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How to hire a group home counselor

Group home counselor hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring group home counselors in the United States:

  • HR departments typically spend 15% of their expenses on recruitment.
  • It usually takes about 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • It typically takes 36-42 days to fill a job opening.
  • The median cost to hire a group home counselor is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend an average of $1,105 per group home counselor on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • There are currently 127,519 group home counselors in the US and 79,344 job openings.
  • Branford, CT, has the highest demand for group home counselors, with 3 job openings.
  • Vineland, NJ has the highest concentration of group home counselors.

How to hire a group home counselor, step by step

To hire a group home counselor, you should create an ideal candidate profile, determine a budget, and post and promote your job. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a group home counselor:

Here's a step-by-step group home counselor hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a group home counselor job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new group home counselor
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    First, determine the employments status of the group home counselor you need to hire. Certain group home counselor roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    Hiring the perfect group home counselor also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

    Here's a comparison of group home counselor salaries for various roles:

    Type of Group Home CounselorDescriptionHourly rate
    Group Home CounselorMental health counselors and marriage and family therapists help people manage and overcome mental and emotional disorders and problems with family and other relationships. They listen to clients and ask questions to help the clients understand their problems and develop strategies to improve their lives.$13-23
    Counselor InternshipWhen it comes to Counselor Internship, among the primary responsibilities is to assist in dealing with various activities such as preparing and verifying necessary documentation, observing consultations and outreach programs, guide clients and help develop multiple helpful strategies, and provide assessments. Furthermore, one can conduct counseling and consultation only under supervision... Show more$14-31
    Rehabilitation CounselorRehabilitation counselors are professional counselors who are responsible for helping individuals cope with their disabilities to live independently. These counselors are required to consult other professionals, family members, and individuals when developing a treatment plan based on the goals, strengths, limitations, and personal values of their clients... Show more$14-27
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Developmental Disabilities
    • Behavioral Problems
    • Community Integration
    • Direct Care
    • Medication Administration
    • Medical Appointments
    • Direct Supervision
    • Crisis Intervention
    • Meal Preparation
    • CPR
    • Mental Illness
    • Medical Care
    • Group Homes
    • Mental Health Issues
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Engage, educate and empower participants to access community base resources in order to achieve greater self-determination, rehabilitation and recovery.
    • Provide mentally impair or emotionally disturb patients with routine emotional and psychological care under the direction of nursing or medical staff.
    • Promote continuity of care by accurately and completely communicating to other caregivers the status of patients for which care is provided.
    • Maintain therapeutic relationships with youth through effective teaching and coaching techniques to provide leadership and foster relationship building skills.
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your group home counselor job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A group home counselor salary can vary based on several factors:
    • Location. For example, group home counselors' average salary in south carolina is 37% less than in california.
    • Seniority. Entry-level group home counselors earn 40% less than senior-level group home counselors.
    • Certifications. A group home counselor with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a group home counselor's salary.

    Average group home counselor salary

    $38,203yearly

    $18.37 hourly rate

    Entry-level group home counselor salary
    $29,000 yearly salary
    Updated January 20, 2026
  4. Writing a group home counselor job description

    A job description for a group home counselor role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a group home counselor job description:

    Group home counselor job description example

    The Part Time Group Home Youth Counselor is responsible for the treatment of up to 8 youth in a teaching-family home under the direction of the Group Home Manager. This position provides teaching, guidance and supervision to youth to include overseeing physical care, development of acceptable habits and attitudes, positive behavioral supports, crisis intervention, assistance with the upkeep of the physical environment, helping youth achieve mastery of identified goals and objectives and the timely thorough completion of required documentation.

    Core duties and responsibilities:

    · Responsible for the sight and sound supervision and engagement of youth on and off-campus

    · Responsible for documenting daily activities, behaviors, contacts, and interventions.

    · Responsible for providing a therapeutic, family-style treatment environment for youth according to the model and standards developed in the Teaching-Family Model.

    · Responsible for professional communication with teachers, parents, caseworkers, and probation offices, etc. for the youth.

    · Responsible for attending bi-weekly treatment team meetings and other meetings as assigned.

    · Responsible for assisting with transportation such as youth employment, athletic events, doctor’s appointments, youth home visits, etc.

    · Required to work a two week rotating schedules with alternating evening and weekend hours.

    · Follows approved Behavior Support Plans for each child.
    · Embraces agency commitment to open communication in both giving and receiving information and feedback.

    Work Hours:

    This is a Wednesday, Thursday and Friday position from 5pm-10pm and weekends alternating 12p-10p, 11a-7p or 8a-6p but subject to change.

    Experience and Education:

    High school diploma or equivalent required; Bachelor’s degree preferred. Minimum of 6 months working with children or adolescents required. One year of experience working with youth in a group home facility is
    preferred. Clinical experience working with youth is preferred.

    In addition, the candidate must possess a valid Virginia Driver’s License with driving record in good standing, must be able to successfully clear background checks associated with job, and must successfully complete in-house training.


    About the Culture at VHBG

    VHBG's leadership team encourages employees to bring their authentic self to work, whatever that means for that employee. We do this through unbiased recruiting practices, advocating for employees to participate in our inclusion ambassador council, implementing employee feedback and offering training opportunities focused on diversity, inclusion and equity. VHBG nurtures belonging and retains a highly engaged workforce in order to achieve the best experience and outcomes for our clients.

    VHBG is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, genetic information, age, gender (including pregnancy and childbirth), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, status as a protected veteran, disability, or other status protected under federal, state, or local law.

  5. Post your job

    To find group home counselors for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any group home counselors they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level group home counselors with the right educational background.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your group home counselor job on Zippia to find and recruit group home counselor candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Your first interview with group home counselor candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new group home counselor

    Once you have selected a candidate for the group home counselor position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

    You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

    After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new group home counselor. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a group home counselor?

Hiring a group home counselor comes with both the one-time cost per hire and ongoing costs. The cost of recruiting group home counselors involves promoting the job and spending time conducting interviews. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider the cost of group home counselor recruiting as well the ongoing costs of maintaining the new employee.

You can expect to pay around $38,203 per year for a group home counselor, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for group home counselors in the US typically range between $13 and $23 an hour.

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