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The differences between high school counselors and peer 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 $37,464 average annual salary of a peer counselor.
The top three skills for a high school counselor include mental health, financial aid and community resources. The most important skills for a peer counselor are peer support, substance abuse, and wic program.
| High School Counselor | Peer Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $48,361 | $37,464 |
| Hourly rate | $23.25 | $18.01 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 93,675 | 76,608 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| 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.
Typically working at schools, communities, or medical facilities, a peer counselor specializes in providing counseling to an individual or group of people, aiming to help them deal with and overcome crises. Their duties often include conducting initial assessments through interviews and appointments, listening to clients and offering advice, recommending opportunities, referring them to other support agencies, and coordinating treatment services as needed. Above all, a peer counselor must provide emotional support and guidance to clients, giving them comfort and a shoulder to lean on.
High school counselors and peer counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| High School Counselor | Peer Counselor | |
| Average salary | $48,361 | $37,464 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $65,000 | Between $24,000 And $57,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Rosa, CA | Hayward, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | The American Musical and Dramatic Academy | The Brooklyn Hospital Center |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Education |
There are a few differences between a high school counselor and a peer counselor in terms of educational background:
| High School Counselor | Peer Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | School Counseling | Psychology |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between high school counselors' and peer counselors' demographics:
| High School Counselor | Peer Counselor | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 31.7% Female, 68.3% | Male, 33.0% Female, 67.0% |
| 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% |