Help students with academic plans, college and career choices, and personal or social challenges.
You may also see this posted as: Academic Advisor, Career Counselor, Guidance Counselor, Academic Counselor, Admissions Counselor, College Counselor.
Schools; offices and classrooms, steady contact with students.
School hours; some summer and evening work.
Social
helping, teaching, caring for, or supporting other people
Conventional
organizing information, following systems, and getting details right
Enterprising
leading, persuading, selling, or turning an idea into action
O*NET job zone 5 of 5
Extensive preparation—often graduate education and significant experience—is common.
Examples employers report—not a checklist you must already know.
May 2025 BLS wage & employment data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.
Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.
“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.
BLS estimates 0.6% of workers in this occupation are self-employed.
Statewide medians are a better starting point than the national number. Your city and experience still matter.
Master's degree
Training path: Master's in counseling.
Related work experience: None.
On-the-job training: None.
Public schools require a state credential, usually with a master's degree.
Licensing rules and available programs change by state. These federal tools take you to the current official listings.
The job this website wishes every school had more of.
Run the Reality Check — build the life you want and see the salary it takes, then compare it to this one.
Browse verified internships, fellowships, and programs — many paid — that lead into fields like this.
Free resume templates, interview practice, and getting-hired guides in the Careers kit.
Standard Occupational Classification 21-1012. Pay and employment from the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey; outlook and openings from the 2024–34 employment projections; job context from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; tasks, interests, work styles, software examples, and job zone from O*NET 30.3. See something off? Tell us.