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Elementary school teacher vs elementary school counselor

The differences between elementary school teachers and elementary school counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an elementary school teacher has an average salary of $52,161, which is higher than the $34,984 average annual salary of an elementary school counselor.

The top three skills for an elementary school teacher include classroom management, math and professional development. The most important skills for an elementary school counselor are social work, professional development, and crisis intervention.

Elementary school teacher vs elementary school counselor overview

Elementary School TeacherElementary School Counselor
Yearly salary$52,161$34,984
Hourly rate$25.08$16.82
Growth rate4%10%
Number of jobs84,60792,184
Job satisfaction2-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 73%Bachelor's Degree, 58%
Average age4242
Years of experience--

What does an elementary school teacher do?

Elementary school teachers are trained to provide education to children from kindergarten through fifth grade. The teachers are responsible for children's emotional and educational growth in the classroom. They manage the resources and materials to be used for their education. It is part of their duties to evaluate the students' performance, social development, physical health, and behavior. Also, they adapt to teaching methods and instructions to meet the interests and needs of the children.

What does an elementary school counselor do?

An elementary school counselor is primarily in charge of providing support and counseling to students as they navigate through their academic, social, and personal lives. Their responsibilities typically revolve around developing and executing programs for students' welfare, conducting student evaluations and interviews, mediating on various issues, and assisting students in preparing and processing scholarship applications. Furthermore, there are instances when an elementary school counselor must refer students and parents to social services and conduct interventions when necessary. Should there be any signs of abuse or neglect, It is essential to report to the authorities right away.

Elementary school teacher vs elementary school counselor salary

Elementary school teachers and elementary school counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Elementary School TeacherElementary School Counselor
Average salary$52,161$34,984
Salary rangeBetween $37,000 And $72,000Between $18,000 And $64,000
Highest paying CityBaltimore, MDDaly City, CA
Highest paying stateMarylandCalifornia
Best paying companyGerman International School New YorkSuccess Academy Charter Schools
Best paying industryGovernment-

Differences between elementary school teacher and elementary school counselor education

There are a few differences between an elementary school teacher and an elementary school counselor in terms of educational background:

Elementary School TeacherElementary School Counselor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 73%Bachelor's Degree, 58%
Most common majorElementary EducationPsychology
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Elementary school teacher vs elementary school counselor demographics

Here are the differences between elementary school teachers' and elementary school counselors' demographics:

Elementary School TeacherElementary School Counselor
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 19.5% Female, 80.5%Male, 25.0% Female, 75.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.6% Asian, 3.7% White, 69.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%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 Percentage9%11%

Differences between elementary school teacher and elementary school counselor duties and responsibilities

Elementary school teacher example responsibilities.

  • Offer leave of absence for remainder of school yearupon adoption of twin girls from Russia.
  • Help kids expend excess energy so they can sit still in regular classes for the rest of the afternoon.
  • Differentiate lessons to fit the needs of students in the ESL program, students with special needs, and gift students.
  • Create innovative PowerPoint presentation for daily lesson.
  • Create various PowerPoint presentations for multiple projects.
  • Develop innovative approaches to literacy development and mathematics teaching.
  • Show more

Elementary school counselor example responsibilities.

  • Select to serve as the tier 2 PBIS coach and serve on district PBIS tier 1 team.
  • Train entire staff on PBIS theories, data and methodology.
  • Prepare and present Microsoft PowerPoint presentation on treating the grief and loss issues of incarcerate students.
  • Prepare and deliver PowerPoint presentations.
  • Serve as administrative representative for IEP meetings.
  • Participate and collaborate with administrators about RTI design and implementation.
  • Show more

Elementary school teacher vs elementary school counselor skills

Common elementary school teacher skills
  • Classroom Management, 18%
  • Math, 9%
  • Professional Development, 9%
  • Mathematics, 8%
  • Social Studies, 4%
  • Instructional Materials, 4%
Common elementary school counselor skills
  • Social Work, 14%
  • Professional Development, 9%
  • Crisis Intervention, 7%
  • Math, 7%
  • Community Resources, 6%
  • Kids, 5%

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