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The differences between academic guidance specialists and student advisors 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 $41,418 average annual salary of a student advisor.
The top three skills for an academic guidance specialist include professional development, social work and student retention. The most important skills for a student advisor are customer service, student services, and international student.
| Academic Guidance Specialist | Student Advisor | |
| Yearly salary | $50,630 | $41,418 |
| Hourly rate | $24.34 | $19.91 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 18,180 | 56,492 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| 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 student advisor is responsible for supporting the students' personal growth and development by guiding them on their learning processes and educational goals. Student advisors provide regular counseling for the students to analyze their career aspirations, identify their strengths and weaknesses, and strategize learning plans to address those difficulties. They also coordinate with the students' parents and guardians to report the students' progress and determine appropriate scholastic solutions. A student advisor must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially when handling students' different needs and concerns.
Academic guidance specialists and student advisors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Academic Guidance Specialist | Student Advisor | |
| Average salary | $50,630 | $41,418 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $74,000 | Between $31,000 And $53,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Michigan State University | The American Musical and Dramatic Academy |
| Best paying industry | Education | Education |
There are a few differences between an academic guidance specialist and a student advisor in terms of educational background:
| Academic Guidance Specialist | Student Advisor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between academic guidance specialists' and student advisors' demographics:
| Academic Guidance Specialist | Student Advisor | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 31.7% Female, 68.3% | Male, 38.2% Female, 61.8% |
| 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% |