Employment counselor vs education counselor

The differences between employment counselors and education counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an education counselor has an average salary of $45,465, which is higher than the $43,848 average annual salary of an employment counselor.

The top three skills for an employment counselor include litigation, employment law and HR. The most important skills for an education counselor are mental health, crisis intervention, and financial aid.

Employment counselor vs education counselor overview

	Employment Counselor	Education Counselor
Yearly salary	$43,848	$45,465
Hourly rate	$21.08	$21.86
Growth rate	10%	10%
Number of jobs	29,459	40,323
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 67%	Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Average age	42	42
Years of experience	-	-

What does an employment counselor do?

The employment counselor is someone who guides and advises people on how to choose, manage and continue in a career path they've chosen. The employment counselor educates people on each career's pros and cons, giving them insights into what to expect, salary rates, and employment chances in a particular profession. The employment counselor will also show how to excel in a specific career, offer ideas on what training or seminar to attend and what skills to enhance to achieve an edge over others.

What does an education counselor do?

The work of education counselors revolves around giving students advice about their course choice, career structuring, and supporting them in their school endeavors. They must have the empathy to help students adjust to their everyday struggles and personal conflicts. They often give students information about scholarship grants and help them apply. They organize seminars talking about alcohol consumption and smoking. Counselors also discuss strategies to improve school performance regarding overall counseling services.

Employment counselor vs education counselor salary

Employment counselors and education counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Employment Counselor	Education Counselor
Average salary	$43,848	$45,465
Salary range	Between $26,000 And $71,000	Between $33,000 And $61,000
Highest paying City	San Francisco, CA	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	California	California
Best paying company	Apple	Silicon Valley International School
Best paying industry	Professional	Education

Differences between employment counselor and education counselor education

There are a few differences between an employment counselor and an education counselor in terms of educational background:

	Employment Counselor	Education Counselor
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 67%	Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Most common major	Psychology	Psychology
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

Employment counselor vs education counselor demographics

Here are the differences between employment counselors' and education counselors' demographics:

	Employment Counselor	Education Counselor
Average age	42	42
Gender ratio	Male, 37.1% Female, 62.9%	Male, 33.3% Female, 66.7%
Race ratio	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%	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	11%	11%

Differences between employment counselor and education counselor duties and responsibilities

Employment counselor example responsibilities.

Complete reports, manage client files and process WIA billing invoices for tuition and supplies.
Manage a caseload of Calworks participants in working towards the goal of self-sufficiency and employment.
Monitor caseworkers to ensure rehabilitation services are properly coordinate to aid clients in achieving self-sufficiency.
Source, develop, and implement HRIS systems.
Provide case management to TANF recipients that move clients to employment.
Document in accordance with JCAHO, Medicaid, and all quality improvement standards.

Education counselor example responsibilities.

Provide consultation and in-service to teachers, administrators and parents regarding IEP's, guidance and counseling practices and programs.
Collaborate as member of IEP teams, with school and district representatives and families, to identify specific student needs areas.
Work towards empowering juveniles and their families to support a positive lifestyle by providing strength base intensive intervention and rehabilitation services.
Participate in special education meetings as administrator, coordinate state testing and assist with RTI identifications.
Facilitate RTI process on caseload through identification, implementation, and through monitoring progress for further referrals for at-risk students.
Ensure client safety and provide necessary intervention toward adolescent teens admit into an inpatient drug and mental health treatment facility.

Employment counselor vs education counselor skills

Common employment counselor skills

Litigation, 16%
Employment Law, 14%
HR, 10%
Employment Litigation, 6%
FLSA, 5%
Training Programs, 4%

Common education counselor skills

Mental Health, 11%
Crisis Intervention, 10%
Financial Aid, 6%
Behavioral Problems, 6%
Applied Behavior Analysis, 5%
Educational Programs, 5%

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Employment Counselor
Employment Counselor vs Education Counselor

Updated January 8, 2025

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