Admissions counselor vs career counselor

The differences between admissions counselors and career counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a career counselor has an average salary of $44,870, which is higher than the $39,298 average annual salary of an admissions counselor.

The top three skills for an admissions counselor include customer service, patients and social work. The most important skills for a career counselor are career development, career services, and professional development.

Admissions counselor vs career counselor overview

	Admissions Counselor	Career Counselor
Yearly salary	$39,298	$44,870
Hourly rate	$18.89	$21.57
Growth rate	10%	10%
Number of jobs	43,413	42,035
Job satisfaction	-	5
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 75%	Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Average age	42	42
Years of experience	-	-

What does an admissions counselor do?

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.

What does a career counselor do?

A career counselor specializes in assisting clients in their career-related decisions. Utilizing their expertise in career development, they typically meet with clients to discuss their short-term and long-term goals, identify their needs and concerns, conduct different aptitude tests and examinations, organize skills assessment procedures, and provide strategies to improve or enhance their skills and abilities. Aside from providing consultations, a career counselor may also assist clients in processing and establishing their resumes, supporting them every step of the way.

Admissions counselor vs career counselor salary

Admissions counselors and career counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Admissions Counselor	Career Counselor
Average salary	$39,298	$44,870
Salary range	Between $30,000 And $50,000	Between $33,000 And $60,000
Highest paying City	San Rafael, CA	Los Angeles, CA
Highest paying state	New Hampshire	New Jersey
Best paying company	School of Visual Concepts	Columbia University in the City of New York
Best paying industry	Professional	Technology

Differences between admissions counselor and career counselor education

There are a few differences between an admissions counselor and a career counselor in terms of educational background:

	Admissions Counselor	Career Counselor
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 75%	Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Most common major	Business	Psychology
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

Admissions counselor vs career counselor demographics

Here are the differences between admissions counselors' and career counselors' demographics:

	Admissions Counselor	Career Counselor
Average age	42	42
Gender ratio	Male, 38.6% Female, 61.4%	Male, 42.4% Female, 57.6%
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%

Differences between admissions counselor and career counselor duties and responsibilities

Admissions counselor example responsibilities.

Manage applicant and student files electronically within CampusVue software.
Verify insurance HMO, Medicare or Medicaid.
Assist in PV's marketing efforts by reaching out to alumni and community.
Evaluate transcripts, convert quarterly hours to semester hours as necessary, and calculate the GPA.
Receive and execute hundreds of phone calls and e-mails daily from students and parents inquiring about CSU.
Give campus tours to prospective students and families; make phone calls to incoming students for CSU events and admissions follow-up.

Career counselor example responsibilities.

Monitor and manage IEP forms and certifications to adhere to program requirements.
Interpret PSAT results with parents and students through education workshop.
Coordinate transitioning veterans with community hiring facilities in the areas of their desire location.
Provide information to individuals on matters pertaining to social security, veterans administration, and uniform service health benefits program.
Provide testing, including TABE, Proveit and Oscar.
Develop new intake orientation and TABE testing process for prospective participants.

Admissions counselor vs career counselor skills

Common admissions counselor skills

Customer Service, 14%
Patients, 13%
Social Work, 8%
Admissions Process, 6%
Phone Calls, 4%
Financial Aid, 4%

Common career counselor skills

Career Development, 12%
Career Services, 7%
Professional Development, 6%
Career Planning, 5%
Mental Health, 5%
Career Exploration, 5%

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Admissions Counselor
Admissions Counselor vs Career Counselor

Updated January 8, 2025

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