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The differences between school counselors and school psychologists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a school psychologist has an average salary of $78,431, 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 school psychologist are professional development, mental health, and psychological services.
| School Counselor | School Psychologist | |
| Yearly salary | $49,904 | $78,431 |
| Hourly rate | $23.99 | $37.71 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 14% |
| Number of jobs | 91,275 | 25,457 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 48% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Average age | 42 | 43 |
| Years of experience | - | 2 |
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.
School psychologists are knowledgeable professionals whose responsibilities include identifying, addressing, and overcoming the educational and behavioral needs of school-aged children. They generally work in schools and focus their observations on children and youth who often face issues related to education, social relationships, decision-making, as well as managing emotions. They help families, counselors, and members of the community understand and solve these issues the children may encounter. Additionally, they provide comprehensive psychological services to help students achieve academic, behavioral, social, and emotional success.
School counselors and school psychologists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| School Counselor | School Psychologist | |
| Average salary | $49,904 | $78,431 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $68,000 | Between $55,000 And $110,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | The Gow School | CORA Services |
| Best paying industry | Education | Education |
There are a few differences between a school counselor and a school psychologist in terms of educational background:
| School Counselor | School Psychologist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 48% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Most common major | School Counseling | Psychology |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between school counselors' and school psychologists' demographics:
| School Counselor | School Psychologist | |
| Average age | 42 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 26.1% Female, 73.9% | Male, 26.8% Female, 73.2% |
| 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, 6.2% Unknown, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino, 10.4% Asian, 3.3% White, 76.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 12% |