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The differences between work counselors and crisis 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 work counselor, becoming a crisis counselor takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a work counselor has an average salary of $55,384, which is higher than the $51,142 average annual salary of a crisis counselor.
The top three skills for a work counselor include social work, discharge planning and substance abuse. The most important skills for a crisis counselor are social work, patients, and mental health crisis.
| Work Counselor | Crisis Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $55,384 | $51,142 |
| Hourly rate | $26.63 | $24.59 |
| Growth rate | 11% | 12% |
| Number of jobs | 77,184 | 76,255 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 4 |
A work counselor's responsibility is to know the employee's problems including stress, workplace depression, declining productivity, and anxiety, and help solve them by resolving negative patterns, rehabilitation, and prevention to improve quality of life. Such purpose is to reduce sickness absence and pressure. Part of their helping profession is to respect the employees' privacy by sharing information and opinions on resources that the client needs since they are not tasked to disclose information and give advice.
A crisis counselor is responsible for providing assistance and emotional support to clients under crises or mental health emergencies caused by stress, trauma, grief, and other factors. Most crisis counselors work at clinics or counseling centers, and there are instances where they can be at schools and organizations. Aside from diagnosing and providing specific treatments, a crisis counselor must also build rapport with clients, helping them feel comfortable every step of the way, and serving as a positive influence in their journey to recovery.
Work counselors and crisis counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Work Counselor | Crisis Counselor | |
| Average salary | $55,384 | $51,142 |
| Salary range | Between $46,000 And $66,000 | Between $37,000 And $69,000 |
| Highest paying City | Chicago, IL | - |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | - |
| Best paying company | The Travelers Companies | - |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | - |
There are a few differences between a work counselor and a crisis counselor in terms of educational background:
| Work Counselor | Crisis Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Social Work | Psychology |
| Most common college | Columbia University in the City of New York | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between work counselors' and crisis counselors' demographics:
| Work Counselor | Crisis Counselor | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 37.0% Female, 63.0% | Male, 22.9% Female, 77.1% |
| 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% |