Corrections counselor vs guidance counselor

The differences between corrections counselors and guidance 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 $48,154 average annual salary of a guidance counselor.

The top three skills for a corrections counselor include mental health, substance abuse and social work. The most important skills for a guidance counselor are crisis intervention, community resources, and mental health.

Corrections counselor vs guidance counselor overview

	Corrections Counselor	Guidance Counselor
Yearly salary	$48,875	$48,154
Hourly rate	$23.50	$23.15
Growth rate	10%	10%
Number of jobs	77,132	75,740
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 61%	Bachelor's Degree, 51%
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 a guidance counselor do?

The primary role of a Guidance Counselor is to help students develop skills for success, both in academics and social development. They also develop and implement educational and counseling plans with modern methods of teaching and mentoring.

Corrections counselor vs guidance counselor salary

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

	Corrections Counselor	Guidance Counselor
Average salary	$48,875	$48,154
Salary range	Between $35,000 And $66,000	Between $36,000 And $64,000
Highest paying City	Santa Rosa, CA	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	California	California
Best paying company	Maxim Healthcare Group	Poly Prep Country Day School
Best paying industry	Government	Education

Differences between corrections counselor and guidance counselor education

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

	Corrections Counselor	Guidance Counselor
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 61%	Bachelor's Degree, 51%
Most common major	Criminal Justice	School Counseling
Most common college	California State University - Long Beach	University of Pennsylvania

Corrections counselor vs guidance counselor demographics

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

	Corrections Counselor	Guidance Counselor
Average age	42	42
Gender ratio	Male, 49.3% Female, 50.7%	Male, 31.3% Female, 68.7%
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%

Differences between corrections counselor and guidance 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.

Guidance counselor example responsibilities.

Utilize Salesforce to manage advertising programs for business owners.
Administer TACHS, PSAT, and other statewide examinations.
Provide individual counseling to students upon their request, SST referrals, or that of a teacher.
Utilize RTI for curriculum design and to identify students in need of extra academic & behavioral support.
Contribute to IEP manifestation meetings with students-parents-teachers.
Complete student educational assessments for upcoming IEP meetings.

Corrections counselor vs guidance counselor skills

Common corrections counselor skills

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

Common guidance counselor skills

Crisis Intervention, 10%
Community Resources, 5%
Mental Health, 5%
Professional Development, 4%
Financial Aid, 4%
Conflict Resolution, 4%

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Corrections Counselor
Corrections Counselor vs Guidance Counselor

Updated January 8, 2025

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