MH
Mental Health Systems
Oceanside, California

SUD Counselor

Addiction CounselorFull-Time

Listed compensation

$58K–$67K

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

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

Posted 3mo ago

Job Description

At TURN our mission is Improving Lives. Our organization embraces the tenets of client-centered care, and our core values People, Culture and Growth are at the forefront of everything we do. We hire exceptional individuals seeking meaningful opportunities in a purpose-driven environment.

Job Summary

Assessment, treatment plan, individual and group counseling, care coordination, training, SUD recovery skills and education, and relapse prevention.

Responsibilities

Reasonable accommodation may be made for individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

  • Interventions including individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, collateral services, and other relevant recovery-related services. Conduct intakes, intake assessments, including ASAM assessments, level of care assessments, and diagnostic determinations. Create treatment plans and problem list and evaluate progress.
  • Complete accurate and timely documentation as contractually required and meet minimum requirements for direct billable client services.
  • Conduct chart and treatment plan reviews to ensure compliance with agency, federal, state, and local government standards, and monitor client progress and changing needs throughout treatment.
  • Support and encourage client’s family-significant others to participate in client stabilization and program services, offering referrals as needed.
  • Facilitate placement including pre-placement visits and transportation as needed.
  • Maintain confidentiality of client’s care.
  • Participate in scheduled program meetings.
  • Other relevant duties as assigned.

Qualifications

  • SUD Certification from a recognized board preferred; Minimum of SUD registration required.
  • Valid CA driver’s license and current auto insurance per contract requirements required.
  • Experience providing substance use disorder services preferred.
  • Cultural competency understanding required.
  • Bilingual preferred.
  • Knowledge of Microsoft Office and EHR software preferred.
  • If substance use disorder program a negative tuberculosis test (TB) is conducted under licensed medical supervision within 45 working days of hire or within 5 working days of employment and valid cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first aid certification upon hire or within 90-days of employment.

Physical Requirements

These physical demands represent what must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. As mentioned above, reasonable accommodation

Seeing Hearing Speaking

Stooping/Bending Working in Cramped Spaces Moving Around Facility

Moving Between Offices/Clients Driving – Light Errands Climbing

LIFTING/CARRYING HEAVY ITEMS DRIVING – IN THE COURSE OF JOB DUTIES USING HANDS/FINGERS

PUSHING/PULLING/DRAGGING ITEMS STANDING FOR LONG PERIODS SITTING FOR LONG PERIODS

Working Outside/Underground

Other Duties

THIS JOB DESCRIPTION ISN’T A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF ACTIVITIES, DUTIES OR RESPONSIBILITIES REQUIRED FOR THIS JOB. DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND ACTIVITIES MAY CHANGE AT ANY TIME WITH OR WITHOUT NOTICE.

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Substance use disorder counselingTreatment planningChart reviews

Substance Use Disorder — Counselor Career Context

The cost-of-living index for California is 110.7 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$62k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $56k in an average-cost state. 63.6% of California clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Of the 41 active Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings this role was benchmarked against, 20% are remote, 59% have no call, 73% require no weekends.

What does the Substance Use / Addiction Counselor market look like in California?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Work-life score6.6 / 10 · top 25% in substance use / addiction counselorranked against 1,008 Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listingslisting-based score, 0–10
Listed pay$58k–$67kSubstance Use / Addiction Counselor median $62k (middle half $55k–$65k)99 comparable listings, Nov 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$56k in purchasing powerCalifornia index 110.7 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Substance Use Disorder listings in California5 active—live on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
All substance use / addiction counselor listings in California1,023 active12,845 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 20% remote · 59% no call · 73% no weekends41 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedCalifornia counselor listings (all specialties): 12% state a sign-on bonus (median $3k) · 9% offer loan repayment1,000 active listings, Nov 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index (1,008 Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings), BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Nov 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page. California figures use all substance use / addiction counselors: too few California Substance Use Disorder postings state pay.

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates SUD Counselor at MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEMS 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.

Top Substance Use / Addiction Counselor Jobs

20 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

20 jobs · 16 employers
3
<$65k
7
$65k-75k
6
$75k-85k
3
$85k-95k
1
$95k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

17 jobs · 16 employers
401k / retirement match
94%
CME allowance
41%
Sign-on bonus
24%
Loan repayment
6%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Therapist (Associate or Licensed) - Co-Occurring Mental Health & Substance Use

Recover Medical Group · San Diego, California

$80k-$95k
#2

Substance Use Counselor

St. Anthony Foundation · San Francisco, California

$60k-$90k
#3

Substance Use Disorder Counselor

$68k-$90k
#4

Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor

$75k-$85k
+ 18 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.

Living in Oceanside

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$845k
Typical market rent
$2,910/mo
Residents’ average commute
29 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
111.9
State income tax
Up to 13.3%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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