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Children's counselor vs program counselor

The differences between children's counselors and program counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a children's counselor and a program counselor. Additionally, a program counselor has an average salary of $43,820, which is higher than the $38,024 average annual salary of a children's counselor.

The top three skills for a children's counselor include child care, social work and mental health. The most important skills for a program counselor are developmental disabilities, patients, and community integration.

Children's counselor vs program counselor overview

Children's CounselorProgram Counselor
Yearly salary$38,024$43,820
Hourly rate$18.28$21.07
Growth rate9%10%
Number of jobs39,726133,491
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Average age4241
Years of experience44

Children's counselor vs program counselor salary

Children's counselors and program counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Children's CounselorProgram Counselor
Average salary$38,024$43,820
Salary rangeBetween $21,000 And $66,000Between $33,000 And $58,000
Highest paying CityTorrance, CANew York, NY
Highest paying stateNew JerseyNew York
Best paying companyLake CountyRussell Sage College
Best paying industryGovernmentHealth Care

Differences between children's counselor and program counselor education

There are a few differences between a children's counselor and a program counselor in terms of educational background:

Children's CounselorProgram Counselor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Most common majorPsychologyPsychology
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaCalifornia State University - Long Beach

Children's counselor vs program counselor demographics

Here are the differences between children's counselors' and program counselors' demographics:

Children's CounselorProgram Counselor
Average age4241
Gender ratioMale, 34.1% Female, 65.9%Male, 35.9% Female, 64.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 13.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 2.7% White, 63.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5%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 Percentage10%15%

Differences between children's counselor and program counselor duties and responsibilities

Children's counselor example responsibilities.

  • Work towards empowering juveniles and their families to support a positive lifestyle by providing strength base intensive intervention and rehabilitation services.
  • Develop and attend treatment plan and IEP meetings for adolescents with mental diagnosis.
  • Maintain IEP goals and classroom management.
  • Provide behavior modification and social skills training to children and adolescents with ADHD and other behavioral and emotional disorders.

Program counselor example responsibilities.

  • Lead recreational activities for adolescents with ADHD and other behavior disorders.
  • Provide education, within hospital setting, to adolescent psychiatric patients regarding substance abuse and dependency issues.
  • Receive CPR and first aid certifications.
  • Attend and receive CPR and basic restraint technique certifications.
  • Assist each client with compassion to encourage them on their journey to recovery.
  • Encourage and mentore residents during their recovery and rehabilitation process.
  • Show more

Children's counselor vs program counselor skills

Common children's counselor skills
  • Child Care, 22%
  • Social Work, 12%
  • Mental Health, 10%
  • Crisis Intervention, 8%
  • Group Therapy, 7%
  • Family Therapy, 4%
Common program counselor skills
  • Developmental Disabilities, 11%
  • Patients, 11%
  • Community Integration, 9%
  • CPR, 8%
  • Social Work, 8%
  • Medication Administration, 7%

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