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Unit counselor vs group counselor

The differences between unit counselors and group counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a unit counselor and a group counselor. Additionally, a group counselor has an average salary of $40,155, which is higher than the $36,585 average annual salary of a unit counselor.

The top three skills for a unit counselor include incident reports, mental health and substance abuse. The most important skills for a group counselor are mental health, patients, and crisis intervention.

Unit counselor vs group counselor overview

Unit CounselorGroup Counselor
Yearly salary$36,585$40,155
Hourly rate$17.59$19.31
Growth rate10%9%
Number of jobs45,69384,413
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Average age4141
Years of experience44

Unit counselor vs group counselor salary

Unit counselors and group counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Unit CounselorGroup Counselor
Average salary$36,585$40,155
Salary rangeBetween $18,000 And $71,000Between $14,000 And $110,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between unit counselor and group counselor education

There are a few differences between a unit counselor and a group counselor in terms of educational background:

Unit CounselorGroup Counselor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Most common majorPsychologyPsychology
Most common collegeDuke UniversityCalifornia State University - Long Beach

Unit counselor vs group counselor demographics

Here are the differences between unit counselors' and group counselors' demographics:

Unit CounselorGroup Counselor
Average age4141
Gender ratioMale, 31.9% Female, 68.1%Male, 40.8% Female, 59.2%
Race ratioBlack 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%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 Percentage15%15%

Differences between unit counselor and group counselor duties and responsibilities

Unit counselor example responsibilities.

  • Lead a successful group of kids by ensuring safety and behavioral expectations are met and providing structure and organize educational activities.
  • Work towards empowering juveniles and their families to support a positive lifestyle by providing strength base intensive intervention and rehabilitation services.
  • Maintain therapeutic relationships with youth through effective teaching and coaching techniques to provide leadership and foster relationship building skills.

Group counselor example responsibilities.

  • Administer first aid and CPR when need.
  • Develop leadership skills while training younger counselors.
  • Execute leadership skills by planning and facilitating activities.
  • 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.

Unit counselor vs group counselor skills

Common unit counselor skills
  • Incident Reports, 19%
  • Mental Health, 12%
  • Substance Abuse, 12%
  • Conduct Orientation, 11%
  • CPI, 6%
  • Crisis Situations, 4%
Common group counselor skills
  • Mental Health, 23%
  • Patients, 21%
  • Crisis Intervention, 8%
  • Social Work, 8%
  • Rehabilitation, 7%
  • Group Therapy Sessions, 5%

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