High school counselor vs education counselor

The differences between high school counselors and education 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 $45,465 average annual salary of an education counselor.

The top three skills for a high school counselor include mental health, financial aid and community resources. The most important skills for an education counselor are mental health, crisis intervention, and financial aid.

High school counselor vs education counselor overview

	High School Counselor	Education Counselor
Yearly salary	$48,361	$45,465
Hourly rate	$23.25	$21.86
Growth rate	10%	10%
Number of jobs	93,675	40,323
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 55%	Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Average age	42	42
Years of experience	-	-

What does a high school counselor do?

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.

What does an education counselor do?

The work of education counselors revolves around giving students advice about their course choice, career structuring, and supporting them in their school endeavors. They must have the empathy to help students adjust to their everyday struggles and personal conflicts. They often give students information about scholarship grants and help them apply. They organize seminars talking about alcohol consumption and smoking. Counselors also discuss strategies to improve school performance regarding overall counseling services.

High school counselor vs education counselor salary

High school counselors and education counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	High School Counselor	Education Counselor
Average salary	$48,361	$45,465
Salary range	Between $35,000 And $65,000	Between $33,000 And $61,000
Highest paying City	Santa Rosa, CA	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	California	California
Best paying company	The American Musical and Dramatic Academy	Silicon Valley International School
Best paying industry	Professional	Education

Differences between high school counselor and education counselor education

There are a few differences between a high school counselor and an education counselor in terms of educational background:

	High School Counselor	Education Counselor
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 55%	Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Most common major	School Counseling	Psychology
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

High school counselor vs education counselor demographics

Here are the differences between high school counselors' and education counselors' demographics:

	High School Counselor	Education Counselor
Average age	42	42
Gender ratio	Male, 31.7% Female, 68.3%	Male, 33.3% Female, 66.7%
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%

Differences between high school counselor and education counselor duties and responsibilities

High school counselor example responsibilities.

Lead small student groups addressing student concerns about divorce, loneliness, social skills, study skills and recovery.
Assist students with FAFSA guidelines and scholarship searches.
Help students complete FAFSA, and other time-sensitive documents.
Coordinate test administration; conduct score interpretation and informal workshops about the PSAT program.
Administer standardized tests (Stanford 10 and PSAT) and review the results with students, parents and teaching staff.
Facilitate activities ranging from yoga to leadership training.

Education counselor example responsibilities.

Provide consultation and in-service to teachers, administrators and parents regarding IEP's, guidance and counseling practices and programs.
Collaborate as member of IEP teams, with school and district representatives and families, to identify specific student needs areas.
Work towards empowering juveniles and their families to support a positive lifestyle by providing strength base intensive intervention and rehabilitation services.
Participate in special education meetings as administrator, coordinate state testing and assist with RTI identifications.
Facilitate RTI process on caseload through identification, implementation, and through monitoring progress for further referrals for at-risk students.
Ensure client safety and provide necessary intervention toward adolescent teens admit into an inpatient drug and mental health treatment facility.

High school counselor vs education counselor skills

Common high school counselor skills

Mental Health, 7%
Financial Aid, 7%
Community Resources, 7%
Social Work, 6%
Crisis Intervention, 6%
at-Risk, 5%

Common education counselor skills

Mental Health, 11%
Crisis Intervention, 10%
Financial Aid, 6%
Behavioral Problems, 6%
Applied Behavior Analysis, 5%
Educational Programs, 5%

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High School Counselor
High School Counselor vs Education Counselor

Updated January 8, 2025

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