What is the Income for an Substance Abuse Counselor in Oregon?

If you are planning on becoming an addiction therapist in the state of Oregon, you are probably very curious to know what the average income is for these professionals. While it is easy to just throw a figure out there, you should know that this number does not necessarily mean that this is the exact amount you can expect to make as a working professional in the field. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for an addiction therapist in the state of Oregon is approximately $38,050 per year.

However, a great many addiction therapists in the state make a significant amount more than this. Some, in fact, tend to make an average of $60,780 or more. The highest paid professionals in the business are usually just those people who have made several smart decisions. For example, they usually choose the highest paying jobs, have the highest levels of education, have been at their positions for a long period of time, and have a great deal of experience in the field. As such, it's easy to learn from the highest paid addiction therapists and thus to increase your own salary once you start working in the field.

One of the best things you can do to ensure a higher salary is to continue your education, either before you start working or after. No matter what degree your specific job in the addiction field calls for, you can make more money by going above and beyond that minimum requirement. More education always equals more money, so turning that associate's degree into a bachelor's degree, that bachelor's degree into a master's, or that master's into a doctoral degree is a very smart idea. You can also seek different forms of accreditation or licensure if you feel it will benefit you in your position, and there is the option of attending courses that grant a certificate as well. All of these will show your boss that you are committed to your job and will end up with you getting a raise. As an added bonus, some jobs will even pay for all or part of your education as you venture back to school, so make sure you bring this up if you are already working in the field.

As you may already know, some jobs tend to pay more than others. In Oregon, for example, addiction therapists working in hospitals, within the school system, and within the local government tend to make the highest salaries. However, it is strongly advised that you do not choose a career path based on the salary range. While a lot of wealthy people have done this and it is something to keep in the back of your mind if times get especially tough, it's more important that you truly love the job you choose – rather than just choosing it for a higher income. This is an easy way to get burnt out on the field in general.

So in addition to increasing your education level so that you can do the job you love, you might also think about possibly relocating within the state. The largest cities are where you're going to find the highest salaries, plain and simple. This is due to the increased cost of living, yes, but it is also because qualified addiction therapist professionals are simply in higher demand in the larger areas, since there are more people and thus more people who require addiction and/or substance abuse help. Moving, however, is a big step and is something you should think long and hard about before you do.

If you do move, try to transfer to another position at the same company whenever possible. That's because being a loyal worker is the best way to find yourself getting a pay raise and/or a promotion. The longer you can stay at one position and with one company or other place of business, the better it will be for you and your salary. Even if you were never to move up in a particular company, you would likely get a small raise for every, single year you stayed there, so longevity pays off.