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The differences between rehabilitation counselors and group 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 group counselor takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a rehabilitation counselor has an average salary of $43,111, which is higher than the $40,155 average annual salary of a group counselor.
The top three skills for a rehabilitation counselor include rehabilitation, social work and mental health. The most important skills for a group counselor are mental health, patients, and crisis intervention.
| Rehabilitation Counselor | Group Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $43,111 | $40,155 |
| Hourly rate | $20.73 | $19.31 |
| Growth rate | 11% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 77,220 | 84,413 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| 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 group counselor provides counseling services primarily in a group setting, aiming to provide clients with a supportive and healthy environment where they can work on different issues and reach personal goals. They typically conduct research and assessments, establish program objectives and guidelines, arrange various activities, and facilitate positive interactions to support one another. Additionally, a group counselor has the duty to implement policies and standards, create treatment plans, and optimize strategies to ensure clients receive optimal support and services.
Rehabilitation counselors and group counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Rehabilitation Counselor | Group Counselor | |
| Average salary | $43,111 | $40,155 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $58,000 | Between $14,000 And $110,000 |
| Highest paying City | Cleveland, OH | - |
| Highest paying state | Ohio | - |
| Best paying company | North Shore Healthcare | - |
| Best paying industry | Government | - |
There are a few differences between a rehabilitation counselor and a group counselor in terms of educational background:
| Rehabilitation Counselor | Group Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | University of Washington | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between rehabilitation counselors' and group counselors' demographics:
| Rehabilitation Counselor | Group Counselor | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 33.9% Female, 66.1% | Male, 40.8% Female, 59.2% |
| 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, 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 | 21% | 15% |