Academic adviser vs school counselor

The differences between academic advisers and school counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a school counselor has an average salary of $49,904, which is higher than the $46,729 average annual salary of an academic adviser.

The top three skills for an academic adviser include customer service, student services and financial aid. The most important skills for a school counselor are mental health, community resources, and crisis intervention.

Academic adviser vs school counselor overview

	Academic Adviser	School Counselor
Yearly salary	$46,729	$49,904
Hourly rate	$22.47	$23.99
Growth rate	10%	10%
Number of jobs	23,208	91,275
Job satisfaction	5	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 64%	Bachelor's Degree, 48%
Average age	42	42
Years of experience	-	-

What does an academic adviser do?

An academic adviser is responsible for managing the students' educational goals and future career aspirations by encouraging them to join scholastic activities, conducting one-on-one discussions to identify their challenges and areas of improvement, and developing educational plans to address possible difficulties. Academic advisers also monitor the students' interests and abilities for a career setting, track the students' progress, and create engaging activities to observe the students' personal and social behavior. An academic adviser must have excellent communication skills and extensive knowledge of teaching principles and disciplines to handle different personalities.

What does a school counselor do?

A school counselor is responsible for monitoring the students' social and personal development, advising them of their career aspirations, and assisting them with their academic achievements and goals. School counselors also ensure that the students receive the highest learning standards to pave their way towards society's advancement and global competitiveness. They evaluate students' behavior through personal counseling, understanding their challenges, and develop strategies to overcome their needs. A school counselor must have excellent communication and decision-making skills, supporting students with their goals, and honing their skills efficiently.

Academic adviser vs school counselor salary

Academic advisers and school counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Academic Adviser	School Counselor
Average salary	$46,729	$49,904
Salary range	Between $35,000 And $62,000	Between $36,000 And $68,000
Highest paying City	Washington, DC	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	Massachusetts	California
Best paying company	New York Film Academy	The Gow School
Best paying industry	Government	Education

Differences between academic adviser and school counselor education

There are a few differences between an academic adviser and a school counselor in terms of educational background:

	Academic Adviser	School Counselor
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 64%	Bachelor's Degree, 48%
Most common major	Psychology	School Counseling
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

Academic adviser vs school counselor demographics

Here are the differences between academic advisers' and school counselors' demographics:

	Academic Adviser	School Counselor
Average age	42	42
Gender ratio	Male, 35.3% Female, 64.7%	Male, 26.1% Female, 73.9%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 3.7% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%	Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 3.7% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage	11%	11%

Differences between academic adviser and school counselor duties and responsibilities

Academic adviser example responsibilities.

Coach and mentore students in determining optimal course of study to achieve specific career performance goals and certifications.
Interpret student records such as transcripts and IEP's.
Collect and analyze data for behaviors and IEP objectives.
Direct a team of four ESL teachers, implement school policies, teaching schedules, and activities clubs.
Organize all freshman and parent oreintation programs, assist in the freshman experience class, advise all undeclare students.
Create PowerPoint presentations used for curriculum development.

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School counselor example responsibilities.

Manage open houses, recruitment, and conduct interviews for GED student enrollment.
Travel to professional conferences and to visit colleges and universities across the country for professional development.
Attend educational meetings (IEP, IST, CCT, etc . )
Create and implement FBA's.
Complete CPR training and other necessary training classes.
Communicate with DCF in regards to students as needed

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Academic adviser vs school counselor skills

Common academic adviser skills

Customer Service, 9%
Student Services, 8%
Financial Aid, 7%
Professional Development, 6%
Support Services, 5%
Excellent Interpersonal, 5%

Common school counselor skills

Mental Health, 10%
Community Resources, 8%
Crisis Intervention, 6%
Professional Development, 5%
Behavioral Issues, 4%
CPR, 4%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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