Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors
SOC Code: 21-1012Also known as:
Academic Advisor, Academic Counselor, Admissions Counselor, Adult School Counselor, Advisor
Median Annual Salary
$65,140
+3.5% growth (2024-2034)
31K
Openings/Year
376K
Current Jobs
What Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors Do
Advise and assist students and provide educational and vocational guidance services.
💰 Salary
$65,140
Median annual wage (2024)
📈 Job Growth
+3.5%
As fast as average
🎓 Education
Master's degree
Typical entry-level requirement
🚀 Annual Openings
31K
Projected average per year
Employment Projections (2024-2034)
Current Employment (2024)
376,300
Projected Employment (2034)
389,600
Related Careers
School psychologists
$86,930 •
+0.7% growth
Rehabilitation counselors
$46,110 •
+1.4% growth
Child, family, and school social workers
$58,570 •
+3.4% growth
Education teachers, postsecondary
$72,090 •
+2.1% growth
Instructional coordinators
$74,720 •
+1.3% growth
Top Skills Required
Active Listening
Speaking
Social Perceptiveness
Service Orientation
Reading Comprehension
Daily Tasks & Responsibilities
- 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.
- Evaluate students' or individuals' abilities, interests, and personality characteristics, using tests, records, interviews, or professional sources.
- Provide students with information on topics such as college degree programs and admission requirements, financial aid opportunities, trade and technical schools, and apprenticeship programs.
Technology & Tools
📚 Entry-Level Education
Master's degree
Most common requirement
🎯 Recommended Education
Bachelor's Degree
O*NET recommended level
Degree Programs for Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors
These degree programs can prepare you for a career as a educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors:
Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services
12,270 degrees awarded •
421 colleges offer this program
School Psychology
3,685 degrees awarded •
200 colleges offer this program
College Student Counseling and Personnel Services
952 degrees awarded •
65 colleges offer this program
Student Counseling and Personnel Services, Other
492 degrees awarded •
24 colleges offer this program
Executive/Career Coaching
101 degrees awarded •
11 colleges offer this program
Best Colleges for Becoming a Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors
Ranked by Repit grade, then by degrees in related programs. These are the top-rated colleges that prepare students to become educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors.
| # | College | Location | Related Degrees | Repit Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Southern California | Los Angeles, CA | 164 | A |
| 2 | William & Mary | Williamsburg, VA | 130 | A |
| 3 | New York University | New York, NY | 99 | A |
| 4 | University of Florida | Gainesville, FL | 72 | A |
| 5 | University of Georgia | Athens, GA | 54 | A |
| 6 | Florida State University | Tallahassee, FL | 113 | B+ |
| 7 | Wake Forest University | Winston-Salem, NC | 111 | B+ |
| 8 | Clemson University | Clemson, SC | 110 | B+ |
| 9 | University of Central Florida | Orlando, FL | 97 | B+ |
| 10 | Loyola Marymount University | Los Angeles, CA | 79 | B+ |
| 11 | California State University-Long Beach | Long Beach, CA | 72 | B+ |
| 12 | San Diego State University | San Diego, CA | 67 | B+ |
| 13 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh | Raleigh, NC | 63 | B+ |
| 14 | The College of New Jersey | Ewing, NJ | 59 | B+ |
| 15 | CUNY Hunter College | New York, NY | 51 | B+ |
| 16 | CUNY Queens College | Queens, NY | 50 | B+ |
| 17 | Arkansas State University | Jonesboro, AR | 182 | B |
| 18 | University of Missouri-Columbia | Columbia, MO | 170 | B |
| 19 | Montclair State University | Montclair, NJ | 133 | B |
| 20 | Kansas State University | Manhattan, KS | 124 | B |
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much do educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors make?
The median annual salary for educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors is $65,140.
What education do educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors need?
Most educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors positions require a master's degree.
Common degree programs include Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services, School Psychology, College Student Counseling and Personnel Services.
Is becoming educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors a good career choice?
Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors is projected to see +3.5% job growth from 2024 to 2034,
which is about average for all occupations. With approximately 31,000 job openings expected annually,
there are good opportunities for those entering the field.
What are the best colleges for educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors?
Top colleges for aspiring educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors include
University of Southern California, William & Mary, New York University, University of Florida, University of Georgia.
These schools are ranked based on their Repit grade and the number of graduates in related programs.
What other job titles are similar to educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors?
Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors may also be known as: Academic Advisor, Academic Counselor, Admissions Counselor, Adult School Counselor, Advisor, Articulation Officer, Assessment Specialist, Career Advisor, Career Coach, Career Consultant, Career Coordinator, Career Counselor, Career Developer, Career Development Consultant, Career Development Counselor, Career Development Facilitator, Career Development Specialist, Career Guidance Counselor, Career Services Coordinator, Career Technical Counselor.
These titles often refer to similar roles with varying responsibilities or specializations.