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The differences between service aides and service counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a service aide and a service counselor. Additionally, a service counselor has an average salary of $35,402, which is higher than the $31,000 average annual salary of a service aide.
The top three skills for a service aide include patients, customer service and rehabilitation. The most important skills for a service counselor are social work, crisis intervention, and patients.
| Service Aide | Service Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $31,000 | $35,402 |
| Hourly rate | $14.90 | $17.02 |
| Growth rate | 12% | 12% |
| Number of jobs | 50,229 | 44,284 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 40% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A family service aide is an individual social worker who addresses the behavior of clients as well as utilizes crisis intervention techniques in the effort to assist with symptom management and stabilization. Family service aides are required to monitor the progress of clients and prepare reports in preparation for court cases if needed. They must participate in community outreach events to recruit volunteers and promote awareness of child abuse. Family service aides must also conduct detailed investigations into allegations of child abuse and neglect.
Service counselors provide guidance to couples, individuals, groups, and families who are going through issues that influence their well-being and mental health. They comprehensively approach their clients by utilizing a "wellness" model that focuses on and motivate the client's potentials. Their duties include inspiring clients to talk about their emotions and experiences, helping them determine their action plans and goals, as well as designing therapeutic methods. Also, they may refer their clients to other services or psychologists.
Service aides and service counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Service Aide | Service Counselor | |
| Average salary | $31,000 | $35,402 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $39,000 | Between $24,000 And $51,000 |
| Highest paying City | Huntington Beach, CA | Urban Honolulu, HI |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | City of Seattle | |
| Best paying industry | Government | Education |
There are a few differences between a service aide and a service counselor in terms of educational background:
| Service Aide | Service Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 40% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | Business | Psychology |
| Most common college | California State University - Bakersfield | SUNY at Binghamton |
Here are the differences between service aides' and service counselors' demographics:
| Service Aide | Service Counselor | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 34.7% Female, 65.3% | Male, 33.3% Female, 66.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.8% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 21.2% Asian, 6.8% White, 52.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.2% | Black or African American, 12.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 19.7% Asian, 7.1% White, 54.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |