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The differences between crisis counselors and peer counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a crisis counselor has an average salary of $51,142, which is higher than the $37,464 average annual salary of a peer counselor.
The top three skills for a crisis counselor include social work, patients and mental health crisis. The most important skills for a peer counselor are peer support, substance abuse, and wic program.
| Crisis Counselor | Peer Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $51,142 | $37,464 |
| Hourly rate | $24.59 | $18.01 |
| Growth rate | 12% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 76,255 | 76,608 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Average age | 41 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | - |
A crisis counselor is responsible for providing assistance and emotional support to clients under crises or mental health emergencies caused by stress, trauma, grief, and other factors. Most crisis counselors work at clinics or counseling centers, and there are instances where they can be at schools and organizations. Aside from diagnosing and providing specific treatments, a crisis counselor must also build rapport with clients, helping them feel comfortable every step of the way, and serving as a positive influence in their journey to recovery.
Typically working at schools, communities, or medical facilities, a peer counselor specializes in providing counseling to an individual or group of people, aiming to help them deal with and overcome crises. Their duties often include conducting initial assessments through interviews and appointments, listening to clients and offering advice, recommending opportunities, referring them to other support agencies, and coordinating treatment services as needed. Above all, a peer counselor must provide emotional support and guidance to clients, giving them comfort and a shoulder to lean on.
Crisis counselors and peer counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Crisis Counselor | Peer Counselor | |
| Average salary | $51,142 | $37,464 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $69,000 | Between $24,000 And $57,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Hayward, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | California |
| Best paying company | - | The Brooklyn Hospital Center |
| Best paying industry | - | Education |
There are a few differences between a crisis counselor and a peer counselor in terms of educational background:
| Crisis Counselor | Peer Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between crisis counselors' and peer counselors' demographics:
| Crisis Counselor | Peer Counselor | |
| Average age | 41 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 22.9% Female, 77.1% | 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, 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 | 15% | 11% |