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The differences between rehabilitation counselors and family counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a rehabilitation counselor, becoming a family counselor takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a rehabilitation counselor has an average salary of $43,111, which is higher than the $41,510 average annual salary of a family counselor.
The top three skills for a rehabilitation counselor include rehabilitation, social work and mental health. The most important skills for a family counselor are social work, community resources, and POC.
| Rehabilitation Counselor | Family Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $43,111 | $41,510 |
| Hourly rate | $20.73 | $19.96 |
| Growth rate | 11% | 14% |
| Number of jobs | 77,220 | 93,253 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 4 |
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.
A Family Counselor treats married couples or family members in order to help them overcome mental or emotional problems. They provide effective treatment measures to help the family members resolve their issues.
Rehabilitation counselors and family counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Rehabilitation Counselor | Family Counselor | |
| Average salary | $43,111 | $41,510 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $58,000 | Between $27,000 And $62,000 |
| Highest paying City | Cleveland, OH | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Ohio | New York |
| Best paying company | North Shore Healthcare | Shirley Ryan AbilityLab |
| Best paying industry | Government | Professional |
There are a few differences between a rehabilitation counselor and a family counselor in terms of educational background:
| Rehabilitation Counselor | Family Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | University of Washington | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between rehabilitation counselors' and family counselors' demographics:
| Rehabilitation Counselor | Family Counselor | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 33.9% Female, 66.1% | Male, 26.3% Female, 73.7% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 7.0% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% Asian, 4.6% White, 68.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 21% | 6% |