Awake Overnight Counselor – Youth Services
Listed compensation
$20.57 per hour
The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed
Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.
Job Description
Be the Steady Presence Through the Night
At Community Access Unlimited (CAU), we help people live safe, full, and independent lives. That includes young people at risk, ages 13 to 17, who live in our youth shelter program.
We're looking for caring, dependable Awake Overnight Counselors to keep our youth shelter safe through the night. You'll stay awake and alert on the overnight shift, help young people build daily living skills, offer supportive counseling, and make sure they get where they need to go.
- Position at a Glance
- Title: Awake Overnight Counselor
- Location: Elizabeth, NJ
- Status: Full-time or part-time
- Pay: $20.57 per hour
Schedule: Overnight, 12 a. m.–8 a. m.; days vary
Training: One week of paid orientation before your first shift, plus ongoing paid training
What You'll Do
- Keep young people safe overnight, staying awake, alert, and on site for your full shift.
- Help young people build daily living skills, and offer supportive counseling.
- Drive young people to school, medical appointments, and activities as needed.
- Help young people take part in community life.
- Keep the residence and its equipment safe, clean, and organized.
- Complete required documentation accurately and on time.
What You Bring
- High school diploma or GED.
- At least six months of experience working with young people ages 13 to 17 (one year for full-time).
- A valid driver's license and reliable transportation.
- Strong organization, self-motivation, and comfort with computers and Microsoft Office.
Availability for the full week of paid orientation, and for paid trainings that may fall outside your regular shift.
Why Join CAU
Since 1979, Community Access Unlimited has helped adults with disabilities and young people at risk across New Jersey live full, independent lives. Today we support more than 5,000 individuals, and we're still growing.
Purpose you can see. You'll be the steady, caring adult young people can count on through the night.
A mission-driven culture. We put the people we serve first, which means we value inclusion, choice, independence, and self-advocacy.
Room to grow. Paid training, tuition assistance, and a tuition discount at Kean University (if eligible) help you build your career here.
Competitive pay and benefits. Full-time staff receive medical and dental insurance, a 401(k) with employer match, paid time off, and more.
Ready to Make a Difference?
If you want your work to give young people a safe place to grow, apply today.
Our organization is committed to diversity, equal opportunity, and affirmative action. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. We are committed to compliance with all fair employment practices regarding citizenship and immigration status.
Key Responsibilities
The Awake Overnight Counselor is responsible for maintaining a safe and supportive environment for youth in a shelter setting during overnight hours. Duties include providing counseling, assisting with daily living skills, and transporting residents to appointments or activities.
Requirements
Candidates must possess a high school diploma or GED and at least six months of experience working with youth aged 13 to 17. A valid driver's license and reliable transportation are required, along with proficiency in Microsoft Office.
Key Skills
Behavioral Health — Counselor Career Context
Of the 50 active Counselor listings this role was benchmarked against, 34% are remote, 30% have no call, 64% require no weekends.
The cost-of-living index for New Jersey is 108.8 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$43k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $39k in an average-cost state. 63.8% of New Jersey clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
| Measure | This job | Market |
|---|---|---|
| Cost-of-living adjusted pay | ~$39k in purchasing power | New Jersey index 108.8 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) |
| Counselor listings in New Jersey | 333 active | 13,596 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026 |
| Work setting | on-site | peers: 34% remote · 30% no call · 64% no weekends50 benchmarked listings |
| Sign-on & loan repayment | not stated | New Jersey Counselor listings: 11% state a sign-on bonus (median $6k) · 5% offer loan repayment333 active listings, Oct 2026 |
| Counselor pay trend | +3.3% vs prior quarter | —through Sep 2026 |
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