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The differences between high school counselors and guidance 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 $48,154 average annual salary of a guidance counselor.
The top three skills for a high school counselor include mental health, financial aid and community resources. The most important skills for a guidance counselor are crisis intervention, community resources, and mental health.
| High School Counselor | Guidance Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $48,361 | $48,154 |
| Hourly rate | $23.25 | $23.15 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 93,675 | 75,740 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| 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.
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.
High school counselors and guidance counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| High School Counselor | Guidance Counselor | |
| Average salary | $48,361 | $48,154 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $65,000 | Between $36,000 And $64,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Rosa, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | The American Musical and Dramatic Academy | Poly Prep Country Day School |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Education |
There are a few differences between a high school counselor and a guidance counselor in terms of educational background:
| High School Counselor | Guidance Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Most common major | School Counseling | School Counseling |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between high school counselors' and guidance counselors' demographics:
| High School Counselor | Guidance Counselor | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 31.7% Female, 68.3% | Male, 31.3% Female, 68.7% |
| 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% |