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The differences between school counselors and school social workers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a school social worker has an average salary of $54,856, 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 social worker are social work, social emotional, and IEP.
| School Counselor | School Social Worker | |
| Yearly salary | $49,904 | $54,856 |
| Hourly rate | $23.99 | $26.37 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 91,275 | 122,376 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 48% | Master's Degree, 51% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| 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.
A school social worker specializes in counseling students, families, and faculty members. They are responsible for coordinating with the school to develop programs that prioritize the students' emotional and psychological well-being, respond to any issues and concerns, build rapport to identify their needs, and communicate with support services to provide necessary assistance to any students or families. There are also instances when a school social worker must assist teachers in handling students with behavioral issues, investigating the underlying reasons. Moreover, it is crucial to identify any signs of neglect or abuse, conducting interventive measures right away.
School counselors and school social workers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| School Counselor | School Social Worker | |
| Average salary | $49,904 | $54,856 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $68,000 | Between $40,000 And $73,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | The Gow School | Boston Public Schools |
| Best paying industry | Education | Education |
There are a few differences between a school counselor and a school social worker in terms of educational background:
| School Counselor | School Social Worker | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 48% | Master's Degree, 51% |
| Most common major | School Counseling | Social Work |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Boston College |
Here are the differences between school counselors' and school social workers' demographics:
| School Counselor | School Social Worker | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 26.1% Female, 73.9% | Male, 17.5% Female, 82.5% |
| 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, 13.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 2.7% White, 63.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 10% |