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The differences between work counselors and school counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a work counselor has an average salary of $55,384, which is higher than the $49,904 average annual salary of a school counselor.
The top three skills for a work counselor include social work, discharge planning and substance abuse. The most important skills for a school counselor are mental health, community resources, and crisis intervention.
| Work Counselor | School Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $55,384 | $49,904 |
| Hourly rate | $26.63 | $23.99 |
| Growth rate | 11% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 77,184 | 91,275 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Average age | 45 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 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.
A school counselor is responsible for monitoring the students' social and personal development, advising them of their career aspirations, and assisting them with their academic achievements and goals. School counselors also ensure that the students receive the highest learning standards to pave their way towards society's advancement and global competitiveness. They evaluate students' behavior through personal counseling, understanding their challenges, and develop strategies to overcome their needs. A school counselor must have excellent communication and decision-making skills, supporting students with their goals, and honing their skills efficiently.
Work counselors and school counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Work Counselor | School Counselor | |
| Average salary | $55,384 | $49,904 |
| Salary range | Between $46,000 And $66,000 | Between $36,000 And $68,000 |
| Highest paying City | Chicago, IL | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | California |
| Best paying company | The Travelers Companies | The Gow School |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Education |
There are a few differences between a work counselor and a school counselor in terms of educational background:
| Work Counselor | School Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Most common major | Social Work | School Counseling |
| Most common college | Columbia University in the City of New York | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between work counselors' and school counselors' demographics:
| Work Counselor | School Counselor | |
| Average age | 45 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 37.0% Female, 63.0% | Male, 26.1% Female, 73.9% |
| 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, 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 | 21% | 11% |