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Park West Health System
Baltimore, Maryland

SUD Counselor

Counselor Above average in CounselingFull-Time

Listed compensation

$60K - $73K

Listing transparency2 of 6 stated

Ask the employer about call expectations, weekend coverage and nights and shift pattern.

Employment & setting
Full-Time · on-site
Call expectations
Not specified
Weekends
Not specified
Posted 3mo ago

Job Description

Job DetailsJob Location: Baltimore, MD 21215Position Type: Full TimeSalary Range: $60,000.00 - $73,000.00 SalaryJob Category: RegularPosition Summary The Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Counselor provides clinical substance use disorder treatment for HIV positive clients with co-occurring mental illness and/or homelessness.

The Substance Use Counselor is responsible for providing direct care services to adults with substance use disorders in an individual and group setting. The Substance Use Counselor ensures continuity of services across multiple program units providing direct care and services to clients.

Essential Functions Oversee the day-to-day operations of the substance use unit. Provide all services associated with substance use treatment and counseling. Provide rapid screening, assessment, intake, treatment plan, continuity of care, and discharge planning.

Track and report monthly performance measures and monitor annual goals. Evaluate the effectiveness of the unit and provide a monthly written narrative of outcomes, achievements, barriers, and networking opportunities.

Provide crisis interventions with clients including home visits and other interactions with emergency contacts. Ensure program compliance with service definitions and “best practice” guidelines.

Ensure substance use standards are followed and observed during quality of care reviews conducted by external auditors including Ryan White and Joint Commission. Engage in outreach efforts on behalf of the agency to reengage and recruit new clients.

Attend provider meetings with other substance use staff to discuss standards of care. Attend all staff, Clinical Care team, viral suppression meetings and required trainings. Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Qualifications College degree in substance use disorders with a CAC-AD or CSC-AD licensure Two years’ experience in a clinical environment; one year in an administrative capacity Relevant experience and sensitivity to HIV/AIDS; African Americans and other vulnerable populations and the issues faced.

An awareness of Ryan White standards of care and clinical quality management practices. Skills Motivated, organized, and detail-oriented. Strong interpersonal and communication skills (both verbal and written). Ability to multi-task and handle several substance use components at one time.

Ability to meet deadlines and to function independently under dynamic circumstances is critical. Proficient computer skills, including experience with Microsoft Office applications – specifically Excel, Word, and Outlook required.

Key Responsibilities

Provide clinical substance use disorder treatment and direct care services to HIV positive clients with co-occurring mental illness or homelessness. Oversee day-to-day operations of the substance use unit, including screening, intake, and ensuring compliance with Ryan White and Joint Commission standards.

Requirements

Requires a college degree in substance use disorders and CAC-AD or CSC-AD licensure. Candidates must have two years of clinical experience, including one year in an administrative capacity, and sensitivity to vulnerable populations.

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Clinical AssessmentCrisis InterventionTreatment PlanningCase ManagementInterpersonal CommunicationMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft WordMicrosoft OutlookMulti-tasking

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates SUD Counselor at Park West Health System a 6.6 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the Above average in Counseling — ranked against 13,338 active Counseling listings on WeekdayDoc.

Substance Use Disorder — Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings this role was benchmarked against, 6% are remote, 66% have no call, 92% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Maryland is 105.0 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$67k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $63k in an average-cost state. 62.9% of Maryland clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Top Substance Use / Addiction Counselor Jobs

15 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution15 jobs · 12 employers

5
<$75k
5
$75k-85k
3
$85k-95k
2
$95k-105k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks12 jobs

401k / retirement match
100%
CME allowance
42%
PSLF eligible
25%
Sign-on bonus
17%
Loan repayment
17%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Substance Abuse Counselor Outpatient

Youth for Tomorrow New Life Center · Woodbridge, Virginia

$100k-$103k
#2

Sup, Substance Abuse Counselor

University of Rochester · Henrietta, New York

$69k-$96k
#3

Therapist, Substance Abuse Counselor, Behavioral Health

$69k-$93k
#4

Substance Use Disorder Counselor

$68k–$90k
+ 13 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.4this job 6.6
Higher than about 6 in 10 of 13,338 Counseling listings

Listing-based score, 0–10. Shaded area = share of comparable listings scoring below this one.

  • On-site

Living in Baltimore

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$203k≈ 3.4× annual pay
Typical market rent
$1,802/mo≈ 36% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
29 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
104.5
State income tax
Up to 5.8%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

Ratios use this listing’s gross annual pay. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.

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About Park West Health System

Medical Practices
Baltimore, Maryland
51-200 employees