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The differences between residential counselors and school counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a school counselor has an average salary of $49,904, 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 school counselor are mental health, community resources, and crisis intervention.
| Residential Counselor | School Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $34,117 | $49,904 |
| Hourly rate | $16.40 | $23.99 |
| Growth rate | 12% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 81,287 | 91,275 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Average age | 41 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 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.
A school counselor is responsible for monitoring the students' social and personal development, advising them of their career aspirations, and assisting them with their academic achievements and goals. School counselors also ensure that the students receive the highest learning standards to pave their way towards society's advancement and global competitiveness. They evaluate students' behavior through personal counseling, understanding their challenges, and develop strategies to overcome their needs. A school counselor must have excellent communication and decision-making skills, supporting students with their goals, and honing their skills efficiently.
Residential counselors and school counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Residential Counselor | School Counselor | |
| Average salary | $34,117 | $49,904 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $42,000 | Between $36,000 And $68,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | The Evergreens | The Gow School |
| Best paying industry | Education | Education |
There are a few differences between a residential counselor and a school counselor in terms of educational background:
| Residential Counselor | School Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Most common major | Psychology | School Counseling |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between residential counselors' and school counselors' demographics:
| Residential Counselor | School Counselor | |
| Average age | 41 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 33.0% Female, 67.0% | Male, 26.1% Female, 73.9% |
| 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, 10.6% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 3.7% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 15% | 11% |