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Unit counselor vs program lead

The differences between unit counselors and program leads 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 program lead. Additionally, a program lead has an average salary of $100,727, 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 program lead are project management, HR, and work ethic.

Unit counselor vs program lead overview

Unit CounselorProgram Lead
Yearly salary$36,585$100,727
Hourly rate$17.59$48.43
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs45,69361,632
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Average age4142
Years of experience44

Unit counselor vs program lead salary

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

Unit CounselorProgram Lead
Average salary$36,585$100,727
Salary rangeBetween $18,000 And $71,000Between $59,000 And $171,000
Highest paying City-Washington, DC
Highest paying state-New York
Best paying company-Netflix
Best paying industry--

Differences between unit counselor and program lead education

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

Unit CounselorProgram Lead
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Most common majorPsychologyBusiness
Most common collegeDuke UniversityNorthwestern University

Unit counselor vs program lead demographics

Here are the differences between unit counselors' and program leads' demographics:

Unit CounselorProgram Lead
Average age4142
Gender ratioMale, 31.9% Female, 68.1%Male, 40.9% Female, 59.1%
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, 10.0% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 15.5% Asian, 5.1% White, 62.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage15%8%

Differences between unit counselor and program lead 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.

Program lead example responsibilities.

  • Assess instructor effectiveness in achieving client ISP objectives.
  • Manage security and access policies base upon operational need-to-know and DOD regulations and requirements
  • Conduct daily clinical documentation audits, manage consumer financial accounts, provide oversight and approval for all treatment and discharge planning.
  • Up to date on CPR, trauma medical aid and restraints holds.
  • Know basics of first aid and CPR, have not receive certification yet.
  • Evaluate quarterly expenditure reports and project budgets, and release money to local NGOs.
  • Show more

Unit counselor vs program lead skills

Common unit counselor skills
  • Incident Reports, 19%
  • Mental Health, 12%
  • Substance Abuse, 12%
  • Conduct Orientation, 11%
  • CPI, 6%
  • Crisis Situations, 4%
Common program lead skills
  • Project Management, 13%
  • HR, 11%
  • Work Ethic, 10%
  • CPR, 8%
  • Customer Satisfaction, 7%
  • Customer Service, 5%

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