Drug Treatment Counselor
Listed compensation
$35k-$58k
Listing transparency3 of 6 stated
Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations and nights and shift pattern.
- Employment & setting
- Full-Time
- Call expectations
- Not specified
- Weekends
- No weekends
Job Description
Salary Range: $34,730 - $58,111
Note: The starting salary is determined based on education, experience, or a combination of both.
Benefits: Insurance, Annual leave, Sick leave, Paid holidays, State of Alabama RSA Retirement
Location: Locations across the state.
Job Summary
The Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) is seeking Drug Treatment Counselors. These positions are in various locations across the state.
This is a full-time professional position that provides supportive guidance and direction to inmates in a substance abuse treatment setting. The Drug Treatment Counselor will provide compassionate guidance, direction and support to participants suffering from drug and/or alcohol dependency through education, group processing, and individual interactions.
- The primary responsibilities of the Drug Treatment Counselor are as follows:
- Manage all aspects of a Substance Abuse Treatment file from pre-treatment through aftercare.
- Document progress and behaviors.
- Develop appropriate and individualized treatment plans and assist with post recovery strategies.
- Facilitate individual sessions.
- Facilitate group sessions using ADOC approved curricula as a guide.
- Identify behaviors that inhibit treatment and recovery.
- Facilitate risk/needs assessments.
- Complete monthly reports.
- Attend routine Substance Use Treatment meetings and annual training.
Applicants must meet the requirements below
- Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree in any major.
- One (1) year experience in substance abuse counseling.
Notes
Substance abuse counseling experience above the minimum will substitute for the required degree on a year for year basis (minimum education - High School Diploma/GED).
"Substance Abuse Counseling" is defined as implementing the techniques and philosophy of a specific addiction recovery model such as 12-step or therapeutic community, observing, recording and orally describing the behavior and thinking processes of substance abusers and developing aftercare plans. Volunteer substance abuse counseling which includes these tasks will be credited on a 40-hour work week.
Application Process
Please follow the "Apply Now" instructions located to the right and click "Apply for this Position".
Interested candidates should submit their resume, cover letter, references and direct questions to recruiting@doc.alabama.gov
Resumes will be received until the position is filled.
Key Responsibilities
The Drug Treatment Counselor manages substance abuse treatment files and provides supportive guidance to inmates through individual and group sessions. They are responsible for developing individualized treatment plans, documenting progress, and facilitating risk and needs assessments.
Requirements
Applicants must possess a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university or equivalent experience in substance abuse counseling. Candidates are expected to have a background in implementing addiction recovery models and developing aftercare strategies.
Qualifications
- Education
- Bachelor degree
Key Skills
Work-Life Balance Analysis
WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Drug Treatment Counselor at Alabama Department of Corrections a 6.2 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the Above average in Substance Abuse Counseling — ranked against 41 active Substance Abuse Counseling listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no weekend requirements.
Substance Abuse Counseling — Counselor Career Context
Alabama Department of Corrections ranks #11 of 12 employers hiring Counselor on WeekdayDoc by average advertised pay.
Of the 50 active Counselor listings this role was benchmarked against, 44% are remote, 40% have no call, 66% require no weekends.
Counselor pay on WeekdayDoc is up 1.5% vs. the prior quarter (through Aug 2026).
The cost-of-living index for Alabama is 88.8 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$46k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $52k in an average-cost state. 60.3% of Alabama clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
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