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Lead residential counselor vs program counselor

The differences between lead residential counselors and program counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a lead residential counselor and a program counselor. Additionally, a program counselor has an average salary of $43,820, which is higher than the $36,902 average annual salary of a lead residential counselor.

The top three skills for a lead residential counselor include autism, social work and medication administration. The most important skills for a program counselor are developmental disabilities, patients, and community integration.

Lead residential counselor vs program counselor overview

Lead Residential CounselorProgram Counselor
Yearly salary$36,902$43,820
Hourly rate$17.74$21.07
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs36,355133,491
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Average age4141
Years of experience44

Lead residential counselor vs program counselor salary

Lead residential counselors and program counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Lead Residential CounselorProgram Counselor
Average salary$36,902$43,820
Salary rangeBetween $29,000 And $46,000Between $33,000 And $58,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CANew York, NY
Highest paying stateCaliforniaNew York
Best paying companyBoston Higashi SchoolRussell Sage College
Best paying industryProfessionalHealth Care

Differences between lead residential counselor and program counselor education

There are a few differences between a lead residential counselor and a program counselor in terms of educational background:

Lead Residential CounselorProgram Counselor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Most common majorPsychologyPsychology
Most common collegeBoston UniversityCalifornia State University - Long Beach

Lead residential counselor vs program counselor demographics

Here are the differences between lead residential counselors' and program counselors' demographics:

Lead Residential CounselorProgram Counselor
Average age4141
Gender ratioMale, 41.3% Female, 58.7%Male, 35.9% Female, 64.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 3.2% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 3.2% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage15%15%

Differences between lead residential counselor and program counselor duties and responsibilities

Lead residential counselor example responsibilities.

  • Engage, educate and empower participants to access community base resources in order to achieve greater self-determination, rehabilitation and recovery.
  • Promote continuity of care by accurately and completely communicating to other caregivers the status of patients for which care is provided.
  • Assist in maintaining IEP goals in order to avoid regression.
  • Deliver evidence-based treatment to children with ADHD and other behavioral disorders.

Program counselor example responsibilities.

  • Lead recreational activities for adolescents with ADHD and other behavior disorders.
  • Provide education, within hospital setting, to adolescent psychiatric patients regarding substance abuse and dependency issues.
  • Receive CPR and first aid certifications.
  • Attend and receive CPR and basic restraint technique certifications.
  • Assist each client with compassion to encourage them on their journey to recovery.
  • Encourage and mentore residents during their recovery and rehabilitation process.
  • Show more

Lead residential counselor vs program counselor skills

Common lead residential counselor skills
  • Autism, 16%
  • Social Work, 15%
  • Medication Administration, 10%
  • Crisis Intervention, 9%
  • CPR, 8%
  • Developmental Disabilities, 7%
Common program counselor skills
  • Developmental Disabilities, 11%
  • Patients, 11%
  • Community Integration, 9%
  • CPR, 8%
  • Social Work, 8%
  • Medication Administration, 7%

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