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The differences between counselors and rehabilitation counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a rehabilitation counselor has an average salary of $43,111, which is higher than the $36,225 average annual salary of a counselor.
The top three skills for a counselor include patients, crisis intervention and substance abuse. The most important skills for a rehabilitation counselor are rehabilitation, social work, and mental health.
| Counselor | Rehabilitation Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $36,225 | $43,111 |
| Hourly rate | $17.42 | $20.73 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 77,536 | 77,220 |
| Job satisfaction | 2 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 44 | 45 |
| Years of experience | - | 12 |
Often, counselors are known to be the go-to person in times we are in need of emotional and psychological support. They help people to manage and overcome the issues which affect their mental health and well-being. Counselors face different kind of situations which may involve trauma, addiction, disabilities, abuse, suicide, anger management, career, and even personal relationships. They provide care, counseling, rehabilitation, and support services. Every counseling requires collaborative effort both from the counselor and client to become effective.
Rehabilitation counselors are professional counselors who are responsible for helping individuals cope with their disabilities to live independently. These counselors are required to consult other professionals, family members, and individuals when developing a treatment plan based on the goals, strengths, limitations, and personal values of their clients. They must make connections with community support so that individuals with disabilities can avail of the types of services that are available. Rehabilitation counselors must also find employers and educate them in understanding the needs and abilities of disabled people.
Counselors and rehabilitation counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Counselor | Rehabilitation Counselor | |
| Average salary | $36,225 | $43,111 |
| Salary range | Between $19,000 And $67,000 | Between $31,000 And $58,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Cleveland, OH |
| Highest paying state | California | Ohio |
| Best paying company | - | North Shore Healthcare |
| Best paying industry | Education | Government |
There are a few differences between a counselor and a rehabilitation counselor in terms of educational background:
| Counselor | Rehabilitation Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Washington |
Here are the differences between counselors' and rehabilitation counselors' demographics:
| Counselor | Rehabilitation Counselor | |
| Average age | 44 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 38.5% Female, 61.5% | Male, 33.9% Female, 66.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 15.6% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 3.5% White, 63.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% | Black or African American, 13.7% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 10.8% Asian, 2.9% White, 66.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 21% |