Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors
Job Zone 5 - Extensive preparation needed
Advise and assist students and provide educational and vocational guidance services.
Median pay: $64,330/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)
Typical range nationwide (10th–90th percentile). This is a population snapshot, not a personal prediction - actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.
Job outlook: +3.5% projected growth, 2024–2034 — about as fast as average.
About 31,000 openings per year, on average, over the decade.
Typical entry-level education: Master's degree.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.
• Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations.
• Counsel students regarding educational issues, such as course and program selection, class scheduling and registration, school adjustment, truancy, study habits, and career planning.
• Provide crisis intervention to students when difficult situations occur at schools.
• Counsel individuals or groups to help them understand and overcome personal, social, or behavioral problems affecting their educational or vocational situations.
• Review transcripts to ensure that students meet graduation or college entrance requirements, and write letters of recommendation.
• Prepare students for later educational experiences by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.
• Refer students to outside counseling services.
• Refer students to degree programs based on interests, aptitudes, or educational assessments.
What's the median pay for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors?
The median pay for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors is $64,330 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What's the job outlook for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors?
Employment for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors is projected to change +3.5% from 2024 to 2034 - about as fast as average.
What education is typically required for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors?
Typical entry-level education: Master's degree.
How many job openings are there each year for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors?
About 31,000 openings per year, on average, over the decade.