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Career services advisor vs peer counselor

The differences between career services advisors and peer counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a career services advisor has an average salary of $45,563, which is higher than the $37,464 average annual salary of a peer counselor.

The top three skills for a career services advisor include career services, alumni and customer service. The most important skills for a peer counselor are peer support, substance abuse, and wic program.

Career services advisor vs peer counselor overview

Career Services AdvisorPeer Counselor
Yearly salary$45,563$37,464
Hourly rate$21.91$18.01
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs92,10876,608
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 62%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Average age4242
Years of experience--

What does a career services advisor do?

The job of a career services advisor is to work with groups and individuals in determining skills and strengthen recruitment potential. Career services advisors maintain web and print resources for employers and students. They administer the career evaluations of individuals, and teach them about resume writing and interviewing for jobs. They make a resolution for issues associated with employment. Their job involves developing and managing parent volunteer groups implementing an assessment process for feedback from students and speakers.

What does a peer counselor do?

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 services advisor vs peer counselor salary

Career services advisors and peer counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Career Services AdvisorPeer Counselor
Average salary$45,563$37,464
Salary rangeBetween $29,000 And $69,000Between $24,000 And $57,000
Highest paying CitySan Jose, CAHayward, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyNorthern TrustThe Brooklyn Hospital Center
Best paying industryEducationEducation

Differences between career services advisor and peer counselor education

There are a few differences between a career services advisor and a peer counselor in terms of educational background:

Career Services AdvisorPeer Counselor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 62%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Most common majorBusinessPsychology
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Career services advisor vs peer counselor demographics

Here are the differences between career services advisors' and peer counselors' demographics:

Career Services AdvisorPeer Counselor
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 27.9% Female, 72.1%Male, 33.0% Female, 67.0%
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, 10.6% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 3.7% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage11%11%

Differences between career services advisor and peer counselor duties and responsibilities

Career services advisor example responsibilities.

  • Assist graduating students and alumni in securing employment by developing industry relationships, communicating opportunities and providing guidance and resources.
  • Pursue employers for job opportunities on behalf of current students and alumni by conducting corporate development regularly and attending corporate visits.
  • Work with individuals and organizations to provide leadership development coaching and career counseling.
  • Exceed expectation of both program participants and company leadership when facilitating workshops and seminars.

Peer counselor example responsibilities.

  • Conduct group check-in and co-lead group psychotherapy sessions to help clients identify and manage problems associate with psychiatric conditions.
  • Refer clients (as needed) to inpatient or outpatient substance abuse rehabilitation programs and assist them in qualifying for services.
  • Formulate and edit nutrition education materials and monthly newsletters for WIC participants.
  • Counsele and enroll people in ACA and ABE.
  • Work with multiple groups of undergraduate students to improve GPA's.
  • Present information via PowerPoint and hand-outs to students on the dangers of poor credit decisions.
  • Show more

Career services advisor vs peer counselor skills

Common career services advisor skills
  • Career Services, 17%
  • Alumni, 11%
  • Customer Service, 11%
  • Professional Development, 8%
  • Data Entry, 5%
  • Career Fairs, 5%
Common peer counselor skills
  • Peer Support, 14%
  • Substance Abuse, 9%
  • WIC Program, 9%
  • Crisis Intervention, 7%
  • Community Resources, 6%
  • Mental Illness, 6%

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