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The differences between mental health associates and residential 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 mental health associate and a residential counselor. Additionally, a mental health associate has an average salary of $36,510, which is higher than the $34,117 average annual salary of a residential counselor.
The top three skills for a mental health associate include patients, customer service and vital signs. The most important skills for a residential counselor are direct care, medication administration, and mental health.
| Mental Health Associate | Residential Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $36,510 | $34,117 |
| Hourly rate | $17.55 | $16.40 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 12% |
| Number of jobs | 122,947 | 81,287 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
As a mental health associate, you will assist the medical team members in diagnosing and treating individuals with mental, developmental, and behavioral conditions. You may be tasked to facilitate individual and group therapy sessions, help patients with their day-to-day activities such as self-care and hygiene, and assist in administering medications prescribed by physicians. Other duties include planning and leading program activities, attending treatment rounds, and assisting with the physical care of patients. The qualifications and skills required for this role include a bachelor's degree in social science or psychology, previous work experience, and certification on basic life support.
A residential counselor is responsible for guiding and providing the residents with their basic needs and other resources to support them in their daily living. Residential counselors' duties include maintaining the safety of the community by enforcing safety guidelines and procedures for the residents' compliance, organizing productive and engaging community activities, updating the residents of any changes and policies in the community, and resolving conflicts by counseling and understanding each resident's differences. A residential counselor must have excellent communication and decision-making skills to ensure the development of residents in a living facility.
Mental health associates and residential counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Mental Health Associate | Residential Counselor | |
| Average salary | $36,510 | $34,117 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $51,000 | Between $27,000 And $42,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | New York | Washington |
| Best paying company | Columbia University in the City of New York | The Evergreens |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Education |
There are a few differences between a mental health associate and a residential counselor in terms of educational background:
| Mental Health Associate | Residential Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between mental health associates' and residential counselors' demographics:
| Mental Health Associate | Residential Counselor | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 33.0% Female, 67.0% | Male, 33.0% Female, 67.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 3.1% White, 74.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | 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 Percentage | 15% | 15% |