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The differences between counselors and school counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a school counselor has an average salary of $49,904, 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 school counselor are mental health, community resources, and crisis intervention.
| Counselor | School Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $36,225 | $49,904 |
| Hourly rate | $17.42 | $23.99 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 77,536 | 91,275 |
| Job satisfaction | 2 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Average age | 44 | 42 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
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.
A school counselor is responsible for monitoring the students' social and personal development, advising them of their career aspirations, and assisting them with their academic achievements and goals. School counselors also ensure that the students receive the highest learning standards to pave their way towards society's advancement and global competitiveness. They evaluate students' behavior through personal counseling, understanding their challenges, and develop strategies to overcome their needs. A school counselor must have excellent communication and decision-making skills, supporting students with their goals, and honing their skills efficiently.
Counselors and school counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Counselor | School Counselor | |
| Average salary | $36,225 | $49,904 |
| Salary range | Between $19,000 And $67,000 | Between $36,000 And $68,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | - | The Gow School |
| Best paying industry | Education | Education |
There are a few differences between a counselor and a school counselor in terms of educational background:
| Counselor | School Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Most common major | Psychology | School Counseling |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between counselors' and school counselors' demographics:
| Counselor | School Counselor | |
| Average age | 44 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 38.5% Female, 61.5% | Male, 26.1% Female, 73.9% |
| 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, 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 | 9% | 11% |