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Optimist Boys Home & Ranch
Los Angeles, California

YOUTH CARE COUNSELOR

CounselorFull-Time

Listed compensation

$21.5-$28.38/hr

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.

Posted 1mo ago · Verified live

Job Description

Job DetailsJob Location: OYHFS Youth Learning Center (Highland Park) - Los Angeles, CA 90042Position Type: Full TimeEducation Level: 4 Year DegreeSalary Range: $22.50 - $22.50 HourlyOVERALL FUNCTION: The TLS Youth Care Counselor (YCC) provide for the supervision, care and protection of all residents.

As a member of the TLS Program’s treatment team, the YCC is an important agent in setting the tone, direction, and priorities of the residents’ treatment plans. The YCC helps develop an atmosphere within the TLS Program where residents can learn to live more independently and establish themselves as a young adult.

A large part of the YCC’s role is to provide support and supervision to assist residents with career, education, and permanent housing goals; assist with meeting physical and emotional needs; managing social demands; training and guiding young adults in the TLS program. Essential Duties and

Responsibilities

Include: 1. Provide daily support, care, protection and supervision of residents. 3. Provide role modeling, understanding, guidance and example in order to promote in the residents a better understanding of himself/herself and the society in which he/she lives. 4.

Provided for the residents' emotional and physical well-being. 5. Documents daily progress and maintains log notations and communications with social worker. 6. Drives residents in agency vehicles as requested.

As a driver, you must be certified in CPR & First Aid and be able to administer both CPR and First Aid when necessary. _____ (initial here) 7. Logs all incidents. 8. Attends and participates in mandatory training and in-services as required. SPECIFIC DUTIES: 1.

Maintains resident records, incident logs and medical log entries. 2. Administers and supervises young adult's adherence to program rules and holds them accountable. 3. Attends all staff meetings. 4. Reports all special incidents. 5. Follows directions and assignments by supervisor as needed. 6.

Drives residents in agency vehicles as needed. 7. Provides tutoring and schooling needs for residents as requested. 8. Ability to verbally communicate well with others.

Qualifications

Qualifications

B.A./B.S. degree required and/or equivalent related experience. An educational background that will make it possible to earn the children’s respect and to exemplify the values of education.

Personal characteristics to be able to work effectively with the children in placement as well as adequate knowledge, skills and experience. Ability to be comfortable with the adolescents and be responsive to their needs.

Ability to accept the children’s parents regardless of their difference in values and standards of conduct. Possesses the moral integrity, sense of values and a social commitment of the highest standards as required of all staff dealing with adolescents. Able to handle crises.

All employees, regardless of position, serve as role models for children and adolescents who are served by our agencies. Therefore, each employee must at all times be emotionally stable and able to function effectively with children, adolescents and adults who may have mental or behavioral health problems.

The staff must be able to demonstrate appropriate daily behavior, appropriate expression of emotions as well as appropriate role modeling. Hostility, aggression, and unnecessary or inappropriate physical and/or emotional expression are not acceptable.

Other Required Certifications, Licenses or Documents Valid California driver’s license; current automobile insurance; have and maintain a clean driving record acceptable to the organization’s insurance company Must be able to be pass a fingerprint background investigation.

Must be able to pass a TB test, Physical Exam, and Drug Screening. In accordance with CA law, the expected pay range for this CA position is posted with this position. The actual compensation may be determined based on bona fide factors such as education, experience, and other factors permitted by law.

Salary Range for This Position

$ 21.50 - 28.38 / hour Hiring Range for this position: $ 21.50 - $ 21.50 / hour

Key Responsibilities

The Youth Care Counselor provides daily supervision, care, and protection for residents while acting as a role model to support their treatment plans. They are responsible for documenting progress, managing incidents, and assisting residents with educational, career, and housing goals.

Requirements

Candidates must possess a bachelor's degree and demonstrate the ability to work effectively with adolescents in a residential setting. A valid California driver's license, clean driving record, and the ability to pass background, physical, and drug screenings are mandatory.

Qualifications

Education
Bachelor degree

Key Skills

Youth supervisionCrisis interventionCase documentationBehavioral health supportRecord keepingCommunicationConflict resolutionAccountabilityEmotional support

Counselor Career Context

The cost-of-living index for California is 110.7 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$52k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $47k in an average-cost state. 63.6% of California clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Of the 50 active Counseling listings this role was benchmarked against, 46% are remote, 38% have no call, 64% require no weekends.

Counseling pay on WeekdayDoc is up 18.8% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).

Top Counselor Jobs

37 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution37 jobs · 30 employers

7
<$85k
14
$85k-105k
10
$105k-125k
6
$125k-145k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks30 jobs

401k / retirement match
97%
Sign-on bonus
40%
CME allowance
37%
Loan repayment
20%
PSLF eligible
10%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Licensed Clinical Therapist (LMFT, LCSW, LPCC)

Integrated Pain Management Medical Group · Walnut Creek, California

$115k-$135k
#2

Licensed Mental Health Therapist (LMFT, LCSW, LPCC)

LifeStance Health · Modesto, California

$117k-$134k
#3

Licensed Mental Health Clinician (LMFT, LCSW, LPCC)

$117k-$134k
#4

Psychotherapist, Behavioral Health

$94k-$132k
+ 35 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.2this job 3.0
Better work-life than 10% of Counseling listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 512 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Living in Los Angeles

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$923k
Typical market rent
$2,778/mo
Residents’ average commute
31 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
113.6
State income tax
Up to 13.3%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Aug 2026), Zillow market rents (Aug 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

BEA 2024 · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.

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About Optimist Boys Home & Ranch

Non-profit Organizations
Los Angeles, CA
51-200 employees