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The differences between work counselors and rehabilitation counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a work counselor and a rehabilitation counselor. Additionally, a work counselor has an average salary of $55,384, which is higher than the $43,111 average annual salary of a rehabilitation counselor.
The top three skills for a work counselor include social work, discharge planning and substance abuse. The most important skills for a rehabilitation counselor are rehabilitation, social work, and mental health.
| Work Counselor | Rehabilitation Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $55,384 | $43,111 |
| Hourly rate | $26.63 | $20.73 |
| Growth rate | 11% | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 77,184 | 77,220 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
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.
Rehabilitation counselors are professional counselors who are responsible for helping individuals cope with their disabilities to live independently. These counselors are required to consult other professionals, family members, and individuals when developing a treatment plan based on the goals, strengths, limitations, and personal values of their clients. They must make connections with community support so that individuals with disabilities can avail of the types of services that are available. Rehabilitation counselors must also find employers and educate them in understanding the needs and abilities of disabled people.
Work counselors and rehabilitation counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Work Counselor | Rehabilitation Counselor | |
| Average salary | $55,384 | $43,111 |
| Salary range | Between $46,000 And $66,000 | Between $31,000 And $58,000 |
| Highest paying City | Chicago, IL | Cleveland, OH |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Ohio |
| Best paying company | The Travelers Companies | North Shore Healthcare |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Government |
There are a few differences between a work counselor and a rehabilitation counselor in terms of educational background:
| Work Counselor | Rehabilitation Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | Social Work | Psychology |
| Most common college | Columbia University in the City of New York | University of Washington |
Here are the differences between work counselors' and rehabilitation counselors' demographics:
| Work Counselor | Rehabilitation Counselor | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 37.0% Female, 63.0% | Male, 33.9% Female, 66.1% |
| 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, 13.7% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 10.8% Asian, 2.9% White, 66.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 21% | 21% |