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The differences between career counselors and clinical counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a clinical counselor has an average salary of $54,191, 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 a clinical counselor are social work, patients, and foster care.
| Career Counselor | Clinical Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $44,870 | $54,191 |
| Hourly rate | $21.57 | $26.05 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 42,035 | 146,133 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Years of experience | - | 4 |
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.
A Clinical Counselor interviews clients to assess their mental health and behavioral problems. They examine issues such as substance abuse, depression, stress, aging and self-image.
Career counselors and clinical counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Career Counselor | Clinical Counselor | |
| Average salary | $44,870 | $54,191 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $60,000 | Between $43,000 And $67,000 |
| Highest paying City | Los Angeles, CA | Bethesda, MD |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Maryland |
| Best paying company | Columbia University in the City of New York | Novo Nordisk |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Professional |
There are a few differences between a career counselor and a clinical counselor in terms of educational background:
| Career Counselor | Clinical Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between career counselors' and clinical counselors' demographics:
| Career Counselor | Clinical Counselor | |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 42.4% Female, 57.6% | Male, 28.4% Female, 71.6% |
| 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, 11.3% Unknown, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 3.2% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 15% |