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The differences between program counselors and rehabilitation counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a program counselor, becoming a rehabilitation counselor takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a program counselor has an average salary of $43,820, which is higher than the $43,111 average annual salary of a rehabilitation counselor.
The top three skills for a program counselor include developmental disabilities, patients and community integration. The most important skills for a rehabilitation counselor are rehabilitation, social work, and mental health.
| Program Counselor | Rehabilitation Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $43,820 | $43,111 |
| Hourly rate | $21.07 | $20.73 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 133,491 | 77,220 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 41 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 12 |
A Program Counselor is an essential part of a school's faculty. It's the counselor's responsibility to ensure that students are benefiting from the school's educational curriculum. This person is also tasked to help students resolve issues and problems that may hinder any educational progress. They are also part of the disciplinary team intended to instill good morals, ethics, and decency in students. The Program Counselor is one of the teacher or professor who has expertise or has a high educational degree in a particular subject or field.
Rehabilitation counselors are professional counselors who are responsible for helping individuals cope with their disabilities to live independently. These counselors are required to consult other professionals, family members, and individuals when developing a treatment plan based on the goals, strengths, limitations, and personal values of their clients. They must make connections with community support so that individuals with disabilities can avail of the types of services that are available. Rehabilitation counselors must also find employers and educate them in understanding the needs and abilities of disabled people.
Program counselors and rehabilitation counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Program Counselor | Rehabilitation Counselor | |
| Average salary | $43,820 | $43,111 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $58,000 | Between $31,000 And $58,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Cleveland, OH |
| Highest paying state | New York | Ohio |
| Best paying company | Russell Sage College | North Shore Healthcare |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Government |
There are a few differences between a program counselor and a rehabilitation counselor in terms of educational background:
| Program Counselor | Rehabilitation Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | University of Washington |
Here are the differences between program counselors' and rehabilitation counselors' demographics:
| Program Counselor | Rehabilitation Counselor | |
| Average age | 41 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 35.9% Female, 64.1% | Male, 33.9% Female, 66.1% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 13.7% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 10.8% Asian, 2.9% White, 66.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 15% | 21% |