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Sanford Health
Fargo, North Dakota

Licensed Addiction Counselor

Addiction CounselorNo nightsFull-Time

Listed compensation

$21.5-$34.5/hr

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.

Posted 1h ago · Verified live

Job Description

Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the United States, is dedicated to transforming the health care experience and providing access to world-class health care in America’s heartland.

Work Shift

Day (United States of America)

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Compensation

Salary Range: $21.50 - $34.50 Sign-On Bonus Available!

Union Position

  • No
  • Department Details

Summary

The Licensed Addictions Counselor provides behavioral treatment and support to help clients or patients recover from addiction and address related issues in emotional, social, occupational, and mental health functioning. Has working knowledge of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) criteria.

Job Description

Assesses the severity of addiction and related issues and issues that may help or hinder recovery. Develops individualized treatment plans specific to client issues and delivers treatment interventions to guide and support behavior change.

Plans and provides treatment and continuous assessment through a variety of modalities, including individual treatment, therapy groups, and case management. Documents and maintains treatment records, including assessments, summaries, progress notes, and discharge summaries.

Serves as a primary source of education to other team members regarding chemical dependency and health. Collaborates with others in the treatment planning and support of clients, including other treatment providers, primary care providers, and legal officials, when needed.

Has knowledge of referral sources and community resources that are available to support treatment. Performs work duties within the scope of individual competence and licensure. Assists with program development and provides clinical oversight to Licensed Addiction Counselors.

Qualifications

Master’s degree in Addiction Counseling preferred. Requires completion of 40 hours of continuing education every two years, including diversity and ethics, and completion of annual/bi-annual mandatory trainings.

In North Dakota, Must Have the Following

  • Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC)
  • Basic Life Support (BLS) training and certification within six months of hire.
  • Sanford is an EEO/AA Employer M/F/Disability/Vet.

If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request an accommodation for help with your online application, please call 1-877-949-5678 or send an email to talent@sanfordhealth.org.

Key Responsibilities

The Licensed Addiction Counselor provides behavioral treatment and support to help clients recover from addiction through individualized treatment plans and therapy modalities. They also document treatment records and collaborate with other healthcare providers to ensure comprehensive patient care.

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Clinical documentationPatient assessmentChemical dependency educationCrisis interventionCommunity resource coordination

Addiction Medicine — Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings this role was benchmarked against, 54% are remote, 46% have no call, 80% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for North Dakota is 89.0 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$58k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $65k in an average-cost state. 58.8% of North Dakota clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

How many Substance Use / Addiction Counselor jobs are remote?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed pay$45k–$72kSubstance Use / Addiction Counselor median $58k (middle half $51k–$64k)441 comparable listings, Oct 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$65k in purchasing powerNorth Dakota index 89.0 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings in North Dakota36 active13,541 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 54% remote · 46% no call · 80% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Oct 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top Counselor Jobs

30 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

30 jobs · 14 employers
9
<$85k
5
$85k-100k
6
$100k-115k
10
$115k-130k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

25 jobs · 14 employers
401k / retirement match
100%
Sign-on bonus
44% this job
CME allowance
20% this job
Loan repayment
16%
PSLF eligible
12%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

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

LifeStance Health · Milwaukee, Wisconsin

$92k-$125k
#2

Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMFT, LMHC, LCSW)

Gotham Enterprises · Cartersburg, Indiana

$115k-$120k
#3

Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC)

$115k-$120k
#4

Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

$115k-$120k
+ 28 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.1this job 5.1
Better work-life than 40% 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 nights

Living in Fargo

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$293k
Typical market rent
$1,094/mo
Residents’ average commute
16 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
90.9
State income tax
Up to 2.9%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Fargo, ND-MN metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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