Admissions counselor vs guidance counselor

The differences between admissions counselors and guidance counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a guidance counselor has an average salary of $48,154, 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 guidance counselor are crisis intervention, community resources, and mental health.

Admissions counselor vs guidance counselor overview

	Admissions Counselor	Guidance Counselor
Yearly salary	$39,298	$48,154
Hourly rate	$18.89	$23.15
Growth rate	10%	10%
Number of jobs	43,413	75,740
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 75%	Bachelor's Degree, 51%
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 guidance counselor do?

The primary role of a Guidance Counselor is to help students develop skills for success, both in academics and social development. They also develop and implement educational and counseling plans with modern methods of teaching and mentoring.

Admissions counselor vs guidance counselor salary

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

	Admissions Counselor	Guidance Counselor
Average salary	$39,298	$48,154
Salary range	Between $30,000 And $50,000	Between $36,000 And $64,000
Highest paying City	San Rafael, CA	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	New Hampshire	California
Best paying company	School of Visual Concepts	Poly Prep Country Day School
Best paying industry	Professional	Education

Differences between admissions counselor and guidance counselor education

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

	Admissions Counselor	Guidance Counselor
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 75%	Bachelor's Degree, 51%
Most common major	Business	School Counseling
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

Admissions counselor vs guidance counselor demographics

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

	Admissions Counselor	Guidance Counselor
Average age	42	42
Gender ratio	Male, 38.6% Female, 61.4%	Male, 31.3% Female, 68.7%
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, 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 guidance 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.

Guidance counselor example responsibilities.

Utilize Salesforce to manage advertising programs for business owners.
Administer TACHS, PSAT, and other statewide examinations.
Provide individual counseling to students upon their request, SST referrals, or that of a teacher.
Utilize RTI for curriculum design and to identify students in need of extra academic & behavioral support.
Contribute to IEP manifestation meetings with students-parents-teachers.
Complete student educational assessments for upcoming IEP meetings.

Admissions counselor vs guidance counselor skills

Common admissions counselor skills

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

Common guidance counselor skills

Crisis Intervention, 10%
Community Resources, 5%
Mental Health, 5%
Professional Development, 4%
Financial Aid, 4%
Conflict Resolution, 4%

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Admissions Counselor
Admissions Counselor vs Guidance Counselor

Updated January 8, 2025

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