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The differences between advocates and service counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both an advocate and a service counselor. Additionally, an advocate has an average salary of $39,497, which is higher than the $35,402 average annual salary of a service counselor.
The top three skills for an advocate include CPR, customer service and developmental disabilities. The most important skills for a service counselor are social work, crisis intervention, and patients.
| Advocate | Service Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $39,497 | $35,402 |
| Hourly rate | $18.99 | $17.02 |
| Growth rate | 12% | 12% |
| Number of jobs | 74,970 | 44,284 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
An advocate is a voice for the voiceless. It is their responsibility to speak on behalf of an individual or a particular cause. Most of the duties will vary depending on the line of organization or duty involved; however, an advocate must have extensive knowledge or background on the subject matter. Furthermore, an advocate must be present at gatherings regarding the cause, assist in the negotiation and mediation processes involving contracts and legal documentation, provide or convey accurate information, and defend what they represent.
Service counselors provide guidance to couples, individuals, groups, and families who are going through issues that influence their well-being and mental health. They comprehensively approach their clients by utilizing a "wellness" model that focuses on and motivate the client's potentials. Their duties include inspiring clients to talk about their emotions and experiences, helping them determine their action plans and goals, as well as designing therapeutic methods. Also, they may refer their clients to other services or psychologists.
Advocates and service counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Advocate | Service Counselor | |
| Average salary | $39,497 | $35,402 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $58,000 | Between $24,000 And $51,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Urban Honolulu, HI |
| Highest paying state | New York | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | |
| Best paying industry | Government | Education |
There are a few differences between an advocate and a service counselor in terms of educational background:
| Advocate | Service Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | SUNY at Binghamton | SUNY at Binghamton |
Here are the differences between advocates' and service counselors' demographics:
| Advocate | Service Counselor | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 25.7% Female, 74.3% | Male, 33.3% Female, 66.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.8% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 21.7% Asian, 6.2% White, 54.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.1% | Black or African American, 12.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 19.7% Asian, 7.1% White, 54.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |