University counselor vs guidance counselor

The differences between university counselors and guidance counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a university counselor has an average salary of $52,076, which is higher than the $48,154 average annual salary of a guidance counselor.

The top three skills for a university counselor include legal advice, social work and litigation. The most important skills for a guidance counselor are crisis intervention, community resources, and mental health.

University counselor vs guidance counselor overview

	University Counselor	Guidance Counselor
Yearly salary	$52,076	$48,154
Hourly rate	$25.04	$23.15
Growth rate	10%	10%
Number of jobs	27,850	75,740
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 61%	Bachelor's Degree, 51%
Average age	42	42
Years of experience	-	-

University counselor vs guidance counselor salary

University counselors and guidance counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	University Counselor	Guidance Counselor
Average salary	$52,076	$48,154
Salary range	Between $41,000 And $64,000	Between $36,000 And $64,000
Highest paying City	-	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	-	California
Best paying company	-	Poly Prep Country Day School
Best paying industry	-	Education

Differences between university counselor and guidance counselor education

There are a few differences between a university counselor and a guidance counselor in terms of educational background:

	University Counselor	Guidance Counselor
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 61%	Bachelor's Degree, 51%
Most common major	Business	School Counseling
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

University counselor vs guidance counselor demographics

Here are the differences between university counselors' and guidance counselors' demographics:

	University Counselor	Guidance Counselor
Average age	42	42
Gender ratio	Male, 41.1% Female, 58.9%	Male, 31.3% Female, 68.7%
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 university counselor and guidance counselor duties and responsibilities

University counselor example responsibilities.

Monitor caseworkers to ensure rehabilitation services are properly coordinate to aid clients in achieving self-sufficiency.
Provide individual counseling for children, adolescents and adults as well as career transition and study skills.
Reinforce proper study habits, and supervise appropriate social activities.
Monitor and report academic progress and continuing eligibility of assign students in accordance with NCAA and university policy.
Provide leadership to provide psychological, physical and cognitive rehabilitative services to individuals with intellectual disabilities and mental illnesses.

Guidance counselor example responsibilities.

Utilize Salesforce to manage advertising programs for business owners.
Administer TACHS, PSAT, and other statewide examinations.
Provide individual counseling to students upon their request, SST referrals, or that of a teacher.
Utilize RTI for curriculum design and to identify students in need of extra academic & behavioral support.
Contribute to IEP manifestation meetings with students-parents-teachers.
Complete student educational assessments for upcoming IEP meetings.

University counselor vs guidance counselor skills

Common university counselor skills

Legal Advice, 13%
Social Work, 13%
Litigation, 13%
Legal Issues, 11%
Admissions Process, 9%
Intellectual Property, 6%

Common guidance counselor skills

Crisis Intervention, 10%
Community Resources, 5%
Mental Health, 5%
Professional Development, 4%
Financial Aid, 4%
Conflict Resolution, 4%

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University Counselor vs Guidance Counselor

Updated January 8, 2025

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