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The differences between residential counselors and student support counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a student support counselor has an average salary of $41,329, 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 student support counselor are student support, mental health, and crisis intervention.
| Residential Counselor | Student Support Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $34,117 | $41,329 |
| Hourly rate | $16.40 | $19.87 |
| Growth rate | 12% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 81,287 | 134,839 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| 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 student support counselor is responsible for identifying the students' strengths and challenges through one-on-one counseling and establishing solutions to help them overcome difficulties and achieve their educational goals and aspirations. Student support counselors assist the faculty in determining appropriate programs and activities to develop the students' capabilities, especially as a way of preparing them with their career objectives. They also coordinate with the students' families for extended guidance and support for their growth and development.
Residential counselors and student support counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Residential Counselor | Student Support Counselor | |
| Average salary | $34,117 | $41,329 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $42,000 | Between $29,000 And $57,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Teaneck, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | The Evergreens | Mercy College |
| Best paying industry | Education | Education |
There are a few differences between a residential counselor and a student support counselor in terms of educational background:
| Residential Counselor | Student Support Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between residential counselors' and student support counselors' demographics:
| Residential Counselor | Student Support Counselor | |
| Average age | 41 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 33.0% Female, 67.0% | Male, 34.3% Female, 65.7% |
| 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% |