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The differences between guidance counselors and elementary school counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a guidance counselor has an average salary of $48,154, which is higher than the $34,984 average annual salary of an elementary school counselor.
The top three skills for a guidance counselor include crisis intervention, community resources and mental health. The most important skills for an elementary school counselor are social work, professional development, and crisis intervention.
| Guidance Counselor | Elementary School Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $48,154 | $34,984 |
| Hourly rate | $23.15 | $16.82 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 75,740 | 92,184 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
The primary role of a Guidance Counselor is to help students develop skills for success, both in academics and social development. They also develop and implement educational and counseling plans with modern methods of teaching and mentoring.
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.
Guidance counselors and elementary school counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Guidance Counselor | Elementary School Counselor | |
| Average salary | $48,154 | $34,984 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $64,000 | Between $18,000 And $64,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Daly City, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Poly Prep Country Day School | Success Academy Charter Schools |
| Best paying industry | Education | - |
There are a few differences between a guidance counselor and an elementary school counselor in terms of educational background:
| Guidance Counselor | Elementary School Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Most common major | School Counseling | Psychology |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between guidance counselors' and elementary school counselors' demographics:
| Guidance Counselor | Elementary School Counselor | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 31.3% Female, 68.7% | Male, 25.0% Female, 75.0% |
| 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% |