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The differences between peer counselors and academic counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an academic counselor has an average salary of $47,454, which is higher than the $37,464 average annual salary of a peer counselor.
The top three skills for a peer counselor include peer support, substance abuse and wic program. The most important skills for an academic counselor are financial aid, academic support, and student services.
| Peer Counselor | Academic Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $37,464 | $47,454 |
| Hourly rate | $18.01 | $22.81 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 76,608 | 39,084 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
Typically working at schools, communities, or medical facilities, a peer counselor specializes in providing counseling to an individual or group of people, aiming to help them deal with and overcome crises. Their duties often include conducting initial assessments through interviews and appointments, listening to clients and offering advice, recommending opportunities, referring them to other support agencies, and coordinating treatment services as needed. Above all, a peer counselor must provide emotional support and guidance to clients, giving them comfort and a shoulder to lean on.
In high schools and universities, an academic counselor specializes in providing counseling and consultations to students, focusing on their educational and career growth. They typically meet with students to discuss their short and long term goals and help by providing them with insights and information or referring them to other services and resources. Moreover, an academic counselor must assist students by addressing their issues and concerns, giving them emotional support and academic advice, and helping them navigate through various procedures.
Peer counselors and academic counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Peer Counselor | Academic Counselor | |
| Average salary | $37,464 | $47,454 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $57,000 | Between $35,000 And $63,000 |
| Highest paying City | Hayward, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Virginia |
| Best paying company | The Brooklyn Hospital Center | California College of the Arts |
| Best paying industry | Education | Non Profits |
There are a few differences between a peer counselor and an academic counselor in terms of educational background:
| Peer Counselor | Academic Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between peer counselors' and academic counselors' demographics:
| Peer Counselor | Academic Counselor | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 33.0% Female, 67.0% | Male, 35.4% Female, 64.6% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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 Percentage | 11% | 11% |