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Community worker vs community health counselor

The differences between community workers and community health 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 community worker and a community health counselor. Additionally, a community health counselor has an average salary of $43,304, which is higher than the $40,029 average annual salary of a community worker.

The top three skills for a community worker include social services, mental health and rehabilitation. The most important skills for a community health counselor are social work, behavioral health, and patients.

Community worker vs community health counselor overview

Community WorkerCommunity Health Counselor
Yearly salary$40,029$43,304
Hourly rate$19.24$20.82
Growth rate12%9%
Number of jobs46,201131,804
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 55%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Average age4341
Years of experience44

What does a community worker do?

Community workers are individuals who work with families or social communities to help promote or restore the social functioning of a community. These workers must promote social justice and maximizing human potential while advocating the rights of individuals and community groups. They must have the skills and flexibility to work with multiple client groups to assess and evaluate community projects and programs. Community workers must also work for non-profit organizations, government, and private sectors to provide human services.

What does a community health counselor do?

A community health counselor typically provides health and welfare support to the disadvantaged members of a community. Their responsibilities revolve around devising strategies to reach out to community members, coordinating with schools and other institutions, and building positive relationships with the communities that they serve. They may also provide counseling sessions to individuals of all ages, conduct observations and assessments, perform interventions, and identify any signs of abuse or neglect, reporting to the authorities right away. Furthermore, they may refer families or individuals to other social services unit if necessary.

Community worker vs community health counselor salary

Community workers and community health counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Community WorkerCommunity Health Counselor
Average salary$40,029$43,304
Salary rangeBetween $28,000 And $55,000Between $29,000 And $63,000
Highest paying CitySan Mateo, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyUniversity of Illinois SpringfieldApple
Best paying industryEducationHealth Care

Differences between community worker and community health counselor education

There are a few differences between a community worker and a community health counselor in terms of educational background:

Community WorkerCommunity Health Counselor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 55%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Most common majorPsychologyPsychology
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityCalifornia State University - Long Beach

Community worker vs community health counselor demographics

Here are the differences between community workers' and community health counselors' demographics:

Community WorkerCommunity Health Counselor
Average age4341
Gender ratioMale, 31.6% Female, 68.4%Male, 31.4% Female, 68.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.8% Unknown, 6.4% Hispanic or Latino, 22.9% Asian, 6.2% White, 54.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%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 Percentage21%15%

Differences between community worker and community health counselor duties and responsibilities

Community worker example responsibilities.

  • Prepare patients for abortion procedures; assist doctor and perform ultrasounds during procedures; support women physically and emotionally after abortions.
  • Examine injured persons and administer first aid or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, if necessary, using training and medical supplies and equipment.

Community health counselor example responsibilities.

  • Provide group and individual therapy along with social service coordination for patients in short term stabilization psychiatric unit.
  • Train in medication administration, therapeutic holds and CPR.
  • Maintain cleanliness of home provide assistance with cleaning rooms and common areas.
  • Train in MNT, TCI, first aide and CPR with several other essential trainings.
  • Complete insurance verification information for Medicaid participants.
  • Maintain caseload paperwork in accordance with Georgia Medicaid requirements.
  • Show more

Community worker vs community health counselor skills

Common community worker skills
  • Social Services, 12%
  • Mental Health, 8%
  • Rehabilitation, 7%
  • Financial Eligibility, 6%
  • Community Resources, 6%
  • Local Community, 5%
Common community health counselor skills
  • Social Work, 19%
  • Behavioral Health, 17%
  • Patients, 17%
  • Crisis Intervention, 7%
  • Rehabilitation, 4%
  • Discharge Planning, 3%

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