Post job

Children's counselor vs residential counselor

The differences between children's counselors and residential 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 residential counselor. Additionally, a children's counselor has an average salary of $38,024, which is higher than the $34,117 average annual salary of a residential counselor.

The top three skills for a children's counselor include child care, social work and mental health. The most important skills for a residential counselor are direct care, medication administration, and mental health.

Children's counselor vs residential counselor overview

Children's CounselorResidential Counselor
Yearly salary$38,024$34,117
Hourly rate$18.28$16.40
Growth rate9%12%
Number of jobs39,72681,287
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Average age4241
Years of experience44

Children's counselor vs residential counselor salary

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

Children's CounselorResidential Counselor
Average salary$38,024$34,117
Salary rangeBetween $21,000 And $66,000Between $27,000 And $42,000
Highest paying CityTorrance, CASeattle, WA
Highest paying stateNew JerseyWashington
Best paying companyLake CountyThe Evergreens
Best paying industryGovernmentEducation

Differences between children's counselor and residential counselor education

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

Children's CounselorResidential Counselor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Most common majorPsychologyPsychology
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaCalifornia State University - Long Beach

Children's counselor vs residential counselor demographics

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

Children's CounselorResidential Counselor
Average age4241
Gender ratioMale, 34.1% Female, 65.9%Male, 33.0% Female, 67.0%
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 residential 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.

Residential counselor example responsibilities.

  • Lead recreational activities for adolescents with ADHD and other behavior disorders.
  • Engage, educate and empower participants to access community base resources in order to achieve greater self-determination, rehabilitation and recovery.
  • Train in AMAP, SCIP, and first aid procedures.
  • Assist residents with ADL, occasionally accompany to medical appointments, administer medications.
  • Refine an understanding of HIPAA and DMH programs.
  • Assist special needs students to reach their IEP and treatment plan goals in 1:1 and group settings.
  • Show more

Children's counselor vs residential 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 residential counselor skills
  • Direct Care, 9%
  • Medication Administration, 9%
  • Mental Health, 8%
  • Social Work, 7%
  • Developmental Disabilities, 6%
  • Mental Illness, 6%

Browse community and social services jobs