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The differences between program advisors and admissions counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a program advisor has an average salary of $55,656, which is higher than the $39,298 average annual salary of an admissions counselor.
The top three skills for a program advisor include customer service, persistence and intellectual disabilities. The most important skills for an admissions counselor are customer service, patients, and social work.
| Program Advisor | Admissions Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $55,656 | $39,298 |
| Hourly rate | $26.76 | $18.89 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 109,307 | 43,413 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A program advisor is in charge of overseeing programs from planning to execution, ensuring everything functions according to its goals and guidelines. Although their responsibilities depend on their line of work and industry of employment, it typically involves performing research and analysis to find new opportunities and determine ideal practices, gathering and analyzing client feedback, setting objectives, and developing strategies to carry out the purpose of every program, prioritizing optimal services. Moreover, a program advisor must monitor the progress of all operations, recommending solutions should any problems arise.
An admissions counselor is the primary point of contact between a university or college and their potential students. One of their primary responsibilities is to represent the school during various events for recruitment purposes, discuss the admission procedures to the students and their families through calls or appointments, and facilitate university tours and orientation among prospective students. Furthermore, they must gather applicants' requirements, verify their authenticity, and determine if they are qualified for the institution. They may also decide student admissions, all while adhering to the college's policies and guidelines.
Program advisors and admissions counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Program Advisor | Admissions Counselor | |
| Average salary | $55,656 | $39,298 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $96,000 | Between $30,000 And $50,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Rafael, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | Apple | School of Visual Concepts |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Professional |
There are a few differences between a program advisor and an admissions counselor in terms of educational background:
| Program Advisor | Admissions Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between program advisors' and admissions counselors' demographics:
| Program Advisor | Admissions Counselor | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 44.8% Female, 55.2% | Male, 38.6% Female, 61.4% |
| 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% |