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The differences between school counselors and mental health therapists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a mental health therapist has an average salary of $50,259, 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 mental health therapist are social work, patients, and mental health.
| School Counselor | Mental Health Therapist | |
| Yearly salary | $49,904 | $50,259 |
| Hourly rate | $23.99 | $24.16 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 91,275 | 114,386 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 48% | Master's Degree, 49% |
| Average age | 42 | 45 |
| Years of experience | - | 4 |
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 job of mental health therapists is to guide individuals, groups, couples, and families with problems that are impacting their well-being and mental health. Their duties and responsibilities include encouraging clients to talk about their experiences, examining issues that may affect mental health such as substance abuse and bullying, and assisting clients in defining their goals and action plans. Mental health therapists are also responsible for developing therapeutic processes, referring clients to other services or resources like psychologists, and helping them adjust to life changes.
School counselors and mental health therapists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| School Counselor | Mental Health Therapist | |
| Average salary | $49,904 | $50,259 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $68,000 | Between $35,000 And $70,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | The Gow School | Tykes And Teens |
| Best paying industry | Education | Non Profits |
There are a few differences between a school counselor and a mental health therapist in terms of educational background:
| School Counselor | Mental Health Therapist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 48% | Master's Degree, 49% |
| Most common major | School Counseling | Social Work |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between school counselors' and mental health therapists' demographics:
| School Counselor | Mental Health Therapist | |
| Average age | 42 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 26.1% Female, 73.9% | Male, 23.3% Female, 76.7% |
| 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, 7.9% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 3.1% White, 74.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 15% |