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The differences between peer counselors and lead counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a lead counselor has an average salary of $178,478, 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 a lead counselor are legal advice, litigation, and work ethic.
| Peer Counselor | Lead Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $37,464 | $178,478 |
| Hourly rate | $18.01 | $85.81 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 76,608 | 74,247 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| 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.
A Lead Counselor is responsible for the management of patients' mental health and rehabilitation services. Often, they help them to recover from a tragic or traumatic kind of situation. They also help the patient cope with family and job-related stress and other personal issues. They teach other staff and especially clients to educate them in dealing with stress management and eventually monitor their progress. This person should also have strong written and verbal communication skills.
Peer counselors and lead counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Peer Counselor | Lead Counselor | |
| Average salary | $37,464 | $178,478 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $57,000 | Between $100,000 And $315,000 |
| Highest paying City | Hayward, CA | Los Angeles, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | The Brooklyn Hospital Center | MDI |
| Best paying industry | Education | - |
There are a few differences between a peer counselor and a lead counselor in terms of educational background:
| Peer Counselor | Lead Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between peer counselors' and lead counselors' demographics:
| Peer Counselor | Lead Counselor | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 33.0% Female, 67.0% | Male, 41.6% Female, 58.4% |
| 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% |