Mental health worker vs residence counselor

The differences between mental health workers and residence 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 worker and a residence counselor. Additionally, a mental health worker has an average salary of $41,081, which is higher than the $34,931 average annual salary of a residence counselor.

The top three skills for a mental health worker include patients, crisis intervention and social work. The most important skills for a residence counselor are developmental disabilities, CPR, and community resources.

Mental health worker vs residence counselor overview

	Mental Health Worker	Residence Counselor
Yearly salary	$41,081	$34,931
Hourly rate	$19.75	$16.79
Growth rate	9%	36%
Number of jobs	144,879	78,872
Job satisfaction	1	3
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 59%	Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Average age	45	41
Years of experience	4	4

What does a mental health worker do?

A mental health worker is an individual who provides basic care and therapy to patients who are inflicted with mental disabilities or developmental disabilities. Mental health workers assist patients with their daily activities, monitor their conditions, and administer therapeutic care. They may be directly supervised by a registered nurse and can work in facilities such as psychiatric hospitals and residential mental health facilities. They may also help develop treatment plans and strategies with other staff members to best meet patient needs.

What does a residence counselor do?

Residence counselors are professionals who are responsible for providing services such as one-to-one therapy and crisis support to clients who are living in group homes or assisted-living facilities. These counselors must assist adults with moderate intellectual disabilities to find employment while monitoring their work performance. They must facilitate and supervise daily personal care and activities for developmentally disabled adults. Residence counselors must also encourage clients to participate in community activities that can contribute to the development of skills necessary for independent living.

Mental health worker vs residence counselor salary

Mental health workers and residence counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Mental Health Worker	Residence Counselor
Average salary	$41,081	$34,931
Salary range	Between $28,000 And $59,000	Between $28,000 And $43,000
Highest paying City	San Francisco, CA	Phoenix, AZ
Highest paying state	California	Washington
Best paying company	Pacific Northwest National Laboratory	McLean Hospital
Best paying industry	Professional	Education

Differences between mental health worker and residence counselor education

There are a few differences between a mental health worker and a residence counselor in terms of educational background:

	Mental Health Worker	Residence Counselor
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 59%	Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Most common major	Psychology	Psychology
Most common college	California State University - Long Beach	California State University - Long Beach

Mental health worker vs residence counselor demographics

Here are the differences between mental health workers' and residence counselors' demographics:

	Mental Health Worker	Residence Counselor
Average age	45	41
Gender ratio	Male, 34.9% Female, 65.1%	Male, 34.5% Female, 65.5%
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%

Differences between mental health worker and residence counselor duties and responsibilities

Mental health worker example responsibilities.

Respond to and assist in behavioral codes working as a team member to successfully manage patient using methods obtain in CPI training
Train in provision of CPI, CPR, food handling, infection control and basic nursing care.
Provide direct care to patients under direction and guidance of professional nursing personnel within a mental illness psychiatric outpatient hospital.
Assist patients in becoming accustom to hospital routine and encourage them to participate in social and recreational activities to promote rehabilitation.
Provide referrals to appropriate multidisciplinary services, including mental health, drug/alcohol rehabilitation services, and medical and physical/occupational therapy services.
Conduct crisis stabilization via sanction CPI techniques with staff assistance.

Residence counselor example responsibilities.

Lead recreational activities for adolescents with ADHD and other behavior disorders.
Provide direct care, behavior management techniques, medication administration and CPR.
Design and supervise day to day activities for patients and construct a social program that provide opportunities for social rehabilitation.
Provide first aid and CPR, and minor medical assistance to residents.
Ensure medication compliance, maintain accurate medication logs, and assist in the development of ADL skills.
Evaluate the effectiveness of counseling programs and patients' progress in resolving identify problems and moving towards define objectives.

Mental health worker vs residence counselor skills

Common mental health worker skills

Patients, 20%
Crisis Intervention, 6%
Social Work, 6%
CPR, 5%
Vital Signs, 5%
Rehabilitation, 4%

Common residence counselor skills

Developmental Disabilities, 17%
CPR, 12%
Community Resources, 8%
Patients, 6%
Mental Illness, 6%
Medication Administration, 5%

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Mental Health Worker vs Residence Counselor

Updated January 8, 2025

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