Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between high school counselors and career 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 $44,870 average annual salary of a career counselor.
The top three skills for a high school counselor include mental health, financial aid and community resources. The most important skills for a career counselor are career development, career services, and professional development.
| High School Counselor | Career Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $48,361 | $44,870 |
| Hourly rate | $23.25 | $21.57 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 93,675 | 42,035 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 60% |
| 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.
A career counselor specializes in assisting clients in their career-related decisions. Utilizing their expertise in career development, they typically meet with clients to discuss their short-term and long-term goals, identify their needs and concerns, conduct different aptitude tests and examinations, organize skills assessment procedures, and provide strategies to improve or enhance their skills and abilities. Aside from providing consultations, a career counselor may also assist clients in processing and establishing their resumes, supporting them every step of the way.
High school counselors and career counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| High School Counselor | Career Counselor | |
| Average salary | $48,361 | $44,870 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $65,000 | Between $33,000 And $60,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Rosa, CA | Los Angeles, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | The American Musical and Dramatic Academy | Columbia University in the City of New York |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Technology |
There are a few differences between a high school counselor and a career counselor in terms of educational background:
| High School Counselor | Career Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 60% |
| Most common major | School Counseling | Psychology |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between high school counselors' and career counselors' demographics:
| High School Counselor | Career Counselor | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 31.7% Female, 68.3% | Male, 42.4% Female, 57.6% |
| 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% |