Student services counselor vs peer counselor

The differences between student services counselors and peer counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a student services counselor has an average salary of $41,175, which is higher than the $37,464 average annual salary of a peer counselor.

The top three skills for a student services counselor include customer service, financial aid and student services. The most important skills for a peer counselor are peer support, substance abuse, and wic program.

Student services counselor vs peer counselor overview

	Student Services Counselor	Peer Counselor
Yearly salary	$41,175	$37,464
Hourly rate	$19.80	$18.01
Growth rate	10%	10%
Number of jobs	104,698	76,608
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 62%	Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Average age	42	42
Years of experience	-	-

What does a student services counselor do?

Student Services is a part of the school program that focuses on helping students in their studies. A Student Services Counselor handles this task and is the contact person for all students who need help or who have problems and issues requiring solutions and answers. In a culturally diverse population in schools, it is the student service counselor's job to connect each student to relevant student service programs available in the school. Ultimately, the welfare of the students and their success in school is the goal of this position.

What does a peer counselor do?

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 services counselor vs peer counselor salary

Student services counselors and peer counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Student Services Counselor	Peer Counselor
Average salary	$41,175	$37,464
Salary range	Between $27,000 And $60,000	Between $24,000 And $57,000
Highest paying City	Boston, MA	Hayward, CA
Highest paying state	New Jersey	California
Best paying company	Kern Community College District	The Brooklyn Hospital Center
Best paying industry	Government	Education

Differences between student services counselor and peer counselor education

There are a few differences between a student services counselor and a peer counselor in terms of educational background:

	Student Services Counselor	Peer Counselor
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 62%	Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Most common major	Business	Psychology
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

Student services counselor vs peer counselor demographics

Here are the differences between student services counselors' and peer counselors' demographics:

	Student Services Counselor	Peer Counselor
Average age	42	42
Gender ratio	Male, 33.9% Female, 66.1%	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%

Differences between student services counselor and peer counselor duties and responsibilities

Student services counselor example responsibilities.

Assist in all aspects of the FAFSA, insuring that every eligible student apply accurately.
Verify FAFSA applications for accuracy.
Plan retention and recruitment opportunities for students, prospective employers and alumni through interdepartmental and professional cooperative efforts.
Create, construct and maintain a student info PowerPoint presentation.
Draft general email correspondence, introduction/thank you letters, excel spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentations.
Develop formal policies/procedures for daily operations such as program approvals/tracking, financial tracking systems, staff meetings and leadership opportunities.

Peer counselor example responsibilities.

Conduct group check-in and co-lead group psychotherapy sessions to help clients identify and manage problems associate with psychiatric conditions.
Refer clients (as needed) to inpatient or outpatient substance abuse rehabilitation programs and assist them in qualifying for services.
Formulate and edit nutrition education materials and monthly newsletters for WIC participants.
Counsele and enroll people in ACA and ABE.
Work with multiple groups of undergraduate students to improve GPA's.
Present information via PowerPoint and hand-outs to students on the dangers of poor credit decisions.

Student services counselor vs peer counselor skills

Common student services counselor skills

Customer Service, 18%
Financial Aid, 11%
Student Services, 10%
Social Work, 7%
Rehabilitation, 7%
Mental Health, 4%

Common peer counselor skills

Peer Support, 14%
Substance Abuse, 9%
WIC Program, 9%
Crisis Intervention, 7%
Community Resources, 6%
Mental Illness, 6%

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Student Services Counselor
Student Services Counselor vs Peer Counselor

Updated January 8, 2025

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