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The differences between career counselors and academic counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an academic counselor has an average salary of $47,454, which is higher than the $44,870 average annual salary of a career counselor.
The top three skills for a career counselor include career development, career services and professional development. The most important skills for an academic counselor are financial aid, academic support, and student services.
| Career Counselor | Academic Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $44,870 | $47,454 |
| Hourly rate | $21.57 | $22.81 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 42,035 | 39,084 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A career counselor specializes in assisting clients in their career-related decisions. Utilizing their expertise in career development, they typically meet with clients to discuss their short-term and long-term goals, identify their needs and concerns, conduct different aptitude tests and examinations, organize skills assessment procedures, and provide strategies to improve or enhance their skills and abilities. Aside from providing consultations, a career counselor may also assist clients in processing and establishing their resumes, supporting them every step of the way.
In high schools and universities, an academic counselor specializes in providing counseling and consultations to students, focusing on their educational and career growth. They typically meet with students to discuss their short and long term goals and help by providing them with insights and information or referring them to other services and resources. Moreover, an academic counselor must assist students by addressing their issues and concerns, giving them emotional support and academic advice, and helping them navigate through various procedures.
Career counselors and academic counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Career Counselor | Academic Counselor | |
| Average salary | $44,870 | $47,454 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $60,000 | Between $35,000 And $63,000 |
| Highest paying City | Los Angeles, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Virginia |
| Best paying company | Columbia University in the City of New York | California College of the Arts |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Non Profits |
There are a few differences between a career counselor and an academic counselor in terms of educational background:
| Career Counselor | Academic Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between career counselors' and academic counselors' demographics:
| Career Counselor | Academic Counselor | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 42.4% Female, 57.6% | Male, 35.4% Female, 64.6% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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 Percentage | 11% | 11% |