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Career center director vs student advisor

The differences between career center directors and student advisors 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 $41,418 average annual salary of a student advisor.

The top three skills for a career center director include customer service, support services and professional development. The most important skills for a student advisor are customer service, student services, and international student.

Career center director vs student advisor overview

Career Center DirectorStudent Advisor
Yearly salary$50,201$41,418
Hourly rate$24.14$19.91
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs33,94756,492
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
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 student advisor do?

A student advisor is responsible for supporting the students' personal growth and development by guiding them on their learning processes and educational goals. Student advisors provide regular counseling for the students to analyze their career aspirations, identify their strengths and weaknesses, and strategize learning plans to address those difficulties. They also coordinate with the students' parents and guardians to report the students' progress and determine appropriate scholastic solutions. A student advisor must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially when handling students' different needs and concerns.

Career center director vs student advisor salary

Career center directors and student advisors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Career Center DirectorStudent Advisor
Average salary$50,201$41,418
Salary rangeBetween $28,000 And $89,000Between $31,000 And $53,000
Highest paying City-Washington, DC
Highest paying state-Connecticut
Best paying company-The American Musical and Dramatic Academy
Best paying industry-Education

Differences between career center director and student advisor education

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

Career Center DirectorStudent Advisor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Career center director vs student advisor demographics

Here are the differences between career center directors' and student advisors' demographics:

Career Center DirectorStudent Advisor
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 36.0% Female, 64.0%Male, 38.2% Female, 61.8%
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 student advisor 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.

Student advisor example responsibilities.

  • Plan events, manage email and marketing advertisements via Facebook, answer phone calls.
  • Lead efforts facilitate recruitment and educational benefits for new and current student veterans at VCU.
  • Manage UAFS's F-1/J-1 student visa SEVIS compliance as DSO/ARO, ensuring all documentation is in order prior to students arriving.
  • Run training sessions and tutorials for students and faculty for the various services and programs offer by WestLaw.
  • Help veterans and/or their families with the G.I.
  • Specialize educator for students requiring RTI, IEP and gift services.
  • Show more

Career center director vs student advisor 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 student advisor skills
  • Customer Service, 16%
  • Student Services, 7%
  • International Student, 6%
  • Support Services, 5%
  • Financial Aid, 5%
  • Professional Development, 4%

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