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The differences between student support counselors and group counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a student support counselor has an average salary of $41,329, which is higher than the $40,155 average annual salary of a group counselor.
The top three skills for a student support counselor include student support, mental health and crisis intervention. The most important skills for a group counselor are mental health, patients, and crisis intervention.
| Student Support Counselor | Group Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $41,329 | $40,155 |
| Hourly rate | $19.87 | $19.31 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 134,839 | 84,413 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Years of experience | - | 4 |
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.
A group counselor provides counseling services primarily in a group setting, aiming to provide clients with a supportive and healthy environment where they can work on different issues and reach personal goals. They typically conduct research and assessments, establish program objectives and guidelines, arrange various activities, and facilitate positive interactions to support one another. Additionally, a group counselor has the duty to implement policies and standards, create treatment plans, and optimize strategies to ensure clients receive optimal support and services.
Student support counselors and group counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Student Support Counselor | Group Counselor | |
| Average salary | $41,329 | $40,155 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $57,000 | Between $14,000 And $110,000 |
| Highest paying City | Teaneck, NJ | - |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | - |
| Best paying company | Mercy College | - |
| Best paying industry | Education | - |
There are a few differences between a student support counselor and a group counselor in terms of educational background:
| Student Support Counselor | Group Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between student support counselors' and group counselors' demographics:
| Student Support Counselor | Group Counselor | |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 34.3% Female, 65.7% | Male, 40.8% Female, 59.2% |
| 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, 11.3% Unknown, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 3.2% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 15% |