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How to hire a relief counselor

Relief counselor hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring relief counselors in the United States:

  • HR departments typically spend 15% of their expenses on recruitment.
  • It usually takes about 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • It typically takes 36-42 days to fill a job opening.
  • The median cost to hire a relief counselor is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend an average of $1,105 per relief counselor on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • There are currently 152,798 relief counselors in the US and 32,787 job openings.
  • Eugene, OR, has the highest demand for relief counselors, with 5 job openings.
  • Rochester, NY has the highest concentration of relief counselors.

How to hire a relief counselor, step by step

To hire a relief counselor, consider the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Follow these steps to hire a relief counselor:

Here's a step-by-step relief counselor hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a relief counselor job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new relief counselor
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you start hiring a relief counselor, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    A relief counselor's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, relief counselors from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

    Here's a comparison of relief counselor salaries for various roles:

    Type of Relief CounselorDescriptionHourly rate
    Relief CounselorMental health counselors and marriage and family therapists help people manage and overcome mental and emotional disorders and problems with family and other relationships. They listen to clients and ask questions to help the clients understand their problems and develop strategies to improve their lives.$12-22
    Counselor InternshipWhen it comes to Counselor Internship, among the primary responsibilities is to assist in dealing with various activities such as preparing and verifying necessary documentation, observing consultations and outreach programs, guide clients and help develop multiple helpful strategies, and provide assessments. Furthermore, one can conduct counseling and consultation only under supervision... Show more$14-31
    Licensed Professional CounselorA licensed professional counselor is a healthcare professional who specializes in providing therapy and counseling to patients with emotional and mental health issues. They listen to their patients and utilize various techniques to address concerns and help through the healing procedures... Show more$35-58
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Crisis Intervention
    • ADL
    • Behavior Management
    • Substance Abuse
    • Rehabilitation
    • Developmental Disabilities
    • CPR
    • Cleanliness
    • Meal Planning
    • Medication Administration
    • Community Outings
    • Residential Program
    • Direct Supervision
    • Intellectual Disabilities
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Lead recreational activities for adolescents with ADHD and other behavior disorders.
    • Evaluate the effectiveness of counseling programs and patients' progress in resolving identify problems and moving towards define objectives.
    • Provide leadership and direction to new and existing staff members; identify training development assuring that training/certification are obtained and maintain.
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your relief counselor job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A relief counselor salary can vary based on several factors:
    • Location. For example, relief counselors' average salary in arkansas is 39% less than in california.
    • Seniority. Entry-level relief counselors earn 43% less than senior-level relief counselors.
    • Certifications. A relief counselor with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a relief counselor's salary.

    Average relief counselor salary

    $36,049yearly

    $17.33 hourly rate

    Entry-level relief counselor salary
    $27,000 yearly salary
    Updated January 22, 2026
  4. Writing a relief counselor job description

    A job description for a relief counselor role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a relief counselor job description:

    Relief counselor job description example

    Direct Care Relief Counselors Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin and Berkshire County Per-Diem Are you ready to help people and make a difference? Then consider what career opportunities ServiceNet has to offer! Relief Counselors are the backbone of our organization and assist our Mental Health Recovery / Developmental Brain Injury clients with their day to day needs, in comfortably furnished residential homes. Relief Counselors also assist our Shelter and Housing individuals; as well as, Vocational. Experience working with Mental Health Recovery, Developmental Disability and / or Brain Injury individuals is nice to have but not required. This opportunity is a flexible position that allows you to work across multiple programs and locations. Using an online scheduling platform; Relief Counselors are able to select their schedule at locations throughout Western Mass. This is a great opportunity for students pursuing a degree in human services or a related field, to gain experience and exposure. Or just make some extra cash! Relief counselors will be reliable and empathetic individuals, who are willing to jump in and help out where ever they are needed. POSITION QUALIFICATIONS: · Valid driver’s license and acceptable motor vehicle record.
    • Physical ability to perform the requirements of the position.
    • Basic Computer Skills
    • High School Diploma or GED is required.
    • Ability to commit to at least 15-20 hours per week.
    BENEFITS/COMPENSATION: We offer a wage of $15.00/hour—** plus a bonus of $1.50/hr for every hour worked until 12/31/22 **- plus a $0.75 wage differential for Medication Administration Program (MAP) certification. We provide paid orientation and training for certification in CPR & First Aid, Medication Administration Program (MAP), and Proactive Approaches to Behavioral Challenges (PABC) if applicable.

    Interested? We look forward to hearing from you! ServiceNet is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or veteran status. We are proud to be a tobacco-free employer.
  5. Post your job

    To find the right relief counselor for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with relief counselors they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit relief counselors who meet your education requirements.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your relief counselor job on Zippia to find and recruit relief counselor candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    To successfully recruit relief counselors, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new relief counselor

    Once you've decided on a perfect relief counselor candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

    It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

    After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new relief counselor. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a relief counselor?

Hiring a relief counselor comes with both the one-time cost per hire and ongoing costs. The cost of recruiting relief counselors involves promoting the job and spending time conducting interviews. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider the cost of relief counselor recruiting as well the ongoing costs of maintaining the new employee.

You can expect to pay around $36,049 per year for a relief counselor, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for relief counselors in the US typically range between $12 and $22 an hour.

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