"How long does recovery coach in Wisconsin training take?"

"Most paths into the recovery coach field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both."

"How much do recovery coaches earn in Wisconsin?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), recovery coaches in Wisconsin earned a median annual wage of approximately $51,210 (using the related \"Community Health Workers\" BLS category, since recovery coach wages are not tracked separately). Employment concentration in Wisconsin is roughly 0.54 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole."

"Do recovery coaches need a license in Wisconsin?"

"Yes. Wisconsin requires state-level licensing or registration for recovery coaches, administered by the WI Dept of Natural Resources - Division of Air \u0026 Waste. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

"What apprenticeships are available for recovery coaches in Wisconsin?"

"In Wisconsin, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Wisconsin Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards - Registered Apprenticeships, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details."

"What is the job outlook for recovery coaches in Wisconsin?"

"Wisconsin currently employs approximately 630 workers in the related \"Community Health Workers\" BLS category, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 11.3% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034."

How to Become A Recovery Coach in Wisconsin

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Wisconsin community health workers earn a median annual wage of $51,210 ($24.62/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 630 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -1.2% below the national median of $51,850 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $51,210 ($24.62/hr)
25th percentile: $46,910 per year
75th percentile: $60,820 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $71,450 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $39,010 per year
Workers employed in Wisconsin: 630
Versus national median: -1.2% below the U.S. median of $51,850
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.54 - this occupation is less concentrated in Wisconsin than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Wisconsin employs approximately 630 workers in the related “Community Health Workers” category (SOC 21-1094), with a median annual wage of $51,210 ¹. Nationally, employment in this category is projected to grow 11.3% from 2024 to 2034, with about 7,800 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a recovery coach in Wisconsin, including certification options, training programs, and salary data.

A note on salary data: The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not track recovery coach salaries as a separate category. The wage figures on this page are based on the closest matching BLS classification: Community Health Workers (SOC 21-1094). Actual recovery coach earnings may vary.

Quick Answers About How to Become a Recovery Coach in Wisconsin

How to become a recovery coach in Wisconsin? Wisconsin requires credentials such as REFRIGERANT RECOVERY OPERATOR, SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELOR. The licensing authority is the WI Dept of Natural Resources - Division of Air & Waste ³. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.

How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

Do I need a license in Wisconsin? Yes. Wisconsin has licensing or registration requirements for recovery coachs. The WI Dept of Natural Resources - Division of Air & Waste oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do recovery coachs earn in Wisconsin? The BLS does not track recovery coach wages separately. Based on the related “Community Health Workers” category, the median annual wage in Wisconsin is $51,210, with entry-level wages around $39,010 and experienced workers earning $71,450 or more ¹.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Licensing authority: WI Dept of Natural Resources - Division of Air & Waste
Median wage (Wisconsin): $51,210 per year (based on related “Community Health Workers” category) ¹

Recovery Coach License Requirements in Wisconsin

The WI Dept of Natural Resources - Division of Air & Waste oversees recovery coach licensing in Wisconsin ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
REFRIGERANT RECOVERY OPERATOR	The regulations require that persons who recover regulated refrigerants from salvaged items must themselves hold the appropriate certification for the type of equipment being recovered, or be directly…
SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELOR	A Certified Substance Abuse Counselor* is a professional who has specialized education in substance abuse and training related to the performance of the eight practice dimensions, counseling theories…

Additional Requirements

Background check: No criminal record prohibitions

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Recovery Coach Wages by Metro Area in Wisconsin

Note: The BLS does not track recovery coach wages separately. The data below is based on the closest matching category: Community Health Workers (SOC 21-1094).

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), community health workers wages in Wisconsin vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington	860	$48,340	$53,450	$44,200	$70,180
Milwaukee-Waukesha	160	$49,920	$51,770	$38,440	$69,150
Madison	100	$56,040	$55,870	$42,110	$69,240
Duluth	50	$44,360	$49,430	$38,630	$73,450
Eau Claire	40	$78,090	$65,950	$42,630	$78,090

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Top Metros for Recovery coaches in Wisconsin

The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest recovery coach employment within Wisconsin according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Milwaukee-Waukesha	160	$49,920
Madison	100	$56,040
Eau Claire	40	$78,090

Explore More Trades in Wisconsin

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for recovery coachs in Wisconsin? Wisconsin employs approximately 630 workers in the related “Community Health Workers” category ¹. Nationally, employment in this category is projected to grow 11.3% from 2024 to 2034 ².

Can I work as a recovery coach in Wisconsin with an out-of-state license? Contact the WI Dept of Natural Resources - Division of Air & Waste for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

What training programs are available in Wisconsin? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Wisconsin.

How much do recovery coachs earn in Wisconsin compared to the national average? The median annual wage for recovery coachs in Wisconsin is $51,210 (based on the related “Community Health Workers” category), which is $180 above the national median of $51,030 according to BLS data ¹.

Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
WI Dept of Natural Resources - Division of Air & Waste - Licensing Information: http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/AirQuality/Refrigerants.html ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)