Crisis intervention counselor vs program counselor

The differences between crisis intervention counselors and program 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 intervention counselor and a program counselor. Additionally, a crisis intervention counselor has an average salary of $52,041, which is higher than the $43,820 average annual salary of a program counselor.

The top three skills for a crisis intervention counselor include social work, behavioral problems and safety planning. The most important skills for a program counselor are developmental disabilities, patients, and community integration.

Crisis intervention counselor vs program counselor overview

	Crisis Intervention Counselor	Program Counselor
Yearly salary	$52,041	$43,820
Hourly rate	$25.02	$21.07
Growth rate	9%	10%
Number of jobs	30,988	133,491
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 62%	Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Average age	41	41
Years of experience	4	4

Crisis intervention counselor vs program counselor salary

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

	Crisis Intervention Counselor	Program Counselor
Average salary	$52,041	$43,820
Salary range	Between $38,000 And $71,000	Between $33,000 And $58,000
Highest paying City	Boston, MA	New York, NY
Highest paying state	Massachusetts	New York
Best paying company	Sante Group	Russell Sage College
Best paying industry	Transportation	Health Care

Differences between crisis intervention counselor and program counselor education

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

	Crisis Intervention Counselor	Program Counselor
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 62%	Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Most common major	Psychology	Psychology
Most common college	California State University - Long Beach	California State University - Long Beach

Crisis intervention counselor vs program counselor demographics

Here are the differences between crisis intervention counselors' and program counselors' demographics:

	Crisis Intervention Counselor	Program Counselor
Average age	41	41
Gender ratio	Male, 30.7% Female, 69.3%	Male, 35.9% Female, 64.1%
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 intervention counselor and program counselor duties and responsibilities

Crisis intervention 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 group check-in and co-lead group psychotherapy sessions to help clients identify and manage problems associate with psychiatric conditions.
Organize and lead regular youth and college bible studies, teaching about prayer and promoting spirituality.

Program counselor example responsibilities.

Lead recreational activities for adolescents with ADHD and other behavior disorders.
Provide education, within hospital setting, to adolescent psychiatric patients regarding substance abuse and dependency issues.
Receive CPR and first aid certifications.
Attend and receive CPR and basic restraint technique certifications.
Assist each client with compassion to encourage them on their journey to recovery.
Encourage and mentore residents during their recovery and rehabilitation process.

Crisis intervention counselor vs program counselor skills

Common crisis intervention counselor skills

Social Work, 19%
Behavioral Problems, 7%
Safety Planning, 6%
Mental Health Crisis, 6%
Hotline Calls, 6%
Child Abuse, 6%

Common program counselor skills

Developmental Disabilities, 11%
Patients, 11%
Community Integration, 9%
CPR, 8%
Social Work, 8%
Medication Administration, 7%

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Crisis Intervention Counselor
Crisis Intervention Counselor vs Program Counselor

Updated January 8, 2025

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