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Career coach vs employment counselor

The differences between career coaches and employment counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an employment counselor has an average salary of $43,848, which is higher than the $41,858 average annual salary of a career coach.

The top three skills for a career coach include career development, professional development and career services. The most important skills for an employment counselor are litigation, employment law, and HR.

Career coach vs employment counselor overview

Career CoachEmployment Counselor
Yearly salary$41,858$43,848
Hourly rate$20.12$21.08
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs42,62229,459
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Average age4242
Years of experience--

What does a career coach do?

A career coach is responsible for helping a person reach their career goals and development by identifying their strengths, weaknesses, and aspirations. Career coaches conduct one-on-one counseling with their clients to share career advice and support them for the professional path. They also build self-confidence in their clients and help them improve their relationship with other people. A career coach must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in mentoring their clients and managing career services according to their clients' needs.

What does an employment counselor do?

The employment counselor is someone who guides and advises people on how to choose, manage and continue in a career path they've chosen. The employment counselor educates people on each career's pros and cons, giving them insights into what to expect, salary rates, and employment chances in a particular profession. The employment counselor will also show how to excel in a specific career, offer ideas on what training or seminar to attend and what skills to enhance to achieve an edge over others.

Career coach vs employment counselor salary

Career coaches and employment counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Career CoachEmployment Counselor
Average salary$41,858$43,848
Salary rangeBetween $30,000 And $57,000Between $26,000 And $71,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCSan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyHartwick CollegeApple
Best paying industryUtilitiesProfessional

Differences between career coach and employment counselor education

There are a few differences between a career coach and an employment counselor in terms of educational background:

Career CoachEmployment Counselor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Most common majorBusinessPsychology
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Career coach vs employment counselor demographics

Here are the differences between career coaches' and employment counselors' demographics:

Career CoachEmployment Counselor
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 29.5% Female, 70.5%Male, 37.1% Female, 62.9%
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 coach and employment counselor duties and responsibilities

Career coach example responsibilities.

  • Offer EEO training to members at various sites.
  • Schedule clients for work readiness training base on their IEP.
  • Create and update PowerPoint presentations and trainers' notes to reflect current curriculum.
  • Develop and implement a successful process to streamline the intake and orientation for the WIA customers.
  • Plan events, such as college visits, alumni relations efforts, panel discussions, and college/career fairs
  • Conduct vocational rehabilitation assessments and create action steps and goals cater to the client in finding stable employment.
  • Show more

Employment counselor example responsibilities.

  • Complete reports, manage client files and process WIA billing invoices for tuition and supplies.
  • Manage a caseload of Calworks participants in working towards the goal of self-sufficiency and employment.
  • Monitor caseworkers to ensure rehabilitation services are properly coordinate to aid clients in achieving self-sufficiency.
  • Source, develop, and implement HRIS systems.
  • Provide case management to TANF recipients that move clients to employment.
  • Document in accordance with JCAHO, Medicaid, and all quality improvement standards.
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Career coach vs employment counselor skills

Common career coach skills
  • Career Development, 10%
  • Professional Development, 8%
  • Career Services, 6%
  • Career Exploration, 5%
  • Social Work, 5%
  • Community Resources, 4%
Common employment counselor skills
  • Litigation, 16%
  • Employment Law, 14%
  • HR, 10%
  • Employment Litigation, 6%
  • FLSA, 5%
  • Training Programs, 4%

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