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The differences between academic counselors and substance abuse counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an academic counselor has an average salary of $47,454, which is higher than the $43,069 average annual salary of a substance abuse counselor.
The top three skills for an academic counselor include financial aid, academic support and student services. The most important skills for a substance abuse counselor are patients, substance abuse treatment, and social work.
| Academic Counselor | Substance Abuse Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $47,454 | $43,069 |
| Hourly rate | $22.81 | $20.71 |
| Growth rate | 10% | - |
| Number of jobs | 39,084 | 78,643 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Average age | 42 | 39 |
| Years of experience | - | 6 |
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.
Substance abuse counselors act as a support system for people with drug and alcohol problems and other behavioral issues. They help the patients control their behavior until they achieve a full recovery. The mental health counselors aid patients to overcome their chemical dependencies and become self-sufficient individuals. Part of their duty includes meeting clients to evaluate their health and substance issues while creating goals and treatment plans. They teach clients coping mechanisms, refer them to support groups, and engage them in group therapy sessions. Once the patient is stable, they help them re-establish their careers and give updates and reports of progress to the courts. Requirements for the job include a master's degree in counseling and social work.
Academic counselors and substance abuse counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Academic Counselor | Substance Abuse Counselor | |
| Average salary | $47,454 | $43,069 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $63,000 | Between $27,000 And $67,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Trenton, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Virginia | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | California College of the Arts | Erlanger Health System |
| Best paying industry | Non Profits | Non Profits |
There are a few differences between an academic counselor and a substance abuse counselor in terms of educational background:
| Academic Counselor | Substance Abuse Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Most common major | Business | Psychology |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between academic counselors' and substance abuse counselors' demographics:
| Academic Counselor | Substance Abuse Counselor | |
| Average age | 42 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 35.4% Female, 64.6% | Male, 34.3% Female, 65.7% |
| 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, 11.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.4% Asian, 4.6% White, 63.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 12% |