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The differences between group counselors and residential 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 group counselor and a residential counselor. Additionally, a group counselor has an average salary of $40,155, which is higher than the $34,117 average annual salary of a residential counselor.
The top three skills for a group counselor include mental health, patients and crisis intervention. The most important skills for a residential counselor are direct care, medication administration, and mental health.
| Group Counselor | Residential Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $40,155 | $34,117 |
| Hourly rate | $19.31 | $16.40 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 12% |
| Number of jobs | 84,413 | 81,287 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A group counselor provides counseling services primarily in a group setting, aiming to provide clients with a supportive and healthy environment where they can work on different issues and reach personal goals. They typically conduct research and assessments, establish program objectives and guidelines, arrange various activities, and facilitate positive interactions to support one another. Additionally, a group counselor has the duty to implement policies and standards, create treatment plans, and optimize strategies to ensure clients receive optimal support and services.
A residential counselor is responsible for guiding and providing the residents with their basic needs and other resources to support them in their daily living. Residential counselors' duties include maintaining the safety of the community by enforcing safety guidelines and procedures for the residents' compliance, organizing productive and engaging community activities, updating the residents of any changes and policies in the community, and resolving conflicts by counseling and understanding each resident's differences. A residential counselor must have excellent communication and decision-making skills to ensure the development of residents in a living facility.
Group counselors and residential counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Group Counselor | Residential Counselor | |
| Average salary | $40,155 | $34,117 |
| Salary range | Between $14,000 And $110,000 | Between $27,000 And $42,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | - | Washington |
| Best paying company | - | The Evergreens |
| Best paying industry | - | Education |
There are a few differences between a group counselor and a residential counselor in terms of educational background:
| Group Counselor | Residential Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between group counselors' and residential counselors' demographics:
| Group Counselor | Residential Counselor | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 40.8% Female, 59.2% | Male, 33.0% Female, 67.0% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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% |