Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between school counselors and peer 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 $37,464 average annual salary of a peer counselor.
The top three skills for a school counselor include mental health, community resources and crisis intervention. The most important skills for a peer counselor are peer support, substance abuse, and wic program.
| School Counselor | Peer Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $49,904 | $37,464 |
| Hourly rate | $23.99 | $18.01 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 91,275 | 76,608 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 48% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| 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.
Typically working at schools, communities, or medical facilities, a peer counselor specializes in providing counseling to an individual or group of people, aiming to help them deal with and overcome crises. Their duties often include conducting initial assessments through interviews and appointments, listening to clients and offering advice, recommending opportunities, referring them to other support agencies, and coordinating treatment services as needed. Above all, a peer counselor must provide emotional support and guidance to clients, giving them comfort and a shoulder to lean on.
School counselors and peer counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| School Counselor | Peer Counselor | |
| Average salary | $49,904 | $37,464 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $68,000 | Between $24,000 And $57,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Hayward, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | The Gow School | The Brooklyn Hospital Center |
| Best paying industry | Education | Education |
There are a few differences between a school counselor and a peer counselor in terms of educational background:
| School Counselor | Peer Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 48% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | School Counseling | Psychology |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between school counselors' and peer counselors' demographics:
| School Counselor | Peer Counselor | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 26.1% Female, 73.9% | Male, 33.0% Female, 67.0% |
| 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% |