Alpharus Health logo
Alpharus Health
Chicago, Illinois

Substance Use Counselor (2nd shift)

CounselorNo callNo weekendsFull-Time

Listed compensation

$19-$23.16/hr

The week · per this posting · Tuesday – Saturday

Ask the employer about the work setting and nights and shift pattern.

Posted 1mo ago · Verified live

Job Description

Who Is Alpharus Health?

Alpharus Health is a national nonprofit behavioral health provider dedicated to helping people build healthier lives. For nearly 60 years, we have provided substance use and mental health treatment that helps individuals, families, and communities find healing, hope, and lasting wellbeing.

Our mission is simple: We help people build healthier lives. By combining clinical expertise with a person-centered approach, we help people build the skills, resilience, and support systems needed to create meaningful, lasting change.

Why Join Us?

Consider joining our team, where your impact can be truly meaningful. Our organization focuses on delivering high quality clinical services as a recognized leader in evidence-based treatment proven to get results.

By joining our team, you'll be working for an organization that values you and aims to be an employer of choice. You can expect to be part of a vibrant culture that emphasizes teamwork and professional growth.

When you join us, you have the opportunity to find both personal and professional fulfillment by aligning your career with your values.

Location: 3828 W. Taylor Chicago, IL 60624

Click here for details about the facility!

Work Schedule: Tuesday through Saturday from 3:00pm-11:00pm

Residential Substance Abuse Counselors are responsible for:

Preparing and facilitating group counseling sessions, educational programs, and lectures to assist clients in meeting therapeutic goals

Conducting individual counseling to provide crises intervention, support & guidance, and address client behaviors and personal problems

  • Documenting clients’ progress and responses to treatment
  • Maintaining client records; ensuring records are complete, accurate, and up to date
  • Monitoring clients in medication self-administration
  • Ensuring client safety and well-being
  • Monitoring client behavior during social, recreational, or daily activities
  • Enforcing house rules
  • Scheduling, coordinating and transporting clients to appointments and maintaining the vehicle
  • Collecting urine samples and administering breathalyzer
  • Other duties as assigned

Job Requirements:

High school diploma or equivalency required

Minimum 6 months of previous experience in substance abuse or mental health counseling required

Related work experience with a program specific population (adolescent/adult) in a residential treatment setting required

Physical Requirements:

Ability to walk and move about the facilities for up to two hours at a time, to monitor and interact with clients.

  • Ability to speak with others in order to exchange information and provide counseling.
  • Ability to record, proofread and check documents and files for accuracy on a regular basis.
  • Ability to use a keyboard and video display terminal to receive, retrieve, and/or audit information and data on a regular basis.
  • Ability to respond to telephones, and to hear and detect alarms and unusual noises.

Ability to drive an automobile or van; remain alert to traffic conditions, and to identify and comply with traffic signals and signs

Compensation:

Range is between $19.00- $23.16 per hour

Starting rates are determined based on years of experience, qualifications, and relevant skills.

Alpharus Health conducts annual performance reviews, with merit increase eligbility determined by employee performance and organizational financial performance.

Benefits at Alpharus

Health and Wellness:

  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and dependents
  • Employee wellness program promoting health and fitness and offering cash-saving premiums
  • Employee assistance programs focused on mental health

Financial Wellbeing:

  • 403(b) Retirement Plan with 3% employer match
  • Short-term and Long-term Disability and Life and AD&D Insurance paid for by Alpharus
  • Flexible Spending Accounts for medical and dependent care
  • Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

Flexibility and Time Off:

  • 18 paid time off days per year – accrual rates increase with years of service
  • 9 paid company holidays
  • Work-life-balance

Personal Development:

Training & Development Programs

Tuition Reimbursement - up to $5,250 per calendar year eLearning access to online courses that provide CEU’s and job-related training

Clinical Supervision: Formal and informal guidance

Alpharus Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Race/Color/Sex/Sexual Orientation/ Gender Identity/Religion/National Origin/Disability/Vets. Please view Equal Employment Opportunity Posters provided by OFCCP here.

Key Responsibilities

The counselor is responsible for facilitating group and individual therapy sessions while monitoring client safety and behavior in a residential setting. They must also maintain accurate clinical records and assist with daily living activities and medication administration.

Requirements

Candidates must possess a high school diploma or equivalent and at least six months of experience in substance abuse or mental health counseling. Experience working with specific populations in a residential treatment environment is also required.

Key Skills

Substance abuse counselingCrisis interventionGroup facilitationCase documentationClient monitoringMedication administration supportSafety complianceRecord keepingTransportation coordinationBreathalyzer administrationUrine sample collection

Addiction Medicine — Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings this role was benchmarked against, 46% are remote, 30% have no call, 60% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Illinois is 100.0 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$44k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $44k in an average-cost state. 62.6% of Illinois clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Substance Use Counselor (2nd shift) at Alpharus Health a 6.6 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the top 25% 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

38 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution38 jobs · 29 employers

14
<$70k
16
$70k-90k
3
$90k-110k
5
$110k-130k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks35 jobs · 29 employers

401k / retirement match
83% this job
Sign-on bonus
40%
CME allowance
34% this job
Loan repayment
26% this job
PSLF eligible
20% this job

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Clinical Therapist

Counseling Works · Naperville, Illinois

$104k-$127k
#2

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Therapist - LICSW/LPCC/LMFT

LifeStance Health · Saint Louis Park, Minnesota

$74k-$126k
#3

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT, LPC, LCSW)

$92k-$125k
#4

Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMFT, LPC, LCSW)

$115k-$120k
+ 36 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.1this job 6.6
Better work-life than 80% of Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings

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

  • No call
  • No weekends

Living in Chicago

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$356k
Typical market rent
$2,342/mo
Residents’ average commute
33 min
State income tax
Up to 5%
Sources & methodology

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

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

Alpharus Health logo

About Alpharus Health

Benefits & Perks

Medical, dental, and vision insurance
Employee wellness program
Employee assistance program
403(b) Retirement Plan with 3% employer match
Short-term and Long-term Disability
Life and AD&D Insurance
Flexible Spending Accounts
Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)