University of Washington logo
University of Washington
Seattle, Washington

Peer Counselor - Medication Assisted Treatment

Peer Support SpecialistIncludes callNo nightsFull-Time

Listed compensation

$22.94-$32.81/hr

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about weekend coverage and time off.

Posted 5mo ago

Job Description

Job Description Harborview Medical Center’s Opioid Treatment Programs and Grants has an outstanding opportunity for a Peer Support Counselor.

WORK SCHEDULE 40 hours per week Day Shift PRIMARY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES Serve as a role model demonstrating resiliency in overcoming obstacles and managing their own recovery common to those with serious mental illness Build positive supportive relationships with consumers that helps promote hope, choice, wellness and recovery Assist consumers with identifying and linking to community-based services and supports Assist consumers to understand the effects of psychiatric medications, and with filling prescriptions after discharge Work in conjunction with all inpatient and outpatient programs as part of the consumer’s treatment team Coordinate with inpatient treatment units to facilitate discharge planning Assist consumers in their recovery by teaching independent living skills and chart consumer contact in the electronic medical record as needed REQUIREMENTS High school graduation or equivalent and two years’ experience in a behavioral health organization or consumer/peer run organization; or equivalent education/experience.

AND Peer Counselor Certification (Department of Behavioral Health and Recovery) OR Community Health Worker Certification (Department of Health) AND Within 7 days of employment and depending on job requirements: must apply for Agency Affiliated Counselor Registration/License with the State of WA (Dept of Health), and have obtained this credential within 60 days of hire (RCW18.19.210).

Equivalent education and/or experience may substitute for minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license, certification, and/or registration.

ABOUT HARBORVIEW MEDICAL CENTER As the region's only Level I Trauma and verified burn center, Harborview Medical Center is a comprehensive healthcare facility owned by King County and operated by UW Medicine.

It is dedicated to providing specialized care for a broad spectrum of patients from throughout the Pacific Northwest, including the most vulnerable residents of King County.

It provides exemplary patient care in leading-edge centers of emphasis, including emergency medicine, trauma and burn care, neurosciences, ophthalmology, vascular surgery, HIV/AIDS, rehabilitation, mental health and substance abuse care.

Harborview employees are committed to the vital role the institution plays in the immediate community, as well as the entire Northwest region. Challenge. Collaboration. Compassion.

ABOUT UW MEDICINE – WHERE YOUR IMPACT GOES FURTHER UW Medicine is Washington’s only health system that includes a top-rated medical school and an internationally recognized research center.

UW Medicine’s mission is to improve the health of the public by advancing medical knowledge, providing outstanding primary and specialty care to the people of the region, and preparing tomorrow’s physicians, scientists and other health professionals.

All across UW Medicine, our employees collaborate to perform the highest quality work with integrity and compassion and to create a respectful, welcoming environment where every patient, family, student and colleague is valued and honored.

Nearly 29,000 healthcare professionals, researchers, and educators work in the UW Medicine family of organizations that includes: Harborview Medical Center, UW Medical Center - Montlake, UW Medical Center - Northwest, Valley Medical Center, UW Medicine Primary Care, UW Physicians, UW School of Medicine, and Airlift Northwest.

Become part of our team. Join our mission to make life healthier for everyone in our community.

Compensation, Benefits and Position Details Pay Range Minimum: $22.94 hourly Pay Range Maximum: $32.81 hourly Other Compensation: - Benefits: For information about benefits for this position, visit washington.edu Shift: First Shift (United States of America) Temporary or Regular?

This is a regular position FTE (Full-Time Equivalent): 100.00% Union/Bargaining Unit: SEIU Local 925 Nonsupervisory About the UW Working at the University of Washington provides a unique opportunity to change lives – on our campuses, in our state and around the world.

UW employees bring their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to building stronger minds and a healthier world.

In return, they enjoy outstanding benefits, opportunities for professional growth and the chance to work in an environment known for its diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty.

Our Commitment The University of Washington is committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful and welcoming community for all.

As an equal opportunity employer, the University considers applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship, sex, pregnancy, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, or veteran status consistent with UW Executive Order No. 81.

To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or dso@uw.edu.

Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington state law.

Use the filters or enter keywords in the search box (such as “custodian,” “nursing” or “manager”) to explore available opportunities. To find temporary opportunities, enter “temporary” in the search box. If you are a current UW employee: You must log into Workday and apply internally through the UW Jobs Hub.

Looking for faculty, librarian or academic staff positions? Please visit our Academic Jobs site. Looking for student employment? Learn more on our Student Employment site. There are many perks to working for the University of Washington. Learn more about the benefits that could be available to you as a UW employee.

Sign up for Job Alerts to be notified about job opportunities at the UW that interest you; you’ll be one of the first to learn when openings become available. You will be asked to create an account if you do not already have one.

Key Responsibilities

Serve as a role model for recovery by building supportive relationships with consumers and helping them link to community-based services. Coordinate with treatment teams to facilitate discharge planning and teach independent living skills.

Requirements

Requires a high school diploma and two years of experience in behavioral health or peer-run organizations. Must hold a Peer Counselor or Community Health Worker certification and obtain Agency Affiliated Counselor Registration within 60 days of hire.

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Recovery ManagementCase CoordinationElectronic Medical RecordsPatient AdvocacyCommunity Resource Linking

Addiction Medicine Career Context

University of Washington holds silver-tier status on WeekdayDoc's Top Employers work-life index, composite score 71/100, 98 active listings.

In Washington, the Addiction Medicine weighted monthly median benchmark on WeekdayDoc is ~$61k (22 salary observations; 68 listings), vs ~$59k nationally (54 salary observations; 288 listings). Monthly aggregates cover 2026-02-01 through 2026-10-01; these are not the modal's selected comparable-job medians.

Addiction Medicine pay on WeekdayDoc is up 10.8% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).

The cost-of-living index for Washington is 107.0 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$48k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $45k in an average-cost state. 59.8% of Washington clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Location & Logistics

Washington has no state income tax, which can significantly increase take-home pay compared to high-tax states. At the posted ~$48k midpoint, that is roughly $2k–$3k a year versus a typical 4–7% state rate.

Top Peer Support Specialist Jobs

2 matches · ranked by pay
#1

Peer Counselor - Providence Crisis Stabilization Center

Providence · Anchorage, Alaska

$22.44-$34.33/hr
#2

Peer Counselor 2

Confidential Employer · Somerset County, New Jersey

$42k

Work-life snapshot

median 3.9this job 5.1
Better work-life than 60% of Peer Support roles listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 98 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • No nights
  • On-site
  • Includes call

Living in Seattle

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$881k
Typical market rent
$2,234/mo
Residents’ average commute
26 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
111.1
State income tax
None
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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