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The differences between residence counselors and group counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a residence counselor and a group counselor. Additionally, a group counselor has an average salary of $40,155, which is higher than the $34,931 average annual salary of a residence counselor.
The top three skills for a residence counselor include developmental disabilities, CPR and community resources. The most important skills for a group counselor are mental health, patients, and crisis intervention.
| Residence Counselor | Group Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $34,931 | $40,155 |
| Hourly rate | $16.79 | $19.31 |
| Growth rate | 36% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 78,872 | 84,413 |
| Job satisfaction | 3 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Residence counselors are professionals who are responsible for providing services such as one-to-one therapy and crisis support to clients who are living in group homes or assisted-living facilities. These counselors must assist adults with moderate intellectual disabilities to find employment while monitoring their work performance. They must facilitate and supervise daily personal care and activities for developmentally disabled adults. Residence counselors must also encourage clients to participate in community activities that can contribute to the development of skills necessary for independent living.
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.
Residence counselors and group counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Residence Counselor | Group Counselor | |
| Average salary | $34,931 | $40,155 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $43,000 | Between $14,000 And $110,000 |
| Highest paying City | Phoenix, AZ | - |
| Highest paying state | Washington | - |
| Best paying company | McLean Hospital | - |
| Best paying industry | Education | - |
There are a few differences between a residence counselor and a group counselor in terms of educational background:
| Residence Counselor | Group Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between residence counselors' and group counselors' demographics:
| Residence Counselor | Group Counselor | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 34.5% Female, 65.5% | Male, 40.8% Female, 59.2% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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 | 15% | 15% |