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School counselor vs family counselor

The differences between school counselors and family 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 $41,510 average annual salary of a family counselor.

The top three skills for a school counselor include mental health, community resources and crisis intervention. The most important skills for a family counselor are social work, community resources, and POC.

School counselor vs family counselor overview

School CounselorFamily Counselor
Yearly salary$49,904$41,510
Hourly rate$23.99$19.96
Growth rate10%14%
Number of jobs91,27593,253
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 48%Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Average age4241
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 family counselor do?

A Family Counselor treats married couples or family members in order to help them overcome mental or emotional problems. They provide effective treatment measures to help the family members resolve their issues.

School counselor vs family counselor salary

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

School CounselorFamily Counselor
Average salary$49,904$41,510
Salary rangeBetween $36,000 And $68,000Between $27,000 And $62,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CANew York, NY
Highest paying stateCaliforniaNew York
Best paying companyThe Gow SchoolShirley Ryan AbilityLab
Best paying industryEducationProfessional

Differences between school counselor and family counselor education

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

School CounselorFamily Counselor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 48%Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Most common majorSchool CounselingPsychology
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaCalifornia State University - Long Beach

School counselor vs family counselor demographics

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

School CounselorFamily Counselor
Average age4241
Gender ratioMale, 26.1% Female, 73.9%Male, 26.3% Female, 73.7%
Race ratioBlack 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, 7.0% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% Asian, 4.6% White, 68.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage11%6%

Differences between school counselor and family 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
  • Show more

Family counselor example responsibilities.

  • Conduct group check-in and co-lead group psychotherapy sessions to help clients identify and manage problems associate with psychiatric conditions.
  • Assist the clients in completing their DCF case plan, helping to remove any hindrances they may encounter.
  • Counsele and test patients who requesting confidential HIV testing services
  • Collaborate and coordinate patient care with resident/faculty physicians to provide appropriate levels of care to patients.
  • Receive and process referrals from DCF and community-base case managers for individuals suspect as substance abusers.
  • Utilize PowerPoint presentations to facilitate ongoing new student orientation, ensuring students understand rules and regulations.
  • Show more

School counselor vs family counselor skills

Common school counselor skills
  • Mental Health, 10%
  • Community Resources, 8%
  • Crisis Intervention, 6%
  • Professional Development, 5%
  • Behavioral Issues, 4%
  • CPR, 4%
Common family counselor skills
  • Social Work, 22%
  • Community Resources, 13%
  • POC, 7%
  • Family Support, 5%
  • Family Therapy, 5%
  • DOD, 4%

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