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The differences between counselor interns and service counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a counselor internship, becoming a service counselor takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a counselor internship has an average salary of $45,500, which is higher than the $35,402 average annual salary of a service counselor.
The top three skills for a counselor internship include crisis intervention, intake assessments and substance abuse issues. The most important skills for a service counselor are social work, crisis intervention, and patients.
| Counselor Internship | Service Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $45,500 | $35,402 |
| Hourly rate | $21.88 | $17.02 |
| Growth rate | 14% | 12% |
| Number of jobs | 132,694 | 44,284 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 41 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 12 |
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.
Service counselors provide guidance to couples, individuals, groups, and families who are going through issues that influence their well-being and mental health. They comprehensively approach their clients by utilizing a "wellness" model that focuses on and motivate the client's potentials. Their duties include inspiring clients to talk about their emotions and experiences, helping them determine their action plans and goals, as well as designing therapeutic methods. Also, they may refer their clients to other services or psychologists.
Counselor interns and service counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Counselor Internship | Service Counselor | |
| Average salary | $45,500 | $35,402 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $65,000 | Between $24,000 And $51,000 |
| Highest paying City | Chicago, IL | Urban Honolulu, HI |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | The Travelers Companies | |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Education |
There are a few differences between a counselor internship and a service counselor in terms of educational background:
| Counselor Internship | Service 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 | SUNY at Binghamton |
Here are the differences between counselor interns' and service counselors' demographics:
| Counselor Internship | Service Counselor | |
| Average age | 41 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 23.8% Female, 76.2% | Male, 33.3% Female, 66.7% |
| 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, 12.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 19.7% Asian, 7.1% White, 54.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 15% | 11% |