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The differences between career counselors and peer counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a career counselor has an average salary of $44,870, which is higher than the $37,464 average annual salary of a peer counselor.
The top three skills for a career counselor include career development, career services and professional development. The most important skills for a peer counselor are peer support, substance abuse, and wic program.
| Career Counselor | Peer Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $44,870 | $37,464 |
| Hourly rate | $21.57 | $18.01 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 42,035 | 76,608 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| 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.
Typically working at schools, communities, or medical facilities, a peer counselor specializes in providing counseling to an individual or group of people, aiming to help them deal with and overcome crises. Their duties often include conducting initial assessments through interviews and appointments, listening to clients and offering advice, recommending opportunities, referring them to other support agencies, and coordinating treatment services as needed. Above all, a peer counselor must provide emotional support and guidance to clients, giving them comfort and a shoulder to lean on.
Career counselors and peer counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Career Counselor | Peer Counselor | |
| Average salary | $44,870 | $37,464 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $60,000 | Between $24,000 And $57,000 |
| Highest paying City | Los Angeles, CA | Hayward, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | California |
| Best paying company | Columbia University in the City of New York | The Brooklyn Hospital Center |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Education |
There are a few differences between a career counselor and a peer counselor in terms of educational background:
| Career Counselor | Peer Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between career counselors' and peer counselors' demographics:
| Career Counselor | Peer Counselor | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 42.4% Female, 57.6% | Male, 33.0% Female, 67.0% |
| 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% |