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The differences between college counselors and student support counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a college counselor has an average salary of $45,991, which is higher than the $41,329 average annual salary of a student support counselor.
The top three skills for a college counselor include colleges, social work and professional development. The most important skills for a student support counselor are student support, mental health, and crisis intervention.
| College Counselor | Student Support Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $45,991 | $41,329 |
| Hourly rate | $22.11 | $19.87 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 31,187 | 134,839 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| 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 student support counselor is responsible for identifying the students' strengths and challenges through one-on-one counseling and establishing solutions to help them overcome difficulties and achieve their educational goals and aspirations. Student support counselors assist the faculty in determining appropriate programs and activities to develop the students' capabilities, especially as a way of preparing them with their career objectives. They also coordinate with the students' families for extended guidance and support for their growth and development.
College counselors and student support counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| College Counselor | Student Support Counselor | |
| Average salary | $45,991 | $41,329 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $62,000 | Between $29,000 And $57,000 |
| Highest paying City | Oakland, CA | Teaneck, NJ |
| Highest paying state | California | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | California College of the Arts | Mercy College |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Education |
There are a few differences between a college counselor and a student support counselor in terms of educational background:
| College Counselor | Student Support Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between college counselors' and student support counselors' demographics:
| College Counselor | Student Support Counselor | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 31.9% Female, 68.1% | Male, 34.3% Female, 65.7% |
| 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% |