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The differences between college counselors and school counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a school counselor has an average salary of $49,904, 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 school counselor are mental health, community resources, and crisis intervention.
| College Counselor | School Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $45,991 | $49,904 |
| Hourly rate | $22.11 | $23.99 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 31,187 | 91,275 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| 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.
A school counselor is responsible for monitoring the students' social and personal development, advising them of their career aspirations, and assisting them with their academic achievements and goals. School counselors also ensure that the students receive the highest learning standards to pave their way towards society's advancement and global competitiveness. They evaluate students' behavior through personal counseling, understanding their challenges, and develop strategies to overcome their needs. A school counselor must have excellent communication and decision-making skills, supporting students with their goals, and honing their skills efficiently.
College counselors and school counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| College Counselor | School Counselor | |
| Average salary | $45,991 | $49,904 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $62,000 | Between $36,000 And $68,000 |
| Highest paying City | Oakland, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | California College of the Arts | The Gow School |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Education |
There are a few differences between a college counselor and a school counselor in terms of educational background:
| College Counselor | School Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Most common major | Psychology | School Counseling |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between college counselors' and school counselors' demographics:
| College Counselor | School Counselor | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 31.9% Female, 68.1% | Male, 26.1% Female, 73.9% |
| 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% |