Adult probation officer vs probation counselor

The differences between adult probation officers and probation counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an adult probation officer and a probation counselor. Additionally, a probation counselor has an average salary of $49,192, which is higher than the $46,598 average annual salary of an adult probation officer.

The top three skills for an adult probation officer include criminal justice, social work and mental health. The most important skills for a probation counselor are mental health, intake interviews, and substance abuse issues.

Adult probation officer vs probation counselor overview

	Adult Probation Officer	Probation Counselor
Yearly salary	$46,598	$49,192
Hourly rate	$22.40	$23.65
Growth rate	-	-
Number of jobs	56,961	29,518
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 78%	Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Average age	44	44
Years of experience	4	4

Adult probation officer vs probation counselor salary

Adult probation officers and probation counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Adult Probation Officer	Probation Counselor
Average salary	$46,598	$49,192
Salary range	Between $30,000 And $70,000	Between $35,000 And $68,000
Highest paying City	Anchorage, AK	-
Highest paying state	Nevada	-
Best paying company	Lake County	-
Best paying industry	Government	-

Differences between adult probation officer and probation counselor education

There are a few differences between an adult probation officer and a probation counselor in terms of educational background:

	Adult Probation Officer	Probation Counselor
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 78%	Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Most common major	Criminal Justice	Criminal Justice
Most common college	California State University - Long Beach	California State University - Long Beach

Adult probation officer vs probation counselor demographics

Here are the differences between adult probation officers' and probation counselors' demographics:

	Adult Probation Officer	Probation Counselor
Average age	44	44
Gender ratio	Male, 48.3% Female, 51.7%	Male, 39.7% Female, 60.3%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 11.2% Unknown, 2.6% Hispanic or Latino, 21.2% Asian, 2.1% White, 62.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%	Black or African American, 14.1% Unknown, 2.6% Hispanic or Latino, 17.9% Asian, 2.2% White, 62.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage	10%	10%

Differences between adult probation officer and probation counselor duties and responsibilities

Adult probation officer example responsibilities.

Manage significant DUI caseload to court-ordered and conditional probation completion.
Enforce sex offender registration, obtain DNA samples and review GPS electronic monitoring system.
Supervise offenders on probation and parole, complete social histories/assessments/investigations for the sentencing court or parole board, case management.
Conduct DNA and urinalysis on clients.
Administer DNA indexing and random drug testing on probationers.
Review referral history and other JJIS data for accuracy and conduct data collection for statistical purposes within establish rules.

Probation counselor example responsibilities.

Manage significant DUI caseload to court-ordered and conditional probation completion.
Remain non-denominational, open, flexible and ecumenical in service to patients while also providing additional resources from local spiritual communities.
Review referral history and other JJIS data for accuracy and conduct data collection for statistical purposes within establish rules.

Adult probation officer vs probation counselor skills

Common adult probation officer skills

Criminal Justice, 10%
Social Work, 10%
Mental Health, 8%
Court Orders, 5%
Law Enforcement Agencies, 5%
Community Resources, 5%

Common probation counselor skills

Mental Health, 15%
Intake Interviews, 7%
Substance Abuse Issues, 7%
Court Orders, 6%
Residential Facility, 6%
Community Services, 5%

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Adult Probation Officer
Adult Probation Officer vs Probation Counselor

Updated January 8, 2025

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