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The differences between academic guidance specialists and school 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 $49,904 average annual salary of a school counselor.
The top three skills for an academic guidance specialist include professional development, social work and student retention. The most important skills for a school counselor are mental health, community resources, and crisis intervention.
| Academic Guidance Specialist | School Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $50,630 | $49,904 |
| Hourly rate | $24.34 | $23.99 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 18,180 | 91,275 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| 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.
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 guidance specialists and school counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Academic Guidance Specialist | School Counselor | |
| Average salary | $50,630 | $49,904 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $74,000 | Between $36,000 And $68,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | California |
| Best paying company | Michigan State University | The Gow School |
| Best paying industry | Education | Education |
There are a few differences between an academic guidance specialist and a school counselor in terms of educational background:
| Academic Guidance Specialist | 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 |
Here are the differences between academic guidance specialists' and school counselors' demographics:
| Academic Guidance Specialist | School Counselor | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 31.7% Female, 68.3% | 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% |