Rochester Regional Health logo
Rochester Regional Health
Rochester, New York

New Graduate Addiction Therapist

CounselorFull-Time

Listed compensation

$61K–$78K /yr

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

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

Posted 4mo ago · Verified live

Job Description

Job Title: New Graduate Addiction Therapist Location: Greece Hours Per Week: 36 to 40 Hours Schedule: Days SUMMARY: The Addiction Therapist provides addiction diagnostic assessment, treatment planning, case management, and individual/group counseling for clients with chemical dependency. Treatment is provided in the context of a clinical team, supervised by the staff psychiatrist.

Responsibilities

  • Serves as a primary therapist providing Substance Use Disorder treatment through individual and group counseling.
  • Responsible for the timely completion of progress summaries and all patient documentation.
  • Conducts quality audits of patient records and processes
  • Provides initial and ongoing assessment for clients in order to determine diagnosis and appropriate level of care.
  • Provides individual, family and group counseling, which engages and motivates clients throughout treatment.
  • Develops treatment plans that are individualized and culturally sensitive.
  • Communicates with other care providers and referral sources to increase understanding of client problems and assets.
  • Participates in professional supervision and education that supports continuous improvement of client care.
  • Completes required medical record documentation in a timely and comprehensive manner and in compliance with regulatory standards.
  • Meets productivity requirements by utilizing various techniques to engage clients and minimize failed appointments.
  • Participates as a contributing member of an interdisciplinary team in coordination and delivery of patient care.

Required Qualifications

  • Associates, Bachelors, or Master’s Degree in Human service field.
  • If hired on or after 10/05/2023 Completion of a clinical internship in chemical dependency or at least 1 year of work experience in chemical dependency or mental health program.
  • If hired on or after 11/30/2021, CASAC or OASAS QHP required or LMHC-P (Permit) or CASAC-T permitted with the condition that full certification is obtained within 24 months. EDUCATION: LICENSES / CERTIFICATIONS: PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: S - Sedentary Work - Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time, but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met. For disease specific care programs refer to the program specific requirements of the department for further specifications on experience and educational expectations, including continuing education requirements. Any physical requirements reported by a prospective employee and/or employee’s physician or delegate will be considered for accommodations.

Pay Range

$61,000.00 - $78,000.00 CITY: Rochester POSTAL CODE: 14621 The listed base pay range is a good faith representation of current potential base pay for a successful full time applicant. It may be modified in the future and eligible for additional pay components.

Pay is determined by factors including experience, relevant qualifications, specialty, internal equity, location, and contracts. Rochester Regional Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, predisposing genetic characteristics, marital or familial status, military or veteran status, citizenship or immigration status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

Rochester Regional Health is an integrated health services organization serving the people of Western New York, the Finger Lakes, St. Lawrence County, and beyond.

The system includes nine hospitals; primary and specialty practices, rehabilitation centers, ambulatory campuses and immediate care facilities; innovative senior services, facilities and independent housing; a wide range of behavioral health services; and Rochester Regional Health Laboratories and ACM Global Laboratories, a global leader in patient and clinical trials.

It’s vision is to lead the evolution of healthcare to enable every member of the communities it serves to enjoy a better, healthier life.

Key Responsibilities

The Addiction Therapist provides diagnostic assessments, treatment planning, and individual or group counseling for clients with chemical dependency. They work within a clinical team to deliver patient care and maintain comprehensive medical records.

Requirements

Requires an Associate, Bachelor's, or Master's degree in a Human Service field. Candidates must have a clinical internship or one year of experience in chemical dependency, along with specific certifications like CASAC, OASAS QHP, or LMHC-P.

Qualifications

Education
Master's degree (postgraduate degree)

Key Skills

Individual CounselingFamily CounselingInterdisciplinary Collaboration

Addiction Medicine — Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings this role was benchmarked against, 28% are remote, 28% have no call, 64% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for New York is 107.9 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$70k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $64k in an average-cost state. 64.6% of New York clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Rochester Regional Health ranks #4 of 14 employers hiring Counselor on WeekdayDoc by average advertised pay.

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates New Graduate Addiction Therapist at Rochester Regional Health a 6.3 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the Above average in Substance Use / Addiction Counselor — ranked against 1,008 active Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings on WeekdayDoc.

Top Counselor Jobs

35 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution35 jobs · 25 employers

4
<$70k
13
$70k-85k
13
$85k-100k
4
$100k-115k
1
$115k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks19 jobs

401k / retirement match
89% this job
Sign-on bonus
21%
PSLF eligible
16%
CME allowance
11% this job
Relocation assistance
5%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)

LifeStance Health · Smithfield, Rhode Island

$72k-$115k
#2

Genetics Counselor - Pediatric/Adult

University of Vermont Health Network · Burlington, Vermont

$76k-$114k
#3

Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC)

$82k-$113k
#4

Primary Therapist (NY)

$70k-$105k
+ 33 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.1this job 6.3
Better work-life than 60% 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 Rochester

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$247k≈ 4.0× annual pay
Typical market rent
$1,476/mo≈ 29% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
19 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
97.0
State income tax
Up to 10.9%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Rochester, NY metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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

Rochester Regional Health logo

About Rochester Regional Health

Hospitals and Health Care
Rochester, New York
10,000+ employees

Benefits & Perks

Comprehensive benefits package
Retirement plan
Paid time off
CME allowance
Malpractice coverage