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The differences between program advisors and student development advisors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a student development advisor has an average salary of $103,328, which is higher than the $55,656 average annual salary of a program advisor.
The top three skills for a program advisor include customer service, persistence and intellectual disabilities. The most important skills for a student development advisor are C++, java, and API.
| Program Advisor | Student Development Advisor | |
| Yearly salary | $55,656 | $103,328 |
| Hourly rate | $26.76 | $49.68 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 109,307 | 105,133 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| 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.
The role of a student development advisor involves giving advice to students. Student development advisors aid and guide students in defining and developing realistic educational career plans. They prepare their schedules every quarter of the school year while monitoring the progress of their graduation. The advisors are expected to be knowledgeable, timely, and organized, positive, and encouraging. Also, they serve as students' role models who aim for their success in academics.
Program advisors and student development advisors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Program Advisor | Student Development Advisor | |
| Average salary | $55,656 | $103,328 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $96,000 | Between $80,000 And $132,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Thousand Oaks, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | Eli Lilly and Company |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a program advisor and a student development advisor in terms of educational background:
| Program Advisor | Student Development Advisor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between program advisors' and student development advisors' demographics:
| Program Advisor | Student Development Advisor | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 44.8% Female, 55.2% | Male, 51.8% Female, 48.2% |
| 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% |