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Residential advisor vs youth counselor

The differences between residential advisors and youth counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a youth counselor has an average salary of $36,754, which is higher than the $33,593 average annual salary of a residential advisor.

The top three skills for a residential advisor include patrol, substance abuse and behavior management. The most important skills for a youth counselor are direct care, mental health, and crisis intervention.

Residential advisor vs youth counselor overview

Residential AdvisorYouth Counselor
Yearly salary$33,593$36,754
Hourly rate$16.15$17.67
Growth rate12%12%
Number of jobs47,15078,461
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 57%Bachelor's Degree, 58%
Average age2641
Years of experience-4

What does a residential advisor do?

Residential advisors are responsible for coordinating activities in various residential buildings and facilities, such as group homes and dormitories. They perform various tasks that include ordering supplies, determining the need for maintenance and repair, and assigning rooms. Residential advisors may help residents with solving their problems or connect them to counseling services or resources. Also, they are responsible for providing first aid or seeking medical assistance in times of emergency, and mediating conflicts between residents. They are also expected to implement rules and regulations for the orderly and smooth operation of residential facilities.

What does a youth counselor do?

A Youth Counselor's role is to provide guidance and interact with children or teenagers in need of care and counseling. The duty of a Youth Counselor is diverse, and it highly depends on the organization or employer. However, the responsibilities mostly revolve around establishing rapport with the youngster while trying to work on their issues, ensuring their welfare by monitoring their emotional and physical state, coordinating with families or other facilities, suggesting treatments, and performing crisis intervention if necessary.

Residential advisor vs youth counselor salary

Residential advisors and youth counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Residential AdvisorYouth Counselor
Average salary$33,593$36,754
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $44,000Between $27,000 And $49,000
Highest paying CityEdison, NJSan Jose, CA
Highest paying stateNorth DakotaCalifornia
Best paying companyDynamic Educational Systems, Inc.New York State Restaurant Association
Best paying industryManufacturingProfessional

Differences between residential advisor and youth counselor education

There are a few differences between a residential advisor and a youth counselor in terms of educational background:

Residential AdvisorYouth Counselor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 57%Bachelor's Degree, 58%
Most common majorPsychologyPsychology
Most common collegeHoward UniversityCalifornia State University - Long Beach

Residential advisor vs youth counselor demographics

Here are the differences between residential advisors' and youth counselors' demographics:

Residential AdvisorYouth Counselor
Average age2641
Gender ratioMale, 42.3% Female, 57.7%Male, 43.8% Female, 56.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 14.0% Unknown, 5.8% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 7.7% White, 57.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%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 Percentage13%15%

Differences between residential advisor and youth counselor duties and responsibilities

Residential advisor example responsibilities.

  • Engage, educate and empower participants to access community base resources in order to achieve greater self-determination, rehabilitation and recovery.
  • Assist medical and clinical staff who cares for patients admit to a residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility.
  • Help with activities of daily life, such as groceries shopping.
  • Check mail, shopping for groceries and handling and maintaining individual's money.
  • Provide training and administer first aid and emergency medical procedures, such as CPR.
  • Lead staff member on cottage and assume cottage manager duties when RAS is not present.
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Youth counselor example responsibilities.

  • Instruct students in course work including: reading, writing, mathematics, behavior modification, and social skills.
  • Train in physical restraint, conflict resolution, first aide, CPR, blood borne pathogen management and universal precautions.
  • Complete functional assessment evaluations of residents and write individualized rehabilitation goals that encourage community integration.
  • Monitor behavior, safety and location of juvenile residents that are court mandate, psychological/behavioral disorders, physical disabilities and autism.
  • Maintain high standards of cleanliness and presentation in all back-of-house areas and customer areas.
  • Supervise teens on maintaining cleanliness of cottage, individual rooms and their individual appearance.
  • Show more

Residential advisor vs youth counselor skills

Common residential advisor skills
  • Patrol, 10%
  • Substance Abuse, 8%
  • Behavior Management, 7%
  • Intellectual Disabilities, 6%
  • Direct Care, 6%
  • Independent Living, 5%
Common youth counselor skills
  • Direct Care, 8%
  • Mental Health, 8%
  • Crisis Intervention, 7%
  • CPR, 7%
  • Social Work, 7%
  • Necessary Paperwork, 6%

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