Substance Abuse Counselor Jobs in Tucson, AZ
Substance abuse counselors in Tucson work in outpatient clinics on Speedway, opioid treatment programs across town and the state prison on South Wilmot Road. Arizona licenses the work through the Board of Behavioral Health Examiners, and licensed counselors here commonly earn $50,000 to $80,000. Current openings are below.
Current Substance Abuse Counselor Openings in Tucson, AZ
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Substance Abuse Counselor Work in Tucson
Addiction treatment in Tucson is spread across a few kinds of employers. Community behavioral health agencies such as CODAC on East Speedway and La Frontera on the south side run outpatient counseling and recovery programs. Community Medical Services operates opioid treatment clinics on Park Avenue, Broadway, Carondelet Drive and West Orange Grove Road on the northwest side, where counselors work alongside medication treatment. Sierra Tucson runs residential treatment, and the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry hires counselors at the Arizona State Prison Complex - Tucson.
Federal wage data counts about 1,310 substance abuse, behavioral disorder and mental health counselors in the Tucson metro. Tucson employers sort their counseling jobs by license level, and the level you hold decides how closely you are supervised, which caseload you carry and what you are paid.
Top Tucson Employers for Substance Abuse Counselors
These Tucson employers hire substance abuse and addiction counselors:
- CODAC Health, Recovery & Wellness - nonprofit behavioral health and addiction treatment provider based on East Speedway, hiring counselors who hold or will earn a board license.
- La Frontera Arizona - community behavioral health agency hiring addiction counselors at every license level, from technician to independent.
- Community Medical Services - opioid treatment provider with several Tucson clinics, hiring substance abuse counselors.
- Sierra Tucson - residential addiction and mental health treatment center hiring substance use counselors.
- Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry - hires correctional substance abuse counselors at the state prison complex on South Wilmot Road.
Substance Abuse Counselor Salaries in Tucson
- Entry level (technician or unlicensed, under supervision): roughly $19 to $24 an hour.
- Licensed associate counselor: roughly $50,000 to $62,000 a year.
- Independent license or senior counselor: roughly $62,000 to $80,000 a year.
These are estimates that vary by employer and experience. Your license level moves pay more than anything else: Tucson postings have ranged from about $50,500 for an agency counselor to $70,800 for a senior correctional counselor with an independent license. Residential programs and the state prison system tend to pay at the top of the range, and bilingual Spanish speakers can earn differentials at some agencies.
How to Become a Substance Abuse Counselor in Tucson
The Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners issues three addiction counseling licenses. The addiction technician license requires an associate degree in addiction with a counseling emphasis or a bachelor's in a behavioral science with a counseling emphasis, plus a board-approved exam, and you practice under direct supervision. The Licensed Associate Addiction Counselor (LAAC) requires a bachelor's plus 1,600 hours of supervised direct client contact over at least 24 months, or a master's, plus the exam. The Licensed Independent Addiction Counselor (LIAC) requires a master's, 1,600 supervised hours over 24 months and the exam. These replaced the old LASAC and LISAC titles in 2024, and job ads still use both. Locally, Pima Community College's Social Services AAS at West Campus includes a 135-hour field internship, and ASU's School of Social Work runs an in-person MSW in Tucson.
What the Job Involves
Counselors run intake assessments, build treatment plans and lead group sessions on relapse prevention and coping skills, then meet one on one with clients through the week. A big share of the day is documentation: progress notes, treatment plan updates and the records insurers and AHCCCS plans review. In opioid treatment programs you coordinate with medical staff, and in corrections you work inside a prison facility with its own security rules.
Skills Employers Look For
- An AZBBHE license, or eligibility to earn one within months of hire
- Group facilitation and motivational interviewing
- Clinical documentation and treatment planning in an electronic record
- Crisis response and de-escalation
- Knowledge of medication treatment for opioid use disorder
- Spanish fluency, valued across Tucson agencies
- A DPS fingerprint clearance card and clean driving record for many roles
Career Path and Advancement
A common Tucson path starts as a behavioral health technician or addiction technician, moves to an LAAC once the bachelor's and supervised hours are in, and reaches the LIAC with a master's. From there counselors become clinical supervisors, program directors or move into private practice, and some cross into state corrections, where the senior counselor classification pays more for an independent license.
Related Careers in Tucson
These Tucson guides cover the closest alternatives for substance abuse counselors:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to be a substance abuse counselor in Arizona?
For most counseling jobs, yes. The Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners issues the addiction technician license, the LAAC and the LIAC. Some Tucson employers hire unlicensed staff with a behavioral health degree and ask them to earn a license within a set time, often six months.
What happened to the LASAC and LISAC licenses?
A 2024 state law renamed them. LASAC became LAAC, the Licensed Associate Addiction Counselor, and LISAC became LIAC, the Licensed Independent Addiction Counselor. Tucson job postings often list both old and new names.
How much do substance abuse counselors make in Tucson?
Licensed associate counselors commonly earn about $50,000 to $62,000 a year, and independent or senior counselors about $62,000 to $80,000. Entry roles under supervision pay roughly $19 to $24 an hour. These are estimates that vary by employer and license.
Can I become an addiction counselor with a bachelor's degree?
Yes. A bachelor's in a behavioral science with a counseling emphasis qualifies you for the addiction technician license, and with 1,600 hours of supervised client contact over at least 24 months and the exam, for the LAAC. The independent LIAC requires a master's.
Which Tucson employers hire the most addiction counselors?
CODAC, La Frontera and Community Medical Services, which runs several Tucson clinics, all hire counselors. Sierra Tucson hires for residential treatment, and the state corrections department hires at the Tucson prison complex.
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