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The differences between crisis workers and crisis 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 worker and a crisis counselor. Additionally, a crisis counselor has an average salary of $51,142, which is higher than the $33,805 average annual salary of a crisis worker.
The top three skills for a crisis worker include patients, social work and mental health crisis. The most important skills for a crisis counselor are social work, patients, and mental health crisis.
| Crisis Worker | Crisis Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $33,805 | $51,142 |
| Hourly rate | $16.25 | $24.59 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 12% |
| Number of jobs | 99,201 | 76,255 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A crisis worker is a mental health professional specializing in providing counseling and support services to individuals under emotional distress often caused by mental and behavioral issues, conducting interventions as needed. They are usually assigned in institutions or medical facilities, sometimes working for crisis hotlines where they must answer phone calls from clients, remain calm and rational during conversations, offer advice, and refer them to other support agencies to prevent them from taking drastic measures. A crisis worker engages with clients of all ages, requiring them to be proactive at all times.
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.
Crisis workers and crisis counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Crisis Worker | Crisis Counselor | |
| Average salary | $33,805 | $51,142 |
| Salary range | Between $23,000 And $49,000 | Between $37,000 And $69,000 |
| Highest paying City | Portland, ME | - |
| Highest paying state | New York | - |
| Best paying company | Northwestern Medicine | - |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | - |
There are a few differences between a crisis worker and a crisis counselor in terms of educational background:
| Crisis Worker | Crisis Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between crisis workers' and crisis counselors' demographics:
| Crisis Worker | Crisis Counselor | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 25.4% Female, 74.6% | Male, 22.9% Female, 77.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 3.1% White, 74.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | 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% |