Employment counselor vs school counselor

The differences between employment counselors and school counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a school counselor has an average salary of $49,904, 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 a school counselor are mental health, community resources, and crisis intervention.

Employment counselor vs school counselor overview

	Employment Counselor	School Counselor
Yearly salary	$43,848	$49,904
Hourly rate	$21.08	$23.99
Growth rate	10%	10%
Number of jobs	29,459	91,275
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 67%	Bachelor's Degree, 48%
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 a school counselor do?

A school counselor is responsible for monitoring the students' social and personal development, advising them of their career aspirations, and assisting them with their academic achievements and goals. School counselors also ensure that the students receive the highest learning standards to pave their way towards society's advancement and global competitiveness. They evaluate students' behavior through personal counseling, understanding their challenges, and develop strategies to overcome their needs. A school counselor must have excellent communication and decision-making skills, supporting students with their goals, and honing their skills efficiently.

Employment counselor vs school counselor salary

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

	Employment Counselor	School Counselor
Average salary	$43,848	$49,904
Salary range	Between $26,000 And $71,000	Between $36,000 And $68,000
Highest paying City	San Francisco, CA	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	California	California
Best paying company	Apple	The Gow School
Best paying industry	Professional	Education

Differences between employment counselor and school counselor education

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

	Employment Counselor	School Counselor
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 67%	Bachelor's Degree, 48%
Most common major	Psychology	School Counseling
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

Employment counselor vs school counselor demographics

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

	Employment Counselor	School Counselor
Average age	42	42
Gender ratio	Male, 37.1% Female, 62.9%	Male, 26.1% Female, 73.9%
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 school 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.

School counselor example responsibilities.

Manage open houses, recruitment, and conduct interviews for GED student enrollment.
Travel to professional conferences and to visit colleges and universities across the country for professional development.
Attend educational meetings (IEP, IST, CCT, etc . )
Create and implement FBA's.
Complete CPR training and other necessary training classes.
Communicate with DCF in regards to students as needed

Employment counselor vs school counselor skills

Common employment counselor skills

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

Common school counselor skills

Mental Health, 10%
Community Resources, 8%
Crisis Intervention, 6%
Professional Development, 5%
Behavioral Issues, 4%
CPR, 4%

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Employment Counselor
Employment Counselor vs School Counselor

Updated January 8, 2025

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