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The differences between college counselors and high school counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a high school counselor has an average salary of $48,361, which is higher than the $45,991 average annual salary of a college counselor.
The top three skills for a college counselor include colleges, social work and professional development. The most important skills for a high school counselor are mental health, financial aid, and community resources.
| College Counselor | High School Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $45,991 | $48,361 |
| Hourly rate | $22.11 | $23.25 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 31,187 | 93,675 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
It is the job of a college counselor to help students explore and find their careers. College counselors make students consider and organize their priorities for their experience in college. They assist students in researching the available options for a college degree. Their job is to ensure that all the necessary steps in student applications are complete. They even send letters of recommendation and transcripts to make sure that students land their own careers.
High school counselors are professional counselors who assist high school students in developing their academic and social skills as well as serve their social and emotional needs. These counselors are required to have one-on-one sessions with students who are experiencing personal problems. They are required to guide students with their college application process and other avenues such as apprenticeships or training programs. High school counselors must also educate students about issues such as drug abuse, bullying, or other significant problems the students are facing.
College counselors and high school counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| College Counselor | High School Counselor | |
| Average salary | $45,991 | $48,361 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $62,000 | Between $35,000 And $65,000 |
| Highest paying City | Oakland, CA | Santa Rosa, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | California College of the Arts | The American Musical and Dramatic Academy |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Professional |
There are a few differences between a college counselor and a high school counselor in terms of educational background:
| College Counselor | High School Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| Most common major | Psychology | School Counseling |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between college counselors' and high school counselors' demographics:
| College Counselor | High School Counselor | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 31.9% Female, 68.1% | Male, 31.7% Female, 68.3% |
| 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% |