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The differences between high school counselors and high school teachers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a high school teacher has an average salary of $52,441, which is higher than the $48,361 average annual salary of a high school counselor.
The top three skills for a high school counselor include mental health, financial aid and community resources. The most important skills for a high school teacher are classroom management, professional development, and culinary.
| High School Counselor | High School Teacher | |
| Yearly salary | $48,361 | $52,441 |
| Hourly rate | $23.25 | $25.21 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 93,675 | 83,554 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 42 | 43 |
| Years of experience | - | 2 |
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.
High school teachers play an essential role in preparing students for college or life following graduation. They typically teach students from the ninth to 12th grades. They plan and develop lessons, evaluate their students' strengths, weaknesses and abilities, and grade their exams and assignments. Other duties include working with individual students to challenge and improve their abilities, developing and implementing classroom rules, and overseeing students outside the classroom. Some of them also take on additional tasks, such as advising academic clubs or coaching sports teams.
High school counselors and high school teachers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| High School Counselor | High School Teacher | |
| Average salary | $48,361 | $52,441 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $65,000 | Between $37,000 And $72,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Rosa, CA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | California | New York |
| Best paying company | The American Musical and Dramatic Academy | Boston Public Schools |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Professional |
There are a few differences between a high school counselor and a high school teacher in terms of educational background:
| High School Counselor | High School Teacher | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | School Counseling | Education |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between high school counselors' and high school teachers' demographics:
| High School Counselor | High School Teacher | |
| Average age | 42 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 31.7% Female, 68.3% | Male, 46.5% Female, 53.5% |
| 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, 8.1% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.8% Asian, 3.6% White, 72.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 12% |