Crisis counselor vs youth counselor

The differences between crisis counselors and youth counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a crisis counselor and a youth counselor. Additionally, a crisis counselor has an average salary of $51,142, which is higher than the $36,754 average annual salary of a youth counselor.

The top three skills for a crisis counselor include social work, patients and mental health crisis. The most important skills for a youth counselor are direct care, mental health, and crisis intervention.

Crisis counselor vs youth counselor overview

	Crisis Counselor	Youth Counselor
Yearly salary	$51,142	$36,754
Hourly rate	$24.59	$17.67
Growth rate	12%	12%
Number of jobs	76,255	78,461
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 64%	Bachelor's Degree, 58%
Average age	41	41
Years of experience	4	4

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 youth counselor do?

A Youth Counselor's role is to provide guidance and interact with children or teenagers in need of care and counseling. The duty of a Youth Counselor is diverse, and it highly depends on the organization or employer. However, the responsibilities mostly revolve around establishing rapport with the youngster while trying to work on their issues, ensuring their welfare by monitoring their emotional and physical state, coordinating with families or other facilities, suggesting treatments, and performing crisis intervention if necessary.

Crisis counselor vs youth counselor salary

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

	Crisis Counselor	Youth Counselor
Average salary	$51,142	$36,754
Salary range	Between $37,000 And $69,000	Between $27,000 And $49,000
Highest paying City	-	San Jose, CA
Highest paying state	-	California
Best paying company	-	New York State Restaurant Association
Best paying industry	-	Professional

Differences between crisis counselor and youth counselor education

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

	Crisis Counselor	Youth Counselor
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 64%	Bachelor's Degree, 58%
Most common major	Psychology	Psychology
Most common college	California State University - Long Beach	California State University - Long Beach

Crisis counselor vs youth counselor demographics

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

	Crisis Counselor	Youth Counselor
Average age	41	41
Gender ratio	Male, 22.9% Female, 77.1%	Male, 43.8% Female, 56.2%
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, 11.3% Unknown, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 3.2% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage	15%	15%

Differences between crisis counselor and youth counselor 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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Youth counselor example responsibilities.

Instruct students in course work including: reading, writing, mathematics, behavior modification, and social skills.
Train in physical restraint, conflict resolution, first aide, CPR, blood borne pathogen management and universal precautions.
Complete functional assessment evaluations of residents and write individualized rehabilitation goals that encourage community integration.
Monitor behavior, safety and location of juvenile residents that are court mandate, psychological/behavioral disorders, physical disabilities and autism.
Maintain high standards of cleanliness and presentation in all back-of-house areas and customer areas.
Supervise teens on maintaining cleanliness of cottage, individual rooms and their individual appearance.

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Crisis counselor vs youth counselor skills

Common crisis counselor skills

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

Common youth counselor skills

Direct Care, 8%
Mental Health, 8%
Crisis Intervention, 7%
CPR, 7%
Social Work, 7%
Necessary Paperwork, 6%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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