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The differences between benefits counselors and counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a benefits counselor has an average salary of $72,268, which is higher than the $36,225 average annual salary of a counselor.
The top three skills for a benefits counselor include veterans, HR and open enrollment. The most important skills for a counselor are patients, crisis intervention, and substance abuse.
| Benefits Counselor | Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $72,268 | $36,225 |
| Hourly rate | $34.74 | $17.42 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 34,132 | 77,536 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 2 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 45 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 6 | - |
A benefits counselor manages the company or organization's employee benefits programs. Job responsibilities may include designing and administering the benefits program to ensure company and employee needs are met, as well as assisting and educating employees in benefits enrollment activities. This job requires a full understanding of health care benefits, comprising medical, dental, and life insurance, including knowledge of pertinent regulations and legislation. In addition, benefits counselors may also need to be knowledgeable and updated with other incentives such as pensions and stock ownership.
Often, counselors are known to be the go-to person in times we are in need of emotional and psychological support. They help people to manage and overcome the issues which affect their mental health and well-being. Counselors face different kind of situations which may involve trauma, addiction, disabilities, abuse, suicide, anger management, career, and even personal relationships. They provide care, counseling, rehabilitation, and support services. Every counseling requires collaborative effort both from the counselor and client to become effective.
Benefits counselors and counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Benefits Counselor | Counselor | |
| Average salary | $72,268 | $36,225 |
| Salary range | Between $44,000 And $118,000 | Between $19,000 And $67,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | - |
| Highest paying state | - | California |
| Best paying company | - | - |
| Best paying industry | - | Education |
There are a few differences between a benefits counselor and a counselor in terms of educational background:
| Benefits Counselor | Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | Business | Psychology |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between benefits counselors' and counselors' demographics:
| Benefits Counselor | Counselor | |
| Average age | 45 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 34.3% Female, 65.7% | Male, 38.5% Female, 61.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.9% Asian, 6.9% White, 62.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 15.6% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 3.5% White, 63.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |