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The differences between high school counselors and academic counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a high school counselor has an average salary of $48,361, which is higher than the $47,454 average annual salary of an academic counselor.
The top three skills for a high school counselor include mental health, financial aid and community resources. The most important skills for an academic counselor are financial aid, academic support, and student services.
| High School Counselor | Academic Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $48,361 | $47,454 |
| Hourly rate | $23.25 | $22.81 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 93,675 | 39,084 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
High school counselors are professional counselors who assist high school students in developing their academic and social skills as well as serve their social and emotional needs. These counselors are required to have one-on-one sessions with students who are experiencing personal problems. They are required to guide students with their college application process and other avenues such as apprenticeships or training programs. High school counselors must also educate students about issues such as drug abuse, bullying, or other significant problems the students are facing.
In high schools and universities, an academic counselor specializes in providing counseling and consultations to students, focusing on their educational and career growth. They typically meet with students to discuss their short and long term goals and help by providing them with insights and information or referring them to other services and resources. Moreover, an academic counselor must assist students by addressing their issues and concerns, giving them emotional support and academic advice, and helping them navigate through various procedures.
High school counselors and academic counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| High School Counselor | Academic Counselor | |
| Average salary | $48,361 | $47,454 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $65,000 | Between $35,000 And $63,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Rosa, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Virginia |
| Best paying company | The American Musical and Dramatic Academy | California College of the Arts |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Non Profits |
There are a few differences between a high school counselor and an academic counselor in terms of educational background:
| High School Counselor | Academic Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | School Counseling | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between high school counselors' and academic counselors' demographics:
| High School Counselor | Academic Counselor | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 31.7% Female, 68.3% | Male, 35.4% Female, 64.6% |
| 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% |