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The differences between residential counselors and residence 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 residential counselor and a residence counselor. Additionally, a residence counselor has an average salary of $34,931, which is higher than the $34,117 average annual salary of a residential counselor.
The top three skills for a residential counselor include direct care, medication administration and mental health. The most important skills for a residence counselor are developmental disabilities, CPR, and community resources.
| Residential Counselor | Residence Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $34,117 | $34,931 |
| Hourly rate | $16.40 | $16.79 |
| Growth rate | 12% | 36% |
| Number of jobs | 81,287 | 78,872 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A residential counselor is responsible for guiding and providing the residents with their basic needs and other resources to support them in their daily living. Residential counselors' duties include maintaining the safety of the community by enforcing safety guidelines and procedures for the residents' compliance, organizing productive and engaging community activities, updating the residents of any changes and policies in the community, and resolving conflicts by counseling and understanding each resident's differences. A residential counselor must have excellent communication and decision-making skills to ensure the development of residents in a living facility.
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.
Residential counselors and residence counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Residential Counselor | Residence Counselor | |
| Average salary | $34,117 | $34,931 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $42,000 | Between $28,000 And $43,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Phoenix, AZ |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Washington |
| Best paying company | The Evergreens | McLean Hospital |
| Best paying industry | Education | Education |
There are a few differences between a residential counselor and a residence counselor in terms of educational background:
| Residential Counselor | Residence Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between residential counselors' and residence counselors' demographics:
| Residential Counselor | Residence Counselor | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 33.0% Female, 67.0% | Male, 34.5% Female, 65.5% |
| 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% |