Direct care counselor vs student support counselor

The differences between direct care counselors and student support counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a student support counselor has an average salary of $41,329, which is higher than the $33,422 average annual salary of a direct care counselor.

The top three skills for a direct care counselor include crisis intervention, autism and CPR. The most important skills for a student support counselor are student support, mental health, and crisis intervention.

Direct care counselor vs student support counselor overview

	Direct Care Counselor	Student Support Counselor
Yearly salary	$33,422	$41,329
Hourly rate	$16.07	$19.87
Growth rate	36%	10%
Number of jobs	123,519	134,839
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 50%	Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Average age	48	42
Years of experience	-	-

What does a direct care counselor do?

A direct care counselor provides direct counseling and assistance to the elderly or individuals with disabilities and mental issues. They usually work at rehabilitation centers or care facilities and work together with nurses or caregivers to administer different treatment plans, monitor and support the patients' progress, and help the patients carry out daily activities such as performing hygienic or routine living tasks. Moreover, a direct care counselor may also develop and implement various healthcare programs and recreational activities while adhering to the facility's policies and regulations.

What does a student support counselor do?

A student support counselor is responsible for identifying the students' strengths and challenges through one-on-one counseling and establishing solutions to help them overcome difficulties and achieve their educational goals and aspirations. Student support counselors assist the faculty in determining appropriate programs and activities to develop the students' capabilities, especially as a way of preparing them with their career objectives. They also coordinate with the students' families for extended guidance and support for their growth and development.

Direct care counselor vs student support counselor salary

Direct care counselors and student support counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Direct Care Counselor	Student Support Counselor
Average salary	$33,422	$41,329
Salary range	Between $22,000 And $49,000	Between $29,000 And $57,000
Highest paying City	-	Teaneck, NJ
Highest paying state	-	Massachusetts
Best paying company	-	Mercy College
Best paying industry	-	Education

Differences between direct care counselor and student support counselor education

There are a few differences between a direct care counselor and a student support counselor in terms of educational background:

	Direct Care Counselor	Student Support Counselor
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 50%	Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Most common major	Psychology	Psychology
Most common college	-	University of Pennsylvania

Direct care counselor vs student support counselor demographics

Here are the differences between direct care counselors' and student support counselors' demographics:

	Direct Care Counselor	Student Support Counselor
Average age	48	42
Gender ratio	Male, 31.5% Female, 68.5%	Male, 34.3% Female, 65.7%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 17.6% Asian, 8.3% White, 57.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%	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	7%	11%

Differences between direct care counselor and student support counselor duties and responsibilities

Direct care counselor example responsibilities.

Obtain SCIP-R, CPR, and AMAP certifications.
Provide training to residents in improving ADL and independent living skills per the IHP and any/all relate behavior or medical requirements.
Obtain AMAP certification and administer medications under the supervision of assign nursing staff.
Provide direct care assistance for campers with autism, intellectual disabilities, and/or developmental delays.
Perform one-on-one supervision of children with disabilities including autism, complex mental health problems, and complex behavioral problems.
Help develop and carry-out treatment goals for individual clients as outlined in treatment plans and/or ISP goals and objectives.

Student support counselor example responsibilities.

Maintain confidentiality relating to treatment while keeping organize and up to date IEP's, and medical records file accordingly.
Attend IEP meetings of students on caseload and present to the IEP team a clinical progress report with counseling goals.
Work towards empowering juveniles and their families to support a positive lifestyle by providing strength base intensive intervention and rehabilitation services.
Provide behavior modification and social skills training to children and adolescents with ADHD and other behavioral and emotional disorders.

Direct care counselor vs student support counselor skills

Common direct care counselor skills

Crisis Intervention, 12%
Autism, 11%
CPR, 10%
Developmental Disabilities, 10%
Incident Reports, 9%
Data Collection, 8%

Common student support counselor skills

Student Support, 18%
Mental Health, 11%
Crisis Intervention, 7%
Professional Development, 6%
Behavioral Issues, 5%
Financial Aid, 4%

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Direct Care Counselor
Direct Care Counselor vs Student Support Counselor

Updated January 8, 2025

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