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Rehabilitation specialist vs counselor

The differences between rehabilitation specialists and counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a rehabilitation specialist has an average salary of $42,934, which is higher than the $36,225 average annual salary of a counselor.

The top three skills for a rehabilitation specialist include rehabilitation, patients and crisis intervention. The most important skills for a counselor are patients, crisis intervention, and substance abuse.

Rehabilitation specialist vs counselor overview

Rehabilitation SpecialistCounselor
Yearly salary$42,934$36,225
Hourly rate$20.64$17.42
Growth rate11%10%
Number of jobs29,17777,536
Job satisfaction-2
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Average age4544
Years of experience12-

What does a rehabilitation specialist do?

Rehabilitation specialists are professionals who are responsible for helping individuals with physical and mental disabilities to reintegrate into society and live independently. These specialists must assist their clients in finding the type of work they could do with their disability and prepare them for their interview. They are required to provide a basic explanation about the medical or mental health condition to their clients. Rehabilitation specialists must also collaborate with other professionals to assist with rehabilitation exercises.

What does a counselor do?

Often, counselors are known to be the go-to person in times we are in need of emotional and psychological support. They help people to manage and overcome the issues which affect their mental health and well-being. Counselors face different kind of situations which may involve trauma, addiction, disabilities, abuse, suicide, anger management, career, and even personal relationships. They provide care, counseling, rehabilitation, and support services. Every counseling requires collaborative effort both from the counselor and client to become effective.

Rehabilitation specialist vs counselor salary

Rehabilitation specialists and counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Rehabilitation SpecialistCounselor
Average salary$42,934$36,225
Salary rangeBetween $29,000 And $62,000Between $19,000 And $67,000
Highest paying CityCleveland, OH-
Highest paying stateAlaskaCalifornia
Best paying companyPrudential Bank-
Best paying industryProfessionalEducation

Differences between rehabilitation specialist and counselor education

There are a few differences between a rehabilitation specialist and a counselor in terms of educational background:

Rehabilitation SpecialistCounselor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Most common majorPsychologyPsychology
Most common collegeColumbia University in the City of New YorkUniversity of Pennsylvania

Rehabilitation specialist vs counselor demographics

Here are the differences between rehabilitation specialists' and counselors' demographics:

Rehabilitation SpecialistCounselor
Average age4544
Gender ratioMale, 33.0% Female, 67.0%Male, 38.5% Female, 61.5%
Race ratioBlack 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, 15.6% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 3.5% White, 63.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%
LGBT Percentage21%9%

Differences between rehabilitation specialist and counselor duties and responsibilities

Rehabilitation specialist example responsibilities.

  • Ensure the facilities' mission are achieved by effectively supervising the mental health rehabilitative efforts of severely and chronically ill patients.
  • Assist in the development and implementation of ISP goals and objectives.
  • Utilize extensive administrative, CPR, first aid, and medical equipment training as needed.
  • Encourage and assist patients to perform specific activities of daily living (ADL's).
  • Prepare and participate in semi and annual meetings, ISP's and day hab plans.
  • Resolve issues with the clients that create a barrier to the successful completion of their IPE.
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Counselor example responsibilities.

  • Maintain a safe program through ongoing CPI training.
  • Utilize de-escalation skills (CPI) when necessary.
  • Instill confidence, improve all components of writing and reading, and study strategies.
  • Arrange ESL tutoring and perform as liaison between students, parents, and school administrators.
  • Advise students into their major field of study, and assisting them with choosing the correct curriculum.
  • Operate a full service litigation office that evolve from general litigation to criminal litigation to federal criminal trials.
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Rehabilitation specialist vs counselor skills

Common rehabilitation specialist skills
  • Rehabilitation, 24%
  • Patients, 14%
  • Crisis Intervention, 6%
  • Excellent Interpersonal, 4%
  • Patient Care, 4%
  • Social Work, 4%
Common counselor skills
  • Patients, 13%
  • Crisis Intervention, 12%
  • Substance Abuse, 12%
  • Social Work, 10%
  • Community Resources, 4%
  • CPR, 4%

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