Primary counselor vs group counselor

The differences between primary counselors and group 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 group counselor takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a primary counselor has an average salary of $44,580, which is higher than the $40,155 average annual salary of a group counselor.

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

Primary counselor vs group counselor overview

	Primary Counselor	Group Counselor
Yearly salary	$44,580	$40,155
Hourly rate	$21.43	$19.31
Growth rate	9%	9%
Number of jobs	65,753	84,413
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 58%	Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Average age	39	41
Years of experience	6	4

Primary counselor vs group counselor salary

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

	Primary Counselor	Group Counselor
Average salary	$44,580	$40,155
Salary range	Between $31,000 And $63,000	Between $14,000 And $110,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between primary counselor and group counselor education

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

	Primary Counselor	Group Counselor
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 58%	Bachelor's Degree, 61%
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 group counselor demographics

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

	Primary Counselor	Group Counselor
Average age	39	41
Gender ratio	Male, 34.5% Female, 65.5%	Male, 40.8% Female, 59.2%
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 group 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.

Group counselor example responsibilities.

Administer first aid and CPR when need.
Develop leadership skills while training younger counselors.
Execute leadership skills by planning and facilitating activities.
Work towards empowering juveniles and their families to support a positive lifestyle by providing strength base intensive intervention and rehabilitation services.
Provide behavior modification and social skills training to children and adolescents with ADHD and other behavioral and emotional disorders.

Primary counselor vs group 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 group counselor skills

Mental Health, 23%
Patients, 21%
Crisis Intervention, 8%
Social Work, 8%
Rehabilitation, 7%
Group Therapy Sessions, 5%