use disorder. Substance Use Counselors provide high quality, compassionate care through various mediums which include both individual and group counseling sessions.

Job Responsibilities

  • Provide high quality, compassionate guidance in both individual and group counseling sessions.
  • Plan, oversee, facilitate and document patient's recovery.
  • Co-facilitate assigned group or family sessions as needed.
  • Ensure all documentation regarding patient care, treatment, and incidents is completed timely and in a clear, concise manner.
  • Prepare individual treatment plans for each assigned patient.
  • Initial assessments as well as follow up assessments.
  • Evaluate patient needs and determine if referrals to other programs or facilities are needed.
  • May plan for aftercare for assigned patients.
  • Provide crisis intervention to patients, as needed.
  • Provide case management duties for patients, ensuring individualized quality care as needed.
  • Act as a liaison between referral sources and patients, as needed.

Eligible positions may qualify for student loan forgiveness through HRSA, depending on clinic site eligibility. Check your eligibility here: HRSA Eligibility

Required Education, Skills, and Qualifications

  • HS diploma or GED equivalent;
  • Prefer Bachelor’s or Master's degree in social or health services field;
  • Degree must be from an accredited college or university.
  • Previous experience in addiction recovery or behavioral health settings, such as outpatient, residential, or correctional facilities.
  • Familiarity with Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), including methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone.
  • Experience conducting individual and group counseling sessions focused on substance use recovery.

Knowledge of evidence-based practices, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and relapse prevention techniques.

Documentation experience, including maintaining clinical notes, treatment plans, and progress updates in accordance with state and federal guidelines.

Familiarity with state regulatory standards (e. g., 42 CFR Part 2, HIPAA, Joint Commission standards).

Experience collaborating in a multidisciplinary team with medical staff, case managers, and peer support specialists.

Licenses/Certifications

  • Maine CADC or LADC is required.
  • We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment regardless of an individual’s characteristics protected by applicable state, federal and local laws.
  • AHCTC

Key Responsibilities

The Substance Use Counselor provides compassionate individual and group therapy to patients recovering from opioid use disorder. Responsibilities include developing treatment plans, documenting patient progress, and coordinating care within a multidisciplinary team.

Qualifications

Education
High school
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Substance use counselingIndividual counselingTreatment planningClinical documentationHIPAA compliancePatient assessment

Addiction Medicine — Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings this role was benchmarked against, 84% are remote, 24% have no call, 48% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Maine is 97.1 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$57k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $59k in an average-cost state. 62.0% of Maine clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

How many Substance Use / Addiction Counselor jobs are remote?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Work-life score8.0 / 10 · top 5% in substance use / addiction counselorranked against 1,008 Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listingslisting-based score, 0–10
Listed pay$47k–$66kSubstance Use / Addiction Counselor median $58k (middle half $53k–$65k)458 comparable listings, Nov 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$59k in purchasing powerMaine index 97.1 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings in Maine38 active13,380 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 84% remote · 24% no call · 48% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentloan repaymentUS Counselor listings: 14% state a sign-on bonus (median $4k) · 13% offer loan repayment1,000 active listings, Nov 2026
New Addiction Medicine listings440 in the last 30 days267 the 30 days before (+65%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index (1,008 Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings), BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Nov 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Substance Use Counselor at Waterville Comprehensive Treatment Center a 8.0 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as excellent. This places the position in the top 5% in Substance Use / Addiction Counselor — ranked against 1,008 active Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no on-call duties, no weekend requirements.

Top Counselor Jobs

43 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

43 jobs · 11 employers
5
<$85k
1
$95k
8
$100k-115k
17
$115k-130k
12
$130k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

39 jobs · 11 employers
401k / retirement match
100% this job
Sign-on bonus
41%
CME allowance
21% this job
Loan repayment
3% this job

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Inpatient Clinical Director (LCSW, LMFT, LPCC) - Mental Health 105

Telecare · Redwood City, California

$136k-$168k
#2

Licensed Mental Health Therapist

LifeStance Health · Lake Oswego, Oregon

$123k-$141k
#3

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)

$123k-$141k
#4

Licensed Mental Health Therapist (LMFT, LCSW, LPCC)

$117k-$134k
+ 41 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.1this job 8.0
Among the best 10% of Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings for work-life

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 1,008 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • No call
  • No weekends
Waterville Comprehensive Treatment Center logo

About Waterville Comprehensive Treatment Center

Hospitals and Health Care
51-200 employees

Benefits & Perks

Medical Insurance
Dental
Vision
401(k)
Paid Vacation
Sick Time
Employer-paid Clinical Supervision
Free CEUs

Living in Waterville

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$254k
Typical market rent
$1,342/mo
Residents’ average commute
18 min
State income tax
Up to 7.2%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Sep 2026), Zillow market rents (Sep 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.