Primary counselor vs clinical counselor

The differences between primary counselors and clinical counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a primary counselor, becoming a clinical counselor takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a clinical counselor has an average salary of $54,191, which is higher than the $44,580 average annual salary of a primary counselor.

The top three skills for a primary counselor include group therapy sessions, mental health and crisis intervention. The most important skills for a clinical counselor are social work, patients, and foster care.

Primary counselor vs clinical counselor overview

	Primary Counselor	Clinical Counselor
Yearly salary	$44,580	$54,191
Hourly rate	$21.43	$26.05
Growth rate	9%	17%
Number of jobs	65,753	146,133
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 58%	Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Average age	39	41
Years of experience	6	4

Primary counselor vs clinical counselor salary

Primary counselors and clinical counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Primary Counselor	Clinical Counselor
Average salary	$44,580	$54,191
Salary range	Between $31,000 And $63,000	Between $43,000 And $67,000
Highest paying City	-	Bethesda, MD
Highest paying state	-	Maryland
Best paying company	-	Novo Nordisk
Best paying industry	-	Professional

Differences between primary counselor and clinical counselor education

There are a few differences between a primary counselor and a clinical counselor in terms of educational background:

	Primary Counselor	Clinical Counselor
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 58%	Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Most common major	Psychology	Psychology
Most common college	Hunter College of the City University of New York	California State University - Long Beach

Primary counselor vs clinical counselor demographics

Here are the differences between primary counselors' and clinical counselors' demographics:

	Primary Counselor	Clinical Counselor
Average age	39	41
Gender ratio	Male, 34.5% Female, 65.5%	Male, 28.4% Female, 71.6%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.4% Asian, 4.6% White, 63.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%	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	12%	15%

Differences between primary counselor and clinical counselor duties and responsibilities

Primary counselor example responsibilities.

Coordinate individual client treatment plans to achieve individual and department rehabilitation goals.
Conduct intake screenings and assessment for treatment entry and appropriateness per ASAM criteria.
Develop and implement individualized treatment plans base on patient needs and ASAM criteria.
Maintain accurate and complete chart documentation regarding patient attitude and progress in the rehabilitation process following program protocols.
Facilitate group activities, arrange for outside recovery-orient NA/AA meetings, and provide a safe environment for recovering patients.
Facilitate substance abuse group counseling sessions to assist patients in recognizing causal factors of substance abuse and in developing coping behaviors.

Clinical counselor example responsibilities.

Manage a caseload of individuals in programs design to provide vocational rehabilitation and other services to the developmentally disable.
Conduct group check-in and co-lead group psychotherapy sessions to help clients identify and manage problems associate with psychiatric conditions.
Perform client intake assessments and conduct monthly assessments to identify progress of patients and determine individuals ready to graduate from program.
Review charts to ensure that they are in compliance with OASAS standards.
Initial assessment, diagnosis, ASAM criteria, treatment planning , 3rd party contact, group and individual therapy.
Maintain appropriate documentation per NYS OASAS regulations and APG guidelines

Primary counselor vs clinical counselor skills

Common primary counselor skills

Group Therapy Sessions, 10%
Mental Health, 10%
Crisis Intervention, 10%
Patients, 8%
Intake Assessments, 8%
Substance Abuse Treatment, 8%

Common clinical counselor skills

Social Work, 36%
Patients, 8%
Foster Care, 7%
Independent Living, 6%
Child Abuse, 4%
Clinical Services, 3%