Substance Use Disorder Counselor
Listed compensation
$47k-$58k
The week · per this posting · Monday – Friday
Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, nights and shift pattern and time off.
Job Description
Department: Juvenile Justice
Location: Warrenville, IL 60555
Address: Temporarily based at 3825 Campton Hills Rd, St. Charles, IL 60175.
This position will transition in a few months to its permanent location in Warrenville, IL (30W200 W Ferry Rd, Warrenville, IL 60555).
Schedule: Monday-Friday, 9:30 am-5:30 pm
Salary: $47,000 to $58,000, depending on experience and qualifications.
Position Overview
The Substance Use Disorder Counselor provides intake screening, assessments, and support services to youth admitted to Reception and Classification Units within the Department of Juvenile Justice.
Substance Use Disorder Counselor Responsibilities
Completes assessment and screening process on youth entering the Reception and Classification Unit as well as any additional youth as assigned
- Participates in case consultation and planning as assigned
- Participates in multi-disciplinary staff meetings as assigned
- Facilitates referral and discharge recommendations
- Conducts educational and therapeutic groups for youth as assigned
- Record keeping/documentation for assessment and screening tools as well as assigned group activities
- Case management and coordination
- Participates in staff growth and development activities
Substance Use Disorder Counselor Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree required
- Master's degree preferred
- CADC required within 2 years
- Familiarity with DSM-5 preferred
- Knowledge of chemical abuse and dependence diagnosis criteria
- Knowledge of substance abuse disorders
Substance Use Disorder Counselor Benefits, Full-time
- Health, Dental, Vision
- Life Insurance
- Short/Long-Term Disability options
- 403(b) Retirement
- Paid Time off (PTO)
- Mileage Reimbursement (exclusive to position)
- Eligibility for Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness
YOS Is an E-Verify Participating Employer
Youth Outreach Services is a drug-free workplace, and compliance with this policy is a condition of employment and continued employment.
Youth Outreach Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
Key Responsibilities
The counselor performs intake screenings, assessments, and provides support services for youth in the juvenile justice system. They also facilitate therapeutic groups, manage cases, and coordinate discharge planning.
Requirements
A bachelor's degree is required, with a master's degree preferred. Candidates must obtain a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) certification within two years of employment.
Qualifications
- Education
- Master's degree (postgraduate degree)
Key Skills
Addiction Medicine — Counselor Career Context
Of the 50 active Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings this role was benchmarked against, 38% are remote, 32% have no call, 70% require no weekends.
The cost-of-living index for Illinois is 100.0 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$53k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $53k in an average-cost state. 62.6% of Illinois clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
| Measure | This job | Market |
|---|---|---|
| Listed pay | $47k–$58k | Substance Use / Addiction Counselor median $65k (middle half $55k–$67k)12 comparable listings, Oct 2026 |
| Cost-of-living adjusted pay | ~$53k in purchasing power | Illinois index 100.0 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) |
| Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings in Illinois | 605 active | 13,727 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026 |
| Work setting | on-site | peers: 38% remote · 32% no call · 70% no weekends50 benchmarked listings |
| Sign-on & loan repayment | loan repayment | Illinois Counselor listings: 15% state a sign-on bonus (median $3k) · 19% offer loan repayment605 active listings, Oct 2026 |
Work-Life Balance Analysis
WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Substance Use Disorder Counselor at Youth Outreach Services a 6.0 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the top 35% of all Addiction Medicine counselor listings evaluated on our platform. Contributing factors include no weekend requirements.
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