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The differences between vocational rehabilitation counselors and community health counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a vocational rehabilitation counselor, becoming a community health counselor takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a vocational rehabilitation counselor has an average salary of $45,871, which is higher than the $43,304 average annual salary of a community health counselor.
The top three skills for a vocational rehabilitation counselor include rehabilitation, substance abuse and transferable. The most important skills for a community health counselor are social work, behavioral health, and patients.
| Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor | Community Health Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $45,871 | $43,304 |
| Hourly rate | $22.05 | $20.82 |
| Growth rate | 11% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 78,174 | 131,804 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 4 |
The primary role of a vocational rehabilitation counselor is to help disabled people to live fully and independently. Vocational rehabilitation counselors assist people with disabilities in securing employment. They provide health care to those who are coping with mental illness, substance abuse issues, psychological disorders, or physical disabilities. Knowledge of patient care, health management, rehabilitation program, and clinical psychology is a must for this job.
A community health counselor typically provides health and welfare support to the disadvantaged members of a community. Their responsibilities revolve around devising strategies to reach out to community members, coordinating with schools and other institutions, and building positive relationships with the communities that they serve. They may also provide counseling sessions to individuals of all ages, conduct observations and assessments, perform interventions, and identify any signs of abuse or neglect, reporting to the authorities right away. Furthermore, they may refer families or individuals to other social services unit if necessary.
Vocational rehabilitation counselors and community health counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor | Community Health Counselor | |
| Average salary | $45,871 | $43,304 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $62,000 | Between $29,000 And $63,000 |
| Highest paying City | Williston, ND | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | California |
| Best paying company | New York State Restaurant Association | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Non Profits | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a vocational rehabilitation counselor and a community health counselor in terms of educational background:
| Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor | Community Health Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between vocational rehabilitation counselors' and community health counselors' demographics:
| Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor | Community Health Counselor | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 29.4% Female, 70.6% | Male, 31.4% Female, 68.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 13.7% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 10.8% Asian, 2.9% White, 66.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.7% | 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 | 21% | 15% |