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School counselor vs student support counselor

The differences between school counselors and student support 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 $41,329 average annual salary of a student support counselor.

The top three skills for a school counselor include mental health, community resources and crisis intervention. The most important skills for a student support counselor are student support, mental health, and crisis intervention.

School counselor vs student support counselor overview

School CounselorStudent Support Counselor
Yearly salary$49,904$41,329
Hourly rate$23.99$19.87
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs91,275134,839
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 48%Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Average age4242
Years of experience--

What does a school counselor do?

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.

What does a student support counselor do?

A student support counselor is responsible for identifying the students' strengths and challenges through one-on-one counseling and establishing solutions to help them overcome difficulties and achieve their educational goals and aspirations. Student support counselors assist the faculty in determining appropriate programs and activities to develop the students' capabilities, especially as a way of preparing them with their career objectives. They also coordinate with the students' families for extended guidance and support for their growth and development.

School counselor vs student support counselor salary

School counselors and student support counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.

School CounselorStudent Support Counselor
Average salary$49,904$41,329
Salary rangeBetween $36,000 And $68,000Between $29,000 And $57,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CATeaneck, NJ
Highest paying stateCaliforniaMassachusetts
Best paying companyThe Gow SchoolMercy College
Best paying industryEducationEducation

Differences between school counselor and student support counselor education

There are a few differences between a school counselor and a student support counselor in terms of educational background:

School CounselorStudent Support Counselor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 48%Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Most common majorSchool CounselingPsychology
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

School counselor vs student support counselor demographics

Here are the differences between school counselors' and student support counselors' demographics:

School CounselorStudent Support Counselor
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 26.1% Female, 73.9%Male, 34.3% Female, 65.7%
Race ratioBlack 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 Percentage11%11%

Differences between school counselor and student support counselor duties and responsibilities

School counselor example responsibilities.

  • Manage open houses, recruitment, and conduct interviews for GED student enrollment.
  • Travel to professional conferences and to visit colleges and universities across the country for professional development.
  • Attend educational meetings (IEP, IST, CCT, etc . )
  • Create and implement FBA's.
  • Complete CPR training and other necessary training classes.
  • Communicate with DCF in regards to students as needed
  • Show more

Student support counselor example responsibilities.

  • Maintain confidentiality relating to treatment while keeping organize and up to date IEP's, and medical records file accordingly.
  • Attend IEP meetings of students on caseload and present to the IEP team a clinical progress report with counseling goals.
  • Work towards empowering juveniles and their families to support a positive lifestyle by providing strength base intensive intervention and rehabilitation services.
  • Provide behavior modification and social skills training to children and adolescents with ADHD and other behavioral and emotional disorders.

School counselor vs student support counselor skills

Common school counselor skills
  • Mental Health, 10%
  • Community Resources, 8%
  • Crisis Intervention, 6%
  • Professional Development, 5%
  • Behavioral Issues, 4%
  • CPR, 4%
Common student support counselor skills
  • Student Support, 18%
  • Mental Health, 11%
  • Crisis Intervention, 7%
  • Professional Development, 6%
  • Behavioral Issues, 5%
  • Financial Aid, 4%

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