Career counselor vs education counselor

The differences between career counselors and education counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an education counselor has an average salary of $45,465, 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 education counselor are mental health, crisis intervention, and financial aid.

Career counselor vs education counselor overview

	Career Counselor	Education Counselor
Yearly salary	$44,870	$45,465
Hourly rate	$21.57	$21.86
Growth rate	10%	10%
Number of jobs	42,035	40,323
Job satisfaction	5	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 60%	Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Average age	42	42
Years of experience	-	-

What does a career counselor do?

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.

What does an education counselor do?

The work of education counselors revolves around giving students advice about their course choice, career structuring, and supporting them in their school endeavors. They must have the empathy to help students adjust to their everyday struggles and personal conflicts. They often give students information about scholarship grants and help them apply. They organize seminars talking about alcohol consumption and smoking. Counselors also discuss strategies to improve school performance regarding overall counseling services.

Career counselor vs education counselor salary

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

	Career Counselor	Education Counselor
Average salary	$44,870	$45,465
Salary range	Between $33,000 And $60,000	Between $33,000 And $61,000
Highest paying City	Los Angeles, CA	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	New Jersey	California
Best paying company	Columbia University in the City of New York	Silicon Valley International School
Best paying industry	Technology	Education

Differences between career counselor and education counselor education

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

	Career Counselor	Education Counselor
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 60%	Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Most common major	Psychology	Psychology
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

Career counselor vs education counselor demographics

Here are the differences between career counselors' and education counselors' demographics:

	Career Counselor	Education Counselor
Average age	42	42
Gender ratio	Male, 42.4% Female, 57.6%	Male, 33.3% Female, 66.7%
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%

Differences between career counselor and education counselor duties and responsibilities

Career counselor example responsibilities.

Monitor and manage IEP forms and certifications to adhere to program requirements.
Interpret PSAT results with parents and students through education workshop.
Coordinate transitioning veterans with community hiring facilities in the areas of their desire location.
Provide information to individuals on matters pertaining to social security, veterans administration, and uniform service health benefits program.
Provide testing, including TABE, Proveit and Oscar.
Develop new intake orientation and TABE testing process for prospective participants.

Education counselor example responsibilities.

Provide consultation and in-service to teachers, administrators and parents regarding IEP's, guidance and counseling practices and programs.
Collaborate as member of IEP teams, with school and district representatives and families, to identify specific student needs areas.
Work towards empowering juveniles and their families to support a positive lifestyle by providing strength base intensive intervention and rehabilitation services.
Participate in special education meetings as administrator, coordinate state testing and assist with RTI identifications.
Facilitate RTI process on caseload through identification, implementation, and through monitoring progress for further referrals for at-risk students.
Ensure client safety and provide necessary intervention toward adolescent teens admit into an inpatient drug and mental health treatment facility.

Career counselor vs education counselor skills

Common career counselor skills

Career Development, 12%
Career Services, 7%
Professional Development, 6%
Career Planning, 5%
Mental Health, 5%
Career Exploration, 5%

Common education counselor skills

Mental Health, 11%
Crisis Intervention, 10%
Financial Aid, 6%
Behavioral Problems, 6%
Applied Behavior Analysis, 5%
Educational Programs, 5%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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