Human services instructor vs service counselor

The differences between human services instructors and service counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a human services instructor and a service counselor. Additionally, a human services instructor has an average salary of $42,301, which is higher than the $35,402 average annual salary of a service counselor.

The top three skills for a human services instructor include human services, social work and professional development. The most important skills for a service counselor are social work, crisis intervention, and patients.

Human services instructor vs service counselor overview

	Human Services Instructor	Service Counselor
Yearly salary	$42,301	$35,402
Hourly rate	$20.34	$17.02
Growth rate	12%	12%
Number of jobs	115,353	44,284
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 51%	Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Average age	43	43
Years of experience	12	12

What does a human services instructor do?

A human services instructor instructs students in human services and other subjects, typically those related to working in the community or social work. They generally teach these courses in classrooms, both physical and online, but occasionally work in practicum settings. They develop courses that will effectively teach students, create assignments, and give exams. They may also conduct research projects or even publish articles in academic journals as required. This position requires a high level of professionalism.

What does a service counselor do?

Service counselors provide guidance to couples, individuals, groups, and families who are going through issues that influence their well-being and mental health. They comprehensively approach their clients by utilizing a "wellness" model that focuses on and motivate the client's potentials. Their duties include inspiring clients to talk about their emotions and experiences, helping them determine their action plans and goals, as well as designing therapeutic methods. Also, they may refer their clients to other services or psychologists.

Human services instructor vs service counselor salary

Human services instructors and service counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Human Services Instructor	Service Counselor
Average salary	$42,301	$35,402
Salary range	Between $23,000 And $77,000	Between $24,000 And $51,000
Highest paying City	Oakland, CA	Urban Honolulu, HI
Highest paying state	California	Hawaii
Best paying company	Mohawk Valley Health System	Google
Best paying industry	Education	Education

Differences between human services instructor and service counselor education

There are a few differences between a human services instructor and a service counselor in terms of educational background:

	Human Services Instructor	Service Counselor
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 51%	Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Most common major	Psychology	Psychology
Most common college	University of Southern California	SUNY at Binghamton

Human services instructor vs service counselor demographics

Here are the differences between human services instructors' and service counselors' demographics:

	Human Services Instructor	Service Counselor
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 49.5% Female, 50.5%	Male, 33.3% Female, 66.7%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 11.5% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 18.0% Asian, 7.4% White, 56.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.9%	Black or African American, 12.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 19.7% Asian, 7.1% White, 54.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6%
LGBT Percentage	11%	11%

Differences between human services instructor and service counselor duties and responsibilities

Human services instructor example responsibilities.

Guide individuals in accomplishing their ISP objectives by demonstrating effective instruction techniques and positive reinforcement.
Work in humanities with an emphasis in literature.
Design course syllabus, curriculum, and topics of discussion.
Have experiencing teaching developmental courses to deficient entry level students, as well as college level writing and literature.
Prepare syllabus and lesson plans base on department educational goals, developing unique strategies to teach various levels of adult learners.
Support and implement behavioral therapy with individuals with autism, primarily focusing on social skills in school and the community environment.

Service counselor example responsibilities.

Develop contracting strategy to build capacity and achieve ongoing compliance with Medicare and Medicaid provider network adequacy requirements.
Implement patient financial services department to assist patients and family members to ensure successful patient representation and expeditious benefit recovery.
Examine injured persons and administer first aid or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, if necessary, using training and medical supplies and equipment.

Human services instructor vs service counselor skills

Common human services instructor skills

Human Services, 15%
Social Work, 13%
Professional Development, 9%
Curriculum Development, 8%
Philosophy, 7%
Literature, 7%

Common service counselor skills

Social Work, 16%
Crisis Intervention, 9%
Patients, 7%
Support Services, 6%
Social Services, 6%
Rehabilitation, 6%

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Human Services Instructor
Human Services Instructor vs Service Counselor

Updated January 8, 2025

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