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The differences between counselor interns and residential 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 counselor internship and a residential counselor. Additionally, a counselor internship has an average salary of $45,500, which is higher than the $34,117 average annual salary of a residential counselor.
The top three skills for a counselor internship include crisis intervention, intake assessments and substance abuse issues. The most important skills for a residential counselor are direct care, medication administration, and mental health.
| Counselor Internship | Residential Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $45,500 | $34,117 |
| Hourly rate | $21.88 | $16.40 |
| Growth rate | 14% | 12% |
| Number of jobs | 132,694 | 81,287 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
When it comes to Counselor Internship, among the primary responsibilities is to assist in dealing with various activities such as preparing and verifying necessary documentation, observing consultations and outreach programs, guide clients and help develop multiple helpful strategies, and provide assessments. Furthermore, one can conduct counseling and consultation only under supervision. It is also essential to track the information gathered and coordinate with assigned personnel to adhere to the company's regulations and policies.
A residential counselor is responsible for guiding and providing the residents with their basic needs and other resources to support them in their daily living. Residential counselors' duties include maintaining the safety of the community by enforcing safety guidelines and procedures for the residents' compliance, organizing productive and engaging community activities, updating the residents of any changes and policies in the community, and resolving conflicts by counseling and understanding each resident's differences. A residential counselor must have excellent communication and decision-making skills to ensure the development of residents in a living facility.
Counselor interns and residential counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Counselor Internship | Residential Counselor | |
| Average salary | $45,500 | $34,117 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $65,000 | Between $27,000 And $42,000 |
| Highest paying City | Chicago, IL | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Washington |
| Best paying company | The Travelers Companies | The Evergreens |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Education |
There are a few differences between a counselor internship and a residential counselor in terms of educational background:
| Counselor Internship | Residential Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between counselor interns' and residential counselors' demographics:
| Counselor Internship | Residential Counselor | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 23.8% Female, 76.2% | Male, 33.0% Female, 67.0% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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 Percentage | 15% | 15% |