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The differences between youth mentors and residence 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 youth mentor, becoming a residence counselor takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a residence counselor has an average salary of $34,931, which is higher than the $32,750 average annual salary of a youth mentor.
The top three skills for a youth mentor include mental health, substance abuse and eating disorders. The most important skills for a residence counselor are developmental disabilities, CPR, and community resources.
| Youth Mentor | Residence Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $32,750 | $34,931 |
| Hourly rate | $15.75 | $16.79 |
| Growth rate | 12% | 36% |
| Number of jobs | 68,561 | 78,872 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Average age | 43 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 4 |
Youth mentors are adult individuals who are responsible for creating programs to improve the well-being of young people by providing role models that can support them academically and socially. These mentors must educate the community on issues related to mental health while making regular home visits to youth and young adults. They should provide direct care and assistance to adolescents who are with substance abuse issues by creating an educational curriculum on the said topic. Youth mentors are also required to collaborate with mental health professionals and social workers to coordinate counseling efforts.
Residence counselors are professionals who are responsible for providing services such as one-to-one therapy and crisis support to clients who are living in group homes or assisted-living facilities. These counselors must assist adults with moderate intellectual disabilities to find employment while monitoring their work performance. They must facilitate and supervise daily personal care and activities for developmentally disabled adults. Residence counselors must also encourage clients to participate in community activities that can contribute to the development of skills necessary for independent living.
Youth mentors and residence counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Youth Mentor | Residence Counselor | |
| Average salary | $32,750 | $34,931 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $41,000 | Between $28,000 And $43,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Phoenix, AZ |
| Highest paying state | Maine | Washington |
| Best paying company | LifeWorks | McLean Hospital |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Education |
There are a few differences between a youth mentor and a residence counselor in terms of educational background:
| Youth Mentor | Residence Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | SUNY at Binghamton | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between youth mentors' and residence counselors' demographics:
| Youth Mentor | Residence Counselor | |
| Average age | 43 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 47.0% Female, 53.0% | Male, 34.5% Female, 65.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 18.7% Asian, 6.7% White, 56.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.1% | 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 | 11% | 15% |