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Telecare
Bakersfield, CA, USA

SUTS Counselor - Mental Health 357

Counselor / TherapistNo callNo weekendsPer Diem

Listed compensation

$23-$23.71/hr

The week · per this posting

Ask the employer about the work setting and time off.

Posted 12m ago · Verified live

Job Description

“They made it easier for me to live, breathe, eat, and stay clean. Without them, I’d be waiting somewhere, waiting for someone to give me a chance to live...” – Client from Telecare

What You Will Do to Change Lives

The SUTS Counselor provides substance use treatment services to clients including individual and group counseling, family counseling, completing ASAM's, assessment, treatment and discharge planning, case management, linkages, referrals, and other supportive services to adults.

In Voluntary Residential Substance Use Treatment Programs, the term “member” means “resident” in consistence with Title 9.

Shifts Available

On-Call | Shifts and days vary as needed

Expected starting wage range is $23.00 - $23.71. Telecare applies geographic differentials to its pay ranges. The pay range assigned to this role will be based on the geographic location from which the role is performed. Starting pay is commensurate with relevant experience above the minimum requirements.

What You Bring to the Table (Must Have)

  • High school diploma or G.E.D.
  • Registered Alcohol and Drug Technician (RADT) as approved by DHCS the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) and the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) and one (1) year experience as RADT in an AOD program
  • Must maintain active status of certification and continuing education as required by licensing board
  • Within two (2) months of employment, ability to apply financial requirements for billing and learn billing codes
  • Demonstrated sensitivity to behavioral health issues and multi-cultural populations (e. g., exposure through family relationships, volunteering, or other previous experience(s) or coursework)
  • Strong focus and passion to provide excellent customer service
  • Must be at least 18 years of age
  • Must be CPR, Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI), and First Aid certified on date of employment or within 60 days of employment and maintain current certification throughout employment
  • All opportunities at Telecare are contingent upon successful completion and receipt of acceptable results of the applicable post-offer physical examination, 2-step PPD test for tuberculosis, acceptable criminal background clearances, excluded party sanctions, and degree or license verification. If the position requires driving, valid driver’s license, a motor vehicle clearance and proof of auto insurance is required at time of employment and must be maintained throughout employment. Additional regulatory, contractual or local requirements may apply
  • Valid and current driver’s license, and personal vehicle insurance with your name listed as a driver.
  • Willingness to use the company vehicle to drive clients to appointments and groups, etc.

What’s In It For You*

  • Paid Time Off: Eligible employees (20+ hours/week) earn PTO each pay period for vacation and personal needs, with pro-rated accrual for part-time schedules and annual carryover up to set caps.
  • Nine Paid Holidays & Shift differentials for hourly staff (6% for PM Shift, 10% for NOC Shift). Weekend Shift differentials for hourly staff (5% for Weekend AM Shift, 11% for Weekend PM Shift, 15% for Weekend NOC Shift)
  • Free CEUs, free Supervision for BBS Associate License, coaching, and mentorship
  • Online University Tuition Discount and Company Scholarships
  • Medical, Vision, Dental Insurance, 401K, Employee Stock Ownership Plan
  • For more information visit: telecarecorp.com

Join Our Compassionate Team

Telecare's mission is to deliver excellent and effective behavioral health services that engage individuals in recovering their health, hopes, and dreams.

Telecare continues to advance cultural diversity, humility, equity, and inclusion at all levels of our organization by hiring mental health peers, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, veterans, and all belief systems.

Adult residents of Kern County who are intoxicated from either alcohol or drugs, and are referred to the Recovery Station. These individuals previously may have been arrested for public intoxication and/or taken to unnecessary psychiatric crisis programs. Clinicians and peer staff will engage clients to connect with ongoing substance and/or mental health services, ensure linkage and “warm hand-offs” to other community-based services, and post-discharge follow-up.

EOE AA M/F/V/Disability

*May vary by location and position type

Full Job Description will be provided if selected for an interview.

If job posting references any sign-on bonus internal applicants and applicants employed with Telecare in the previous 12 months would not be eligible.

Key Responsibilities

The SUTS Counselor provides substance use treatment services, including individual, group, and family counseling, as well as assessment and treatment planning. They also manage client linkages, referrals, and provide supportive services within a residential treatment setting.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a high school diploma or G.E.D. and possess a Registered Alcohol and Drug Technician (RADT) certification with at least one year of experience. Additionally, the role requires CPR, First Aid, and Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) certifications, along with a valid driver's license.

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure

Key Skills

Substance Use CounselingIndividual CounselingASAM AssessmentDocumentationCultural Sensitivity

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates SUTS Counselor - Mental Health 357 at Telecare a 7.1 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as very good. This places the position in the top 25% in Counseling — ranked against 13,190 active Counseling listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no on-call duties, no weekend requirements.

Substance Use Treatment — Counselor Career Context

Telecare ranks #10 of 21 employers hiring contract/1099 Counselor on WeekdayDoc by average advertised pay.

In California, the Counselor weighted monthly median benchmark on WeekdayDoc is ~$81k (1,314 salary observations; 3,451 listings), vs ~$73k nationally (10,111 salary observations; 46,259 listings). Monthly aggregates cover 2025-12-01 through 2026-11-01; these are not the modal's selected comparable-job medians.

Counselor by the numbers
MeasureThis jobMarket
Work-life score7.1 / 10 · top 25% in counselingranked against 13,190 Counseling listingslisting-based score, 0–10
Listed pay$48k–$49kCounselor median $56k (middle half $48k–$83k)48 comparable listings, Nov 2026
California vs national$81k median in California$73k nationally (+12%)1,314 state / 10,111 national salary observations
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$44k in purchasing powerCalifornia index 110.7 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
All counselor listings in California1,039 active13,299 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 9% remote · 35% no call · 93% no weekends43 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
Counselor pay trend (all specialties)−1.3% vs prior quarter—through Oct 2026
Telecare#10 of 21 for payTop Employers work-life index
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index (13,190 Counseling listings), Top Employers work-life index, 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 counselors: too few California Substance Use Treatment postings state pay.

Top contract/1099 Counselor Jobs

43 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

41 jobs · 38 employers
8
<$55k
12
$55k-65k
13
$65k-75k
5
$75k-85k
3
$85k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

33 jobs
401k / retirement match
97% this job
Loan repayment
55%
CME allowance
55% this job
Sign-on bonus
21% this job
PSLF eligible
18%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Addiction Counselor Supervisor

CarePoint Response · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

$55-$77/hr
#2

Virtual Substance Use Disorder & Group Counselor

Attic Correctional Services · Marinette, Wisconsin

$25/hour
#3

SUD Counselor / in Brighton

$41-$44/hr
#4

SUD Counselor - COAT

$39.08-$43.15/hr
+ 41 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.0this job 7.1
Better work-life than 80% of Counseling listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 13,190 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • No call
  • No weekends
Telecare logo

About Telecare

Mental Health Care
Alameda, CA
1,001-5,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Paid time off (20+ hours/week)
Nine paid holidays
Shift differentials (PM 6%, NOC 10%; weekend AM 5%, PM 11%, NOC 15%)
Free CEUs
Free supervision for BBS Associate License
Coaching and mentorship
Online university tuition discount and company scholarships
Medical, vision, and dental insurance

Living in Bakersfield

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$354k
Typical market rent
$1,901/mo
Residents’ average commute
24 min
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.

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