Substance Use Counselor - Level 5
How this pay compares
This posting states $31–$38 an hour. Substance abuse counselors employed in Massachusetts earn a median of $28.80 an hour (source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics), according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025) (source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics).
Substance abuse counselors in Massachusetts: pay by town and employer
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Mental health and social work jobs in our research
- How long these jobs stay listed: Median days to removal 24.0 days · Still listed at 7 days 74.3%
- Applicant demand per open job on this site (1.00x is the average job): Index 0.63x · Clicks 35
- How often these jobs state their pay: Jobs stating any pay 63.7% · Stating an hourly rate 46.0%
From every open job we read and every apply click on this site, as of 9 Nov 2026. Every figure for Mental health and social work jobs
About the job
Overview
Outpatient MAT Opioid Treatment Program (OTP)
LOOKING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE WHILE EXPANDING IN YOUR CAREER? JOIN OUR TEAM!
FREE CLINICAL SUPERVISION + UNLIMITED CEU ACCESS
Seeking: Substance Use Disorder Counselor
- Level 5 – Preferred Bilingual (Spanish/English)
Full Time Hours (36-40): Monday - Friday, 6 AM - 2 PM
Hybrid Schedule
- The candidate should expect and be willing to accommodate the hours if needed, or upon expanding programs.
- Hybrid/Remote option is available for qualified candidates and must consistently meet productivity standards. Qualified candidate must satisfactorily complete the post-hire on site initial training and orientation and demonstrate consistent outcomes and sound judgment.
Our Benefits
- Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
- Competitive 401(k) plan
- Paid vacation and sick time
- Employer-paid clinical supervision (free to employees)
- STAR LRP Student Loan Forgiveness
- Free and unlimited access to 500+ accredited Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offering continued support to employee lifestyle and well-being
- Early morning hours offering a great work/life balance
- Opportunity for growth that is second to none in the industry
Our Team
Lowell Comprehensive Treatment Center (CTC), located in Lowell, MA, is part of Acadia Healthcare's Comprehensive Treatment Centers, the leading provider of medication-assisted treatment in the nation. Our counseling team provides compassionate, high-quality counseling and therapy to patients that are seeking recovery from Opioid Use Disorder.
Key Responsibilities
As a Substance Use Counselor, you will be essential in guiding patients through their treatment journey and fostering recovery from Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). This role will focus on community engagement, conducting mobile outreach in collaboration with hospitals, emergency departments, and health centers. It will also involve partnering with local providers and government officials, as well as:
- Leading individual and group counseling sessions with compassion and professionalism.
- Designing, managing, and documenting treatment plans tailored to patient needs.
- Facilitating group or family therapy sessions as required.
- Keeping thorough, clear, and timely documentation on patient care, progress, and any incidents.
- Conducting initial and ongoing patient assessments.
- Determining the necessity of referrals to additional programs or external resources.
- Coordinating aftercare plans to support long-term recovery.
- Providing immediate crisis intervention services when needed.
- Managing patient cases to ensure personalized, high-quality care.
- Serving as a liaison between patients and referral sources.
Compensation for roles at Lowell CTC varies depending on a wide array of factors including but not limited to the specific location, role, skill set, and level of experience. Lowell CTC provides a reasonable hourly range of compensation for roles that may be hired in Massachusetts as set forth below. Role Location: Massachusetts
Calculated Salary Range for the role : $31.00 - $38.00 per hour
Eligible positions may qualify for student loan forgiveness through HRSA, depending on clinic site eligibility. Check your eligibility here: HRSA Eligibility
Qualifications
Required Education
- Master's Degree in Behavioral Health Field from an accredited college or university, and possess a valid MA independent licensure as one or more of the following: LADCI, LICSW, LCSW, LMHC, LMFT.
Your Skills & Experience
- The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 4 to 6 years of experience in a counseling role, demonstrating proficiency in the 12 Core Functions of the Counselor, across one or more levels of care including Outpatient, Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP), Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP), Psychiatric Mobile or Crisis Response Services, Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) teams, Clinical Utilization Review, or Multidisciplinary Inpatient/Residential treatment settings. Supervised, post-Masters counseling practicums completed through accredited educational institutions will be considered toward meeting a portion of the required experience.
- The successful candidate will possess strong clinical assessment skills, a solid understanding of Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) and harm reduction principles, and the ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team environment. The candidate should demonstrate a strong foundation in counseling theories, particularly Person-Centered, and evidence-based practices, with the ability to apply these concepts in the development and implementation of individualized treatment plans.
- Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish is strongly preferred but not required, with demonstrated excellence in both verbal and written communication.
- The candidate must be highly organized, detail-oriented, and capable of thriving in a fast-paced, multitasking environment. They should demonstrate flexibility in managing competing priorities while balancing individual responsibilities and team objectives.
- The ideal candidate maintains a professional appearance and conduct at all times and approaches individuals with substance use and co-occurring disorders from a perspective grounded in scientific evidence, compassion, and respect. They should consistently demonstrate a positive, nonjudgmental, and recovery-oriented approach while fostering meaningful therapeutic relationships with clients and colleagues.
#LI-CTC
#LI-BB1
From Acadia Healthcare's job posting, checked 9 Nov 2026. The employer's own page is the final word on requirements and availability.
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About Acadia Healthcare
Acadia Healthcare hires nurses, mental health staff and front-office staff in 35 states.
Hires in 38 statesPay on its listings: 38.2% of its open jobs state an hourly rate
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