MW
Maryland Wellness
Salisbury, Maryland

Substance Use Disorder Counselor

Addiction CounselorFull-Time

Listed compensation

$17-23/hr

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

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

Posted 3mo ago

Job Description

About Maryland Wellness

At Maryland Wellness, we foster hope, dignity, and growth by providing compassionate behavioral health and wellness services and the skills needed to strengthen lives, relationships, and communities. Our vision is a Maryland where every individual has access to behavioral health and wellness support that empowers them to heal, grow, thrive, and reach their full potential.

At our Eastern Shore location, we are committed to serving a community that deserves consistent, compassionate, and clinically strong care. We are looking for a provider who shares that commitment and is ready to show up for clients at every stage of their recovery journey.

Our team is guided by values of Compassion, Commitment, Respect, Collaboration, Transparency, and Innovation — and we extend those same values inward, fostering a supportive workplace where staff feel valued, resourced, and able to do their best work.

The SUD Counselor will complete clinical assessments and determine the appropriate level of care needed for each client. The individual in this role will organize services and support the facilitation of a client's recovery and achievement of life goals, improving functioning in the home, school, workplace, and community. This position requires 5 days a week presence in the office as we relaunch this program across the state!

At our Cumberland location, we are committed to serving a community that deserves consistent, compassionate, and clinically strong care. We are looking for a provider who shares that commitment and is ready to show up for clients at every stage of their recovery journey.

What We Offer

  • Competitive pay: $17-23/hr depending on credentials and experience
  • In-office training
  • Collaborative, mission-driven team environment
  • Ongoing clinical supervision and professional development support
  • Comprehensive benefits package (health, dental, vision, PTO)

Requirements

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Meet, establish and maintain a client caseload individually and in group settings consistently to work on client goals.

Assist in developing and implementing evidence-based practices, treatment programs, and curriculum for group sessions.

  • Assist with completing intakes and assessing the level of care appropriate for potential clients.
  • Perform proper substance abuse assessments with clients and collaborate with referral services.
  • Assist and link clients to government and community resources as needed.
  • Ensure the maintenance of physical health, mental health and well-being of clients.

Support client cooperation with treatment recommendations from other providers (therapy, medication management, medical appointments, etc.), and maintain communication with those providers. This may include legal stakeholders and law enforcement.

  • Collect confidential information from court systems, law enforcement, and legal entities.
  • Ensure client compliance with drug and alcohol use policies.
  • Identify symptoms of intoxication and take the proper steps to help the client stabilize.
  • Maintain transparency with clients on treatment interventions and goals.
  • Report regularly and on-time to the immediate supervisor, and engage in meetings, supervision and training, or make efforts to communicate any tardiness or absenteeism.
  • Complete one-on-one notes within a maximum of 24-48 hours.
  • Review and update Urinalysis results as part of ongoing treatment to client’s charge.
  • Write discharge summaries as needed.

Ensure compliance with all agency policies and procedures and state regulations governing the provision of Substance Use Disorder IOP/OP.

Qualifications

Ability to deliver quality of care in line with the local, state, and federal government laws.

Ability to deliver quality care in line with the policies and expectations of accreditation bodies such as CARF.

Ability to strategically, logically, and realistically analyze, evaluate and develop solutions for client’s rehabilitation needs.

The ability to effectively build relationships with individuals of all ages, race, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender identity, education, and work experience.

  • Maintains confidentiality and all regulations regarding HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2.
  • Exhibits professionalism and a friendly demeanor, and is a positive representative of the company.
  • Solid written and verbal communication skills.
  • Comfort with computers and technology as needed to input clinical documentation.
  • Strong organizational skills to manage multiple clients and scheduling.
  • Reliable, ethical, and honest work ethic.

Key Responsibilities

The counselor will conduct clinical assessments, determine appropriate levels of care, and facilitate recovery services for clients. They are responsible for maintaining a caseload, developing treatment plans, and ensuring compliance with agency policies and state regulations.

Key Skills

Clinical assessmentSubstance abuse counselingTreatment planningCase managementCrisis interventionHIPAA complianceInterpersonal communicationStabilization techniques

Addiction Medicine — Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings this role was benchmarked against, 32% are remote, 38% have no call, 58% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Maryland is 105.0 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$42k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $40k in an average-cost state. 62.9% of Maryland clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

How many Substance Use / Addiction Counselor jobs are remote?
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$35k–$48kSubstance Use / Addiction Counselor median $58k (middle half $57k–$63k)20 comparable listings, Nov 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$40k in purchasing powerMaryland index 105.0 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Addiction Medicine listings in Maryland47 active—live on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
All substance use / addiction counselor listings in Maryland383 active12,883 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 32% remote · 38% no call · 58% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedMaryland counselor listings (all specialties): 12% state a sign-on bonus (median $5k) · 9% offer loan repayment383 active listings, Nov 2026
New Addiction Medicine listings428 in the last 30 days212 the 30 days before (+102%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, 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. Maryland figures use all substance use / addiction counselors: too few Maryland Addiction Medicine postings state pay.

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Substance Use Disorder Counselor at Maryland Wellness 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 Counselor Jobs

36 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

36 jobs · 28 employers
12
<$75k
11
$75k-90k
8
$90k-105k
5
$105k-120k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

31 jobs · 28 employers
401k / retirement match
94%
CME allowance
39%
Sign-on bonus
29%
Loan repayment
13%
PSLF eligible
6%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Therapist - LICSW - LPCC - LMFT

LifeStance Health · Plymouth, Minnesota

$74k-$117k
#2

Licensed Clinical Therapist (LSCSW, LCPC, LCMFT) Sign-on Bonus $5,000

LifeStance Health · Lawrence, Kansas

$81k-$117k
#3

Child and Adolescent Therapist - LCSW, LPC, LMFT

$55k-$115k
#4

Child and Adolescent Therapist - LCSW-C, LCPC, LCMFT

$55k-$115k
+ 34 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.

  • On-site
MW

About Maryland Wellness

Mental Health Care
Baltimore, Maryland
51-200 employees

Benefits & Perks

Health, dental, vision insurance
PTO
In-office training
Clinical supervision
Professional development support

Living in Salisbury

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$265k
Typical market rent
$1,621/mo
Residents’ average commute
22 min
State income tax
Up to 5.8%
Sources & methodology

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

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