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The differences between student advisors and peer counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a student advisor has an average salary of $41,418, which is higher than the $37,464 average annual salary of a peer counselor.
The top three skills for a student advisor include customer service, student services and international student. The most important skills for a peer counselor are peer support, substance abuse, and wic program.
| Student Advisor | Peer Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $41,418 | $37,464 |
| Hourly rate | $19.91 | $18.01 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 56,492 | 76,608 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A student advisor is responsible for supporting the students' personal growth and development by guiding them on their learning processes and educational goals. Student advisors provide regular counseling for the students to analyze their career aspirations, identify their strengths and weaknesses, and strategize learning plans to address those difficulties. They also coordinate with the students' parents and guardians to report the students' progress and determine appropriate scholastic solutions. A student advisor must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially when handling students' different needs and concerns.
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.
Student advisors and peer counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Student Advisor | Peer Counselor | |
| Average salary | $41,418 | $37,464 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $53,000 | Between $24,000 And $57,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Hayward, CA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | California |
| Best paying company | The American Musical and Dramatic Academy | The Brooklyn Hospital Center |
| Best paying industry | Education | Education |
There are a few differences between a student advisor and a peer counselor in terms of educational background:
| Student Advisor | Peer Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Business | Psychology |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between student advisors' and peer counselors' demographics:
| Student Advisor | Peer Counselor | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 38.2% Female, 61.8% | 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% |