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High school counselor vs student support counselor

The differences between high school counselors and student support 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 $41,329 average annual salary of a student support counselor.

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

High school counselor vs student support counselor overview

High School CounselorStudent Support Counselor
Yearly salary$48,361$41,329
Hourly rate$23.25$19.87
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs93,675134,839
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 55%Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Average age4242
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 a student support counselor do?

A student support counselor is responsible for identifying the students' strengths and challenges through one-on-one counseling and establishing solutions to help them overcome difficulties and achieve their educational goals and aspirations. Student support counselors assist the faculty in determining appropriate programs and activities to develop the students' capabilities, especially as a way of preparing them with their career objectives. They also coordinate with the students' families for extended guidance and support for their growth and development.

High school counselor vs student support counselor salary

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

High School CounselorStudent Support Counselor
Average salary$48,361$41,329
Salary rangeBetween $35,000 And $65,000Between $29,000 And $57,000
Highest paying CitySanta Rosa, CATeaneck, NJ
Highest paying stateCaliforniaMassachusetts
Best paying companyThe American Musical and Dramatic AcademyMercy College
Best paying industryProfessionalEducation

Differences between high school counselor and student support counselor education

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

High School CounselorStudent Support Counselor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 55%Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Most common majorSchool CounselingPsychology
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

High school counselor vs student support counselor demographics

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

High School CounselorStudent Support Counselor
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 31.7% Female, 68.3%Male, 34.3% Female, 65.7%
Race ratioBlack 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 Percentage11%11%

Differences between high school counselor and student support 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.
  • Show more

Student support counselor example responsibilities.

  • Maintain confidentiality relating to treatment while keeping organize and up to date IEP's, and medical records file accordingly.
  • Attend IEP meetings of students on caseload and present to the IEP team a clinical progress report with counseling goals.
  • Work towards empowering juveniles and their families to support a positive lifestyle by providing strength base intensive intervention and rehabilitation services.
  • Provide behavior modification and social skills training to children and adolescents with ADHD and other behavioral and emotional disorders.

High school counselor vs student support 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 student support counselor skills
  • Student Support, 18%
  • Mental Health, 11%
  • Crisis Intervention, 7%
  • Professional Development, 6%
  • Behavioral Issues, 5%
  • Financial Aid, 4%

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