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The differences between academic guidance specialists and admissions counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an academic guidance specialist has an average salary of $50,630, which is higher than the $39,298 average annual salary of an admissions counselor.
The top three skills for an academic guidance specialist include professional development, social work and student retention. The most important skills for an admissions counselor are customer service, patients, and social work.
| Academic Guidance Specialist | Admissions Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $50,630 | $39,298 |
| Hourly rate | $24.34 | $18.89 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 18,180 | 43,413 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
An academic guidance specialist conducts individual planning, interviews, and aptitude assessments to evaluate learners' interests and abilities. They identify issues affecting the student's performance, like not attending all classes. Besides working with parents, administrators, and teachers to help learners succeed, academic guidance specialists also help learners create a program to attain career goals and academic objectives. They help learners develop skills like effective learning habits, time management abilities, and organizational abilities. Moreover, these professionals maintain records as needed.
An admissions counselor is the primary point of contact between a university or college and their potential students. One of their primary responsibilities is to represent the school during various events for recruitment purposes, discuss the admission procedures to the students and their families through calls or appointments, and facilitate university tours and orientation among prospective students. Furthermore, they must gather applicants' requirements, verify their authenticity, and determine if they are qualified for the institution. They may also decide student admissions, all while adhering to the college's policies and guidelines.
Academic guidance specialists and admissions counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Academic Guidance Specialist | Admissions Counselor | |
| Average salary | $50,630 | $39,298 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $74,000 | Between $30,000 And $50,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Rafael, CA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | Michigan State University | School of Visual Concepts |
| Best paying industry | Education | Professional |
There are a few differences between an academic guidance specialist and an admissions counselor in terms of educational background:
| Academic Guidance Specialist | Admissions Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between academic guidance specialists' and admissions counselors' demographics:
| Academic Guidance Specialist | Admissions Counselor | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 31.7% Female, 68.3% | Male, 38.6% Female, 61.4% |
| 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% |