Corrections counselor vs employment counselor

The differences between corrections counselors and employment counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a corrections counselor has an average salary of $48,875, which is higher than the $43,848 average annual salary of an employment counselor.

The top three skills for a corrections counselor include mental health, substance abuse and social work. The most important skills for an employment counselor are litigation, employment law, and HR.

Corrections counselor vs employment counselor overview

	Corrections Counselor	Employment Counselor
Yearly salary	$48,875	$43,848
Hourly rate	$23.50	$21.08
Growth rate	10%	10%
Number of jobs	77,132	29,459
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 61%	Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Average age	42	42
Years of experience	-	-

What does a corrections counselor do?

A corrections counselor develops and implements rehabilitation plans for parolees and inmates. They work directly with criminal offenders to facilitate individual or group counseling sessions to identify the reasons for their behavior, help them work through their issues, give the necessary interventions, and determine whether they can be released back into society. Besides monitoring the progress of the inmates, a corrections counselor may also help parolees and offenders prepare for their release to prevent them from going back to the life of crime. Additionally, a corrections counselor keeps records of all inmates and regularly reports to senior staff.

What does an employment counselor do?

The employment counselor is someone who guides and advises people on how to choose, manage and continue in a career path they've chosen. The employment counselor educates people on each career's pros and cons, giving them insights into what to expect, salary rates, and employment chances in a particular profession. The employment counselor will also show how to excel in a specific career, offer ideas on what training or seminar to attend and what skills to enhance to achieve an edge over others.

Corrections counselor vs employment counselor salary

Corrections counselors and employment counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Corrections Counselor	Employment Counselor
Average salary	$48,875	$43,848
Salary range	Between $35,000 And $66,000	Between $26,000 And $71,000
Highest paying City	Santa Rosa, CA	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	California	California
Best paying company	Maxim Healthcare Group	Apple
Best paying industry	Government	Professional

Differences between corrections counselor and employment counselor education

There are a few differences between a corrections counselor and an employment counselor in terms of educational background:

	Corrections Counselor	Employment Counselor
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 61%	Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Most common major	Criminal Justice	Psychology
Most common college	California State University - Long Beach	University of Pennsylvania

Corrections counselor vs employment counselor demographics

Here are the differences between corrections counselors' and employment counselors' demographics:

	Corrections Counselor	Employment Counselor
Average age	42	42
Gender ratio	Male, 49.3% Female, 50.7%	Male, 37.1% Female, 62.9%
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%

Differences between corrections counselor and employment counselor duties and responsibilities

Corrections counselor example responsibilities.

Train in pepper spray, handcuffs, and CPR.
Provide first aid and or CPR as needed.
Administer risk/needs assessment to offenders using motivational interviewing techniques.
Utilize and demonstrate proficiency in risk reduction skills including motivational interviewing and cognitive strategies.
Develop re-entry plans for offenders within establish time frames and in accordance with departmental procedures.
Assist inmates with selecting educational and job training programs to enhance their opportunity for rehabilitation and future employment.

Employment counselor example responsibilities.

Complete reports, manage client files and process WIA billing invoices for tuition and supplies.
Manage a caseload of Calworks participants in working towards the goal of self-sufficiency and employment.
Monitor caseworkers to ensure rehabilitation services are properly coordinate to aid clients in achieving self-sufficiency.
Source, develop, and implement HRIS systems.
Provide case management to TANF recipients that move clients to employment.
Document in accordance with JCAHO, Medicaid, and all quality improvement standards.

Corrections counselor vs employment counselor skills

Common corrections counselor skills

Mental Health, 16%
Substance Abuse, 16%
Social Work, 10%
Crisis Intervention, 6%
Rehabilitation, 6%
Criminal Justice, 6%

Common employment counselor skills

Litigation, 16%
Employment Law, 14%
HR, 10%
Employment Litigation, 6%
FLSA, 5%
Training Programs, 4%

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Corrections Counselor
Corrections Counselor vs Employment Counselor

Updated January 8, 2025

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