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The differences between college counselors and school social workers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a school social worker has an average salary of $54,856, 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 social worker are social work, social emotional, and IEP.
| College Counselor | School Social Worker | |
| Yearly salary | $45,991 | $54,856 |
| Hourly rate | $22.11 | $26.37 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 31,187 | 122,376 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Master's Degree, 51% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | - | 4 |
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 social worker specializes in counseling students, families, and faculty members. They are responsible for coordinating with the school to develop programs that prioritize the students' emotional and psychological well-being, respond to any issues and concerns, build rapport to identify their needs, and communicate with support services to provide necessary assistance to any students or families. There are also instances when a school social worker must assist teachers in handling students with behavioral issues, investigating the underlying reasons. Moreover, it is crucial to identify any signs of neglect or abuse, conducting interventive measures right away.
College counselors and school social workers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| College Counselor | School Social Worker | |
| Average salary | $45,991 | $54,856 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $62,000 | Between $40,000 And $73,000 |
| Highest paying City | Oakland, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | California College of the Arts | Boston Public Schools |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Education |
There are a few differences between a college counselor and a school social worker in terms of educational background:
| College Counselor | School Social Worker | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Master's Degree, 51% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Social Work |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Boston College |
Here are the differences between college counselors' and school social workers' demographics:
| College Counselor | School Social Worker | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 31.9% Female, 68.1% | Male, 17.5% Female, 82.5% |
| 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, 13.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 2.7% White, 63.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 10% |