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Public K-12 Education
New York City Public Schools, Chicago Public Schools, Los Angeles Unified School District
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors
These counselors help students untangle school, personal, and career problems and then connect them to a concrete next step, whether that is a class plan, a referral, or a job-search strategy. The work is distinct because it mixes counseling with admissions, career guidance, and school administration, and the biggest tradeoff is that the job is people-heavy and emotionally demanding while still carrying a lot of paperwork and reporting.
Also known as Guidance CounselorSchool CounselorAcademic AdvisorCareer AdvisorCollege and Career Advisor
Median Salary
$65,140
Mean $71,520
U.S. Workforce
~342K
31K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+3.5%
376.3K to 389.6K
Entry Education
Master's degree
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors sits in the Education category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~342K workers, with a median annual pay of $65,140 and roughly 31K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 376.3 K in 2024 to 389.6K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Master's degree in school counseling, counseling, or educational psychology, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Counseling Intern or Student Services Assistant and can progress toward Director of Counseling or Student Support Services. High-value skills usually include Student Information Systems (PowerSchool, Infinite Campus, Ellucian Banner), College & Career Planning Platforms (Naviance, Scoir, Common App), and Excel, Google Sheets & Data Reporting, paired with soft skills such as Active Listening, Social Perceptiveness, and Speaking.
Core Responsibilities
- Meet with students one-on-one or in small groups to talk through academic, personal, or career problems and help them decide what to do next.
- Explain counseling services to parents, teachers, staff, and community groups so they know what help is available and when to refer someone.
- Figure out whether a student needs financial aid help, disability support, job training, rehabilitation services, or another outside resource, then connect them to the right place.
- Teach practical career skills such as writing a resume, filling out applications, and handling interviews.
Keep exploring: more Education careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Meet with students one-on-one or in small groups to talk through academic, personal, or career problems and help them decide what to do next.
02 Explain counseling services to parents, teachers, staff, and community groups so they know what help is available and when to refer someone.
03 Figure out whether a student needs financial aid help, disability support, job training, rehabilitation services, or another outside resource, then connect them to the right place.
04 Teach practical career skills such as writing a resume, filling out applications, and handling interviews.
05 Organize recruiting and enrollment outreach, including open houses, campus visits, and other events that help bring in students.
06 Keep records, write reports for administrators, and take part in meetings, trainings, workshops, and committee work.
Industries That Hire
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Higher Education
Arizona State University, University of Michigan, University of California, Berkeley
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Community Colleges and Adult Education
Miami Dade College, Houston Community College, Maricopa Community Colleges
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Nonprofits and College Access Programs
College Advising Corps, Year Up, Boys & Girls Clubs of America
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Government Workforce and Rehabilitation Services
U.S. Department of Labor, Texas Workforce Commission, California Department of Rehabilitation
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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The pay is solid for education work, with a median of $65,140 and a mean of $71,520.
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Demand is steady, with about 31.0 thousand annual openings expected each year.
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The work has a clear training path: the BLS lists a master's degree as the typical entry requirement and no on-the-job training.
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You can work in very different settings, from middle schools to universities to nonprofit advising programs.
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The job is varied because it combines counseling, teaching, outreach, and program coordination instead of one narrow task all day.
Challenges
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The growth rate is only 3.5% through 2034, so this is not a fast-expanding field and good openings can still be competitive.
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You usually need a master's degree before you can start, which is a lot of schooling for a salary that may feel modest compared with the cost of training.
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A big chunk of the job is paperwork, reporting, and meetings, which can cut into the time you spend with students.
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The work can be emotionally heavy because students bring financial problems, family stress, behavioral issues, and crisis situations to the counselor's office.
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Career advancement often depends on moving into administration or specialized services, so the ceiling can feel limited in schools and colleges.
Career Progression
Counseling Intern or Student Services Assistant
0-2 years
$34K-$46K
Supports scheduling, student records, outreach events, and basic advising under close supervision.
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselor and Advisor
2-5 years
$58K-$78K
Meets with students directly, helps with academic and career planning, and connects people to the right services.
Senior Counselor or Lead Advisor THIS ROLE
5-10 years
$80K-$98K
Handles more complex cases, leads workshops or programs, and mentors newer counselors.
Director of Counseling or Student Support Services
10+ years
$100K-$130K
Oversees budgets, staffing, policies, reporting, and the overall counseling or advising program.
Education Paths
Master's degree in school counseling, counseling, or educational psychology
This is the BLS typical entry point for the occupation and the most direct route into school-based counseling work.
Associate's degree in a related field plus support experience
Only 2.51% of workers in the provided O*NET education distribution are listed at the associate's degree level, so this is an uncommon path and usually not enough on its own for the full counselor role.
Post-master's certificate or state school counseling credential
The provided O*NET distribution shows 0.5% at the post-master's certificate level, making this a small but realistic specialization path for people who already have a graduate degree.
State licensure or school counseling certification
Many employers want a license or certification in addition to the degree, especially in public schools and college advising offices.
Key Skills
Technical
Student Information Systems (PowerSchool, Infinite Campus, Ellucian Banner) 86%
College & Career Planning Platforms (Naviance, Scoir, Common App) 83%
Excel, Google Sheets & Data Reporting 80%
Case Management & Referral Tracking Systems 77%
Zoom, Microsoft Teams & Webinar Tools 73%
FERPA, Records Management & Confidential Documentation 70%
Soft Skills
Active ListeningSocial PerceptivenessSpeakingService OrientationCritical ThinkingWriting Job Outlook and Trends
+3.5%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
31K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 376.3K to 389.6 K over the next decade, representing 3.5% growth. Around 31 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Limited. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.