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Career coach vs mentor

The differences between career coaches and mentors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a career coach has an average salary of $41,858, which is higher than the $35,581 average annual salary of a mentor.

The top three skills for a career coach include career development, professional development and career services. The most important skills for a mentor are role model, mathematics, and mental health.

Career coach vs mentor overview

Career CoachMentor
Yearly salary$41,858$35,581
Hourly rate$20.12$17.11
Growth rate10%12%
Number of jobs42,6223,625
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 a mentor do?

Mentors are individuals who are usually experienced or considered experts in their field. They provide guidance and inspiration to the people they mentor, often called mentees. Mentors give advice whenever their mentees need them, usually on topics related to their career or studies. They may help their mentees with career concerns by helping them map out a career plan, coaching them to prepare them for interviews, and providing insights on the industry or field they are in. Mentors also help train their mentees in their jobs by providing feedback and guiding them so that they may improve.

Career coach vs mentor salary

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

Career CoachMentor
Average salary$41,858$35,581
Salary rangeBetween $30,000 And $57,000Between $20,000 And $62,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCReston, VA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaVirginia
Best paying companyHartwick CollegeEli Lilly and Company
Best paying industryUtilitiesEducation

Differences between career coach and mentor education

There are a few differences between a career coach and a mentor in terms of educational background:

Career CoachMentor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Most common majorBusinessPsychology
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaNorthwestern University

Career coach vs mentor demographics

Here are the differences between career coaches' and mentors' demographics:

Career CoachMentor
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 29.5% Female, 70.5%Male, 41.4% Female, 58.6%
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, 10.7% Unknown, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.4% Asian, 9.6% White, 56.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage11%11%

Differences between career coach and mentor 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.
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Mentor example responsibilities.

  • Ensure community youth receive timely access to CBHI services by managing waitlist per MCE requirements.
  • Provide academic support services for elementary students requesting assistance in math
  • Help develop IEP goals and objectives.
  • Assist new students with Javascript concepts and frameworks.
  • Tutor student athletes in economics courses of various levels.
  • Calculate GPA's to help students matriculate in program curriculum.
  • Show more

Career coach vs mentor skills

Common career coach skills
  • Career Development, 10%
  • Professional Development, 8%
  • Career Services, 6%
  • Career Exploration, 5%
  • Social Work, 5%
  • Community Resources, 4%
Common mentor skills
  • Role Model, 11%
  • Mathematics, 9%
  • Mental Health, 8%
  • CPR, 7%
  • Developmental Disabilities, 6%
  • Community Resources, 6%

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