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Career center director vs academic adviser

The differences between career center directors and academic advisers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a career center director has an average salary of $50,201, which is higher than the $46,729 average annual salary of an academic adviser.

The top three skills for a career center director include customer service, support services and professional development. The most important skills for an academic adviser are customer service, student services, and financial aid.

Career center director vs academic adviser overview

Career Center DirectorAcademic Adviser
Yearly salary$50,201$46,729
Hourly rate$24.14$22.47
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs33,94723,208
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Average age4242
Years of experience--

What does a career center director do?

A career center director spearheads and oversees career programs and projects, ensuring everything runs smoothly and efficiently while in adherence to the company's vision and mission. It is their duty to set goals and guidelines, manage budgets and deadlines, coordinate managers and departments, liaise with key external parties, and address issues and concerns, resolving them professionally and promptly. Moreover, as a director, it is essential to lead and encourage the workforce to reach program goals, all while enforcing the company's policies and regulations.

What does an academic adviser do?

An academic adviser is responsible for managing the students' educational goals and future career aspirations by encouraging them to join scholastic activities, conducting one-on-one discussions to identify their challenges and areas of improvement, and developing educational plans to address possible difficulties. Academic advisers also monitor the students' interests and abilities for a career setting, track the students' progress, and create engaging activities to observe the students' personal and social behavior. An academic adviser must have excellent communication skills and extensive knowledge of teaching principles and disciplines to handle different personalities.

Career center director vs academic adviser salary

Career center directors and academic advisers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Career Center DirectorAcademic Adviser
Average salary$50,201$46,729
Salary rangeBetween $28,000 And $89,000Between $35,000 And $62,000
Highest paying City-Washington, DC
Highest paying state-Massachusetts
Best paying company-New York Film Academy
Best paying industry-Government

Differences between career center director and academic adviser education

There are a few differences between a career center director and an academic adviser in terms of educational background:

Career Center DirectorAcademic Adviser
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Most common majorBusinessPsychology
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Career center director vs academic adviser demographics

Here are the differences between career center directors' and academic advisers' demographics:

Career Center DirectorAcademic Adviser
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 36.0% Female, 64.0%Male, 35.3% Female, 64.7%
Race ratioBlack 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 Percentage11%11%

Differences between career center director and academic adviser duties and responsibilities

Career center director example responsibilities.

  • Counsele law students and alumni regarding legal and alternate career opportunities and job search strategy including resume and cover letter preparation.
  • Conduct instructional/informational PowerPoint presentations to prepare and train graduates for employment.

Academic adviser example responsibilities.

  • Coach and mentore students in determining optimal course of study to achieve specific career performance goals and certifications.
  • Interpret student records such as transcripts and IEP's.
  • Collect and analyze data for behaviors and IEP objectives.
  • Direct a team of four ESL teachers, implement school policies, teaching schedules, and activities clubs.
  • Organize all freshman and parent oreintation programs, assist in the freshman experience class, advise all undeclare students.
  • Create PowerPoint presentations used for curriculum development.
  • Show more

Career center director vs academic adviser skills

Common career center director skills
  • Customer Service, 70%
  • Support Services, 16%
  • Professional Development, 5%
  • Career Services, 3%
  • Open Positions, 1%
  • Career Fairs, 1%
Common academic adviser skills
  • Customer Service, 9%
  • Student Services, 8%
  • Financial Aid, 7%
  • Professional Development, 6%
  • Support Services, 5%
  • Excellent Interpersonal, 5%

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