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The differences between rehabilitation counselors and service counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a rehabilitation counselor and a service counselor. Additionally, a rehabilitation counselor has an average salary of $43,111, which is higher than the $35,402 average annual salary of a service counselor.
The top three skills for a rehabilitation counselor include rehabilitation, social work and mental health. The most important skills for a service counselor are social work, crisis intervention, and patients.
| Rehabilitation Counselor | Service Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $43,111 | $35,402 |
| Hourly rate | $20.73 | $17.02 |
| Growth rate | 11% | 12% |
| Number of jobs | 77,220 | 44,284 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 45 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
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.
Service counselors provide guidance to couples, individuals, groups, and families who are going through issues that influence their well-being and mental health. They comprehensively approach their clients by utilizing a "wellness" model that focuses on and motivate the client's potentials. Their duties include inspiring clients to talk about their emotions and experiences, helping them determine their action plans and goals, as well as designing therapeutic methods. Also, they may refer their clients to other services or psychologists.
Rehabilitation counselors and service counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Rehabilitation Counselor | Service Counselor | |
| Average salary | $43,111 | $35,402 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $58,000 | Between $24,000 And $51,000 |
| Highest paying City | Cleveland, OH | Urban Honolulu, HI |
| Highest paying state | Ohio | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | North Shore Healthcare | |
| Best paying industry | Government | Education |
There are a few differences between a rehabilitation counselor and a service counselor in terms of educational background:
| Rehabilitation Counselor | Service Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | University of Washington | SUNY at Binghamton |
Here are the differences between rehabilitation counselors' and service counselors' demographics:
| Rehabilitation Counselor | Service Counselor | |
| Average age | 45 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 33.9% Female, 66.1% | Male, 33.3% Female, 66.7% |
| 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, 12.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 19.7% Asian, 7.1% White, 54.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 21% | 11% |