Gateway Foundation logo
Gateway Foundation
Chicago, Illinois, United States

Substance Abuse Counselor II (Outpatient)

CounselorNo weekendsFull-time

Listed compensation

$25.64–$32.28 /hr

The week · per this posting · Monday – Friday

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

Posted 2mo ago

Job Description

Who Is Gateway Foundation?

Gateway Foundation, Inc. is a national non-profit dedicated to helping individuals with substance use and mental health disorders. Established in 1968, Gateway provides essential tools and knowledge for recovery, positively impacting hundreds of thousands of lives. Operating through its Community Services, Corrections Divisions, and Corporate Headquarters, the organization is recognized for innovative, effective treatment approaches and maintaining high standards.

Why Join Us?

Consider joining our team, where your impact can be truly meaningful. Our organization focuses on delivering high quality clinical services as a recognized leader in evidence-based treatment proven to get results.

By joining our team, you'll have the chance to provide essential services to underserved populations, all while working for an organization that values you and aims to be an employer of choice. You can expect to be part of a vibrant culture that emphasizes teamwork and professional growth.

When you join us, you have the opportunity to find both personal and professional fulfillment by aligning your career with your values.

Location: 315 North Racine Avenue Chicago, IL 60607

Work Schedule

  • Monday through Friday from either 8:00am-4:30pm or 8:30am-5:00pm
  • Outpatient Substance Abuse Counselors (CADC, LPC or LSW) are responsible for:

Completing comprehensive assessments of clients’ substance abuse history and treatment requirements and preparing individualized, developmentally appropriate treatment plans

  • Providing individual and group counseling and educational programs in accordance with treatment plans
  • Documenting treatment and discharge plans and clients’ progress and responses to treatment, as well as maintaining related records and charts
  • Performing case management and contributing to client care monitoring
  • Caseload typically includes some complex cases requiring more intensive services
  • Other duties as assigned

Job Requirements:

Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent education and life experience, with a minimum of 100 hours of documented clinical training in counseling theory and practice required

Current certification as a substance abuse counselor (CADC) or higher licensure (Licensed Professional Counselor/LPC, Licensed Social Worker/LSW) in state of hire required

Minimum 2 years of previous experience in substance abuse or mental health counseling required

Related work experience with program specific population (adolescent/adult) and outpatient treatment setting required

Physical Requirements:

Ability to walk and move about the facilities for up to two hours at a time, to monitor and interact with clients

Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.

  • Ability to use a keyboard and video display terminal to receive, retrieve, and/or audit information and data
  • Ability to record, proofread and check documents and files for accuracy
  • Ability to respond to telephones, and to hear and detect alarms and unusual noises
  • Must be at least 21 years of age to operate a Gateway vehicle

Compensation (based on experience and credentials):

Range is between $25.64 - $32.28 per hour

Gateway Foundation conducts annual reviews including merit increases.

Benefits at Gateway Foundation

Health and Wellness:

  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and dependents
  • Employee wellness program promoting health and fitness and offering cash-saving premiums
  • Employee assistance programs focused on mental health

Financial Wellbeing:

  • 403(b) Retirement Plan with 3% employer match
  • Short-term and Long-term Disability and Life and AD&D Insurance paid for by Gateway
  • Flexible Spending Accounts for medical and dependent care
  • Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

Flexibility and Time Off:

  • 18 paid time off days per year – accrual rates increase with years of service
  • 9 paid company holidays
  • Work-life-balance

Personal Development:

Training & Development Programs

Tuition Reimbursement - up to $5,250 per calendar year eLearning access to online courses that provide CEU’s and job-related training

Clinical Supervision: Formal and informal guidance

Gateway Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Race/Color/Sex/Sexual Orientation/ Gender Identity/Religion/National Origin/Disability/Vets. Please view Equal Employment Opportunity Posters provided by OFCCP here.

Key Responsibilities

The counselor is responsible for conducting comprehensive assessments and developing individualized treatment plans for clients with substance use disorders. They also provide individual and group counseling while maintaining accurate clinical documentation and case management records.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a bachelor's degree in a related field and possess a current CADC, LPC, or LSW certification. A minimum of two years of experience in substance abuse or mental health counseling is required.

Qualifications

Education
Bachelor degree
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Substance abuse counselingClinical assessmentTreatment planningIndividual counselingCrisis interventionClient monitoringRecord keeping

Addiction Medicine — Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings this role was benchmarked against, 50% are remote, 26% have no call, 62% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Illinois is 100.0 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$60k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $60k in an average-cost state. 62.6% of Illinois clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Substance Abuse Counselor II (Outpatient) at Gateway Foundation a 7.2 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as very good. This places the position in the top 10% in Substance Use / Addiction Counselor — ranked against 1,008 active Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no weekend requirements.

Top Counselor Jobs

39 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution39 jobs · 29 employers

15
<$75k
13
$75k-95k
5
$95k-115k
6
$115k-135k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks37 jobs · 29 employers

401k / retirement match
86% this job
Sign-on bonus
38%
CME allowance
27% this job
Loan repayment
22% this job
PSLF eligible
16% this job

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Clinical Therapist

Counseling Works · Naperville, Illinois

$104k-$127k
#2

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Therapist - LICSW/LPCC/LMFT

LifeStance Health · Saint Louis Park, Minnesota

$74k-$126k
#3

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT, LPC, LCSW)

$92k-$125k
#4

Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC)

$115k-$120k
+ 37 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.1this job 7.2
Among the best 10% of Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings for work-life

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 1,008 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • No weekends
  • On-site

Living in Chicago

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$356k
Typical market rent
$2,342/mo
Residents’ average commute
33 min
State income tax
Up to 5%
Sources & methodology

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

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

Gateway Foundation logo

About Gateway Foundation

Hospitals and Health Care
Chicago, Illinois
1,001-5,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Medical insurance
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
Employee wellness program
Employee assistance programs
403(b) retirement plan
Short-term disability insurance
Long-term disability insurance