Crisis counselor vs volunteer

The differences between crisis counselors and volunteers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a crisis counselor, becoming a volunteer takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a crisis counselor has an average salary of $51,142, which is higher than the $31,227 average annual salary of a volunteer.

The top three skills for a crisis counselor include social work, patients and mental health crisis. The most important skills for a volunteer are child care, patient charts, and patient care.

Crisis counselor vs volunteer overview

	Crisis Counselor	Volunteer
Yearly salary	$51,142	$31,227
Hourly rate	$24.59	$15.01
Growth rate	12%	12%
Number of jobs	76,255	9,583
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 64%	Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Average age	41	43
Years of experience	4	12

What does a crisis counselor do?

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.

What does a volunteer do?

Volunteers are usually unpaid individuals who render their service to a company or organization. Most of the time, volunteers are skilled in specific areas needed by the organization but prefer to provide free service. They may be employed in another organization, but they lend their time and talent to another organization or company to give back to the community. They raise funds, create awareness, and work on the ground. Volunteers usually choose a cause or advocacy close to their heart, such as teaching children, taking care of the elderly, coaching sports teams, cleaning up communities, and caring for animals.

Crisis counselor vs volunteer salary

Crisis counselors and volunteers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Crisis Counselor	Volunteer
Average salary	$51,142	$31,227
Salary range	Between $37,000 And $69,000	Between $23,000 And $41,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between crisis counselor and volunteer education

There are a few differences between a crisis counselor and a volunteer in terms of educational background:

	Crisis Counselor	Volunteer
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 64%	Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Most common major	Psychology	Business
Most common college	California State University - Long Beach	California State University - Fullerton

Crisis counselor vs volunteer demographics

Here are the differences between crisis counselors' and volunteers' demographics:

	Crisis Counselor	Volunteer
Average age	41	43
Gender ratio	Male, 22.9% Female, 77.1%	Male, 36.0% Female, 64.0%
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, 13.2% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.5% Asian, 7.3% White, 52.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.2%
LGBT Percentage	15%	11%

Differences between crisis counselor and volunteer duties and responsibilities

Crisis counselor example responsibilities.

Conduct group check-in and co-lead group psychotherapy sessions to help clients identify and manage problems associate with psychiatric conditions.
Conduct mental health evaluations and behavioral health crisis assessments for determination of functioning and mental status of patients.
Provide education to patients about relevant aspects of mental illness and/or chemical dependency to support maximum utilization of treatment.
Train to use CPI, MOAB, and CPR as needed.
Aid callers/chatters suffering from various life crises by use of strong listening skills, empathy, and compassion.
Make patient referrals to outpatient medical clinics, community services, or rehabilitation facilities.

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Volunteer example responsibilities.

Develop and manage web presence, including Facebook account and other social media business accounts!
Train staff members on managing contacts, scheduling programs, and running analytic reports with the Salesforce program.
Lead team-building exercises and facilitate group discussions on leadership topics.
Assist in achieving and maintaining DoD certification and national accreditation where applicable.
Supervise and maintain safe play for children's soccer games.
Teach GED to refugees and survivors of torture seeking to enroll in college.

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Crisis counselor vs volunteer skills

Common crisis counselor skills

Social Work, 21%
Patients, 8%
Mental Health Crisis, 6%
Social Services, 5%
Crisis Management, 4%
Suicide Prevention, 4%

Common volunteer skills

Child Care, 12%
Patient Charts, 10%
Patient Care, 10%
Front Desk, 9%
Community Outreach, 9%
Mathematics, 9%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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