School counselor vs clinical counselor

The differences between school counselors and clinical counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a clinical counselor has an average salary of $54,191, which is higher than the $49,904 average annual salary of a school counselor.

The top three skills for a school counselor include mental health, community resources and crisis intervention. The most important skills for a clinical counselor are social work, patients, and foster care.

School counselor vs clinical counselor overview

	School Counselor	Clinical Counselor
Yearly salary	$49,904	$54,191
Hourly rate	$23.99	$26.05
Growth rate	10%	17%
Number of jobs	91,275	146,133
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 48%	Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Average age	42	41
Years of experience	-	4

What does a school counselor do?

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.

What does a clinical counselor do?

A Clinical Counselor interviews clients to assess their mental health and behavioral problems. They examine issues such as substance abuse, depression, stress, aging and self-image.

School counselor vs clinical counselor salary

School counselors and clinical counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	School Counselor	Clinical Counselor
Average salary	$49,904	$54,191
Salary range	Between $36,000 And $68,000	Between $43,000 And $67,000
Highest paying City	San Francisco, CA	Bethesda, MD
Highest paying state	California	Maryland
Best paying company	The Gow School	Novo Nordisk
Best paying industry	Education	Professional

Differences between school counselor and clinical counselor education

There are a few differences between a school counselor and a clinical counselor in terms of educational background:

	School Counselor	Clinical Counselor
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 48%	Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Most common major	School Counseling	Psychology
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	California State University - Long Beach

School counselor vs clinical counselor demographics

Here are the differences between school counselors' and clinical counselors' demographics:

	School Counselor	Clinical Counselor
Average age	42	41
Gender ratio	Male, 26.1% Female, 73.9%	Male, 28.4% Female, 71.6%
Race ratio	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%	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	11%	15%

Differences between school counselor and clinical counselor duties and responsibilities

School counselor example responsibilities.

Manage open houses, recruitment, and conduct interviews for GED student enrollment.
Travel to professional conferences and to visit colleges and universities across the country for professional development.
Attend educational meetings (IEP, IST, CCT, etc . )
Create and implement FBA's.
Complete CPR training and other necessary training classes.
Communicate with DCF in regards to students as needed

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Clinical counselor example responsibilities.

Manage a caseload of individuals in programs design to provide vocational rehabilitation and other services to the developmentally disable.
Conduct group check-in and co-lead group psychotherapy sessions to help clients identify and manage problems associate with psychiatric conditions.
Perform client intake assessments and conduct monthly assessments to identify progress of patients and determine individuals ready to graduate from program.
Review charts to ensure that they are in compliance with OASAS standards.
Initial assessment, diagnosis, ASAM criteria, treatment planning , 3rd party contact, group and individual therapy.
Maintain appropriate documentation per NYS OASAS regulations and APG guidelines

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School counselor vs clinical counselor skills

Common school counselor skills

Mental Health, 10%
Community Resources, 8%
Crisis Intervention, 6%
Professional Development, 5%
Behavioral Issues, 4%
CPR, 4%

Common clinical counselor skills

Social Work, 36%
Patients, 8%
Foster Care, 7%
Independent Living, 6%
Child Abuse, 4%
Clinical Services, 3%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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