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Counseling specialist vs job coach

The differences between counseling specialists and job coaches can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a counseling specialist has an average salary of $44,061, which is higher than the $37,372 average annual salary of a job coach.

The top three skills for a counseling specialist include social work, mental health and crisis intervention. The most important skills for a job coach are developmental disabilities, CPR, and rehabilitation.

Counseling specialist vs job coach overview

Counseling SpecialistJob Coach
Yearly salary$44,061$37,372
Hourly rate$21.18$17.97
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs64,40449,874
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 62%Bachelor's Degree, 50%
Average age4242
Years of experience--

What does a counseling specialist do?

A counseling specialist guides groups, families, or individuals dealing with mental well-being or mental health issues. These professionals approach their duties holistically by implementing a 'wellness' model that identifies and promotes the client's strengths. Besides developing therapeutic processes and encouraging clients to share their experiences and emotions, counseling specialists also refer the clients to professional psychologists and more services. They work with families and examine aging, relationships, suicide, stress, depression, self-image, careers, bullying, substance abuse, anger management, and LGBTQ issues.

What does a job coach do?

A job coach is responsible for evaluating people's skills and qualifications, advising them with career paths, helping with their aspirations, and promote employment opportunities. Job coaches help the clients build self-confidence and explore their maximum potentials to develop their professional growth. They provide counseling, understanding the clients' strengths and weaknesses, analyzing clients' personal goals, and guiding clients through job interviews and assessments. A job coach must have excellent communication, listening, and analytical skills to handle their clients' challenges and match their interests for the best career suited for them.

Counseling specialist vs job coach salary

Counseling specialists and job coaches have different pay scales, as shown below.

Counseling SpecialistJob Coach
Average salary$44,061$37,372
Salary rangeBetween $32,000 And $59,000Between $31,000 And $44,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CA-
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyChicago Public Schools-
Best paying industryFinanceEducation

Differences between counseling specialist and job coach education

There are a few differences between a counseling specialist and a job coach in terms of educational background:

Counseling SpecialistJob Coach
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 62%Bachelor's Degree, 50%
Most common majorPsychologyPsychology
Most common collegeBoston UniversityUniversity of Pennsylvania

Counseling specialist vs job coach demographics

Here are the differences between counseling specialists' and job coaches' demographics:

Counseling SpecialistJob Coach
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 36.6% Female, 63.4%Male, 35.3% Female, 64.7%
Race ratioBlack 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 Percentage11%11%

Differences between counseling specialist and job coach duties and responsibilities

Counseling specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage assignments of paying medical bills limit in depth that include organizing and researching regulations as pertain to veterans eligibility.
  • Follow member verification process, ensuring member's HIPAA rights.
  • Provide HIV pre- and post-test counseling, and conduct confidential HIV testing using rapid OraQuick.
  • Coordinate housing efforts with HUD also, verify yearly rental and income checks with social security.
  • Identify and recruit students, assess academic, motivational, and social needs, and develop individual work plans.
  • Develop social histories and rehabilitation treatment plans.
  • Show more

Job coach example responsibilities.

  • Perform additional responsibilities as deemed appropriate by school and district supervisors such as organizing and managing elementary school mathematics information nights.
  • Educate teens with autism and intellectual disabilities on workplace skills such as communication, problem solving, developing independence
  • Train and certify in CPR.
  • Train and assist teachers on how to incorporate program into GED prep classes.
  • Enroll clients in GED; ESOL; and/ or other job-readiness instruction and support programs.
  • Provide daily supervision, support, transport and medicine to the participants during work sites and community outings, CPR certify
  • Show more

Counseling specialist vs job coach skills

Common counseling specialist skills
  • Social Work, 25%
  • Mental Health, 20%
  • Crisis Intervention, 10%
  • HIPAA, 7%
  • Substance Abuse, 7%
  • Community Resources, 6%
Common job coach skills
  • Developmental Disabilities, 13%
  • CPR, 11%
  • Rehabilitation, 8%
  • Customer Service, 7%
  • Mental Health, 5%
  • Direct Supervision, 4%

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