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The differences between academic counselors and school social workers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a school social worker has an average salary of $54,856, which is higher than the $47,454 average annual salary of an academic counselor.
The top three skills for an academic counselor include financial aid, academic support and student services. The most important skills for a school social worker are social work, social emotional, and IEP.
| Academic Counselor | School Social Worker | |
| Yearly salary | $47,454 | $54,856 |
| Hourly rate | $22.81 | $26.37 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 39,084 | 122,376 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Master's Degree, 51% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | - | 4 |
In high schools and universities, an academic counselor specializes in providing counseling and consultations to students, focusing on their educational and career growth. They typically meet with students to discuss their short and long term goals and help by providing them with insights and information or referring them to other services and resources. Moreover, an academic counselor must assist students by addressing their issues and concerns, giving them emotional support and academic advice, and helping them navigate through various procedures.
A school social worker specializes in counseling students, families, and faculty members. They are responsible for coordinating with the school to develop programs that prioritize the students' emotional and psychological well-being, respond to any issues and concerns, build rapport to identify their needs, and communicate with support services to provide necessary assistance to any students or families. There are also instances when a school social worker must assist teachers in handling students with behavioral issues, investigating the underlying reasons. Moreover, it is crucial to identify any signs of neglect or abuse, conducting interventive measures right away.
Academic counselors and school social workers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Academic Counselor | School Social Worker | |
| Average salary | $47,454 | $54,856 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $63,000 | Between $40,000 And $73,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Virginia | Washington |
| Best paying company | California College of the Arts | Boston Public Schools |
| Best paying industry | Non Profits | Education |
There are a few differences between an academic counselor and a school social worker in terms of educational background:
| Academic Counselor | School Social Worker | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Master's Degree, 51% |
| Most common major | Business | Social Work |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Boston College |
Here are the differences between academic counselors' and school social workers' demographics:
| Academic Counselor | School Social Worker | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 35.4% Female, 64.6% | Male, 17.5% Female, 82.5% |
| 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, 13.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 2.7% White, 63.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 10% |