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Career center director vs school counselor

The differences between career center directors and school counselors 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 $49,904 average annual salary of a school counselor.

The top three skills for a career center director include customer service, support services and professional development. The most important skills for a school counselor are mental health, community resources, and crisis intervention.

Career center director vs school counselor overview

Career Center DirectorSchool Counselor
Yearly salary$50,201$49,904
Hourly rate$24.14$23.99
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs33,94791,275
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 48%
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 a school counselor do?

A school counselor is responsible for monitoring the students' social and personal development, advising them of their career aspirations, and assisting them with their academic achievements and goals. School counselors also ensure that the students receive the highest learning standards to pave their way towards society's advancement and global competitiveness. They evaluate students' behavior through personal counseling, understanding their challenges, and develop strategies to overcome their needs. A school counselor must have excellent communication and decision-making skills, supporting students with their goals, and honing their skills efficiently.

Career center director vs school counselor salary

Career center directors and school counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Career Center DirectorSchool Counselor
Average salary$50,201$49,904
Salary rangeBetween $28,000 And $89,000Between $36,000 And $68,000
Highest paying City-San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state-California
Best paying company-The Gow School
Best paying industry-Education

Differences between career center director and school counselor education

There are a few differences between a career center director and a school counselor in terms of educational background:

Career Center DirectorSchool Counselor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 48%
Most common majorBusinessSchool Counseling
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Career center director vs school counselor demographics

Here are the differences between career center directors' and school counselors' demographics:

Career Center DirectorSchool Counselor
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 36.0% Female, 64.0%Male, 26.1% Female, 73.9%
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 school counselor 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.

School counselor example responsibilities.

  • Manage open houses, recruitment, and conduct interviews for GED student enrollment.
  • Travel to professional conferences and to visit colleges and universities across the country for professional development.
  • Attend educational meetings (IEP, IST, CCT, etc . )
  • Create and implement FBA's.
  • Complete CPR training and other necessary training classes.
  • Communicate with DCF in regards to students as needed
  • Show more

Career center director vs school counselor 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 school counselor skills
  • Mental Health, 10%
  • Community Resources, 8%
  • Crisis Intervention, 6%
  • Professional Development, 5%
  • Behavioral Issues, 4%
  • CPR, 4%

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