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The differences between school counselors and guidance 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 $48,154 average annual salary of a guidance counselor.
The top three skills for a school counselor include mental health, community resources and crisis intervention. The most important skills for a guidance counselor are crisis intervention, community resources, and mental health.
| School Counselor | Guidance Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $49,904 | $48,154 |
| Hourly rate | $23.99 | $23.15 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 91,275 | 75,740 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 48% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
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.
The primary role of a Guidance Counselor is to help students develop skills for success, both in academics and social development. They also develop and implement educational and counseling plans with modern methods of teaching and mentoring.
School counselors and guidance counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| School Counselor | Guidance Counselor | |
| Average salary | $49,904 | $48,154 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $68,000 | Between $36,000 And $64,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | The Gow School | Poly Prep Country Day School |
| Best paying industry | Education | Education |
There are a few differences between a school counselor and a guidance counselor in terms of educational background:
| School Counselor | Guidance Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 48% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Most common major | School Counseling | School Counseling |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between school counselors' and guidance counselors' demographics:
| School Counselor | Guidance Counselor | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 26.1% Female, 73.9% | Male, 31.3% Female, 68.7% |
| 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, 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 | 11% | 11% |