Coach & Scout
Median wage · national
$47,320
Range: $35K – $65K
Employed
249K
Openings/yr
42K
Typically: bachelor's degree
Educational, Guidance & Career Counselor
Educational, Guidance & Career Counselor earn $64,330 nationally at the median. The middle 50% of workers fall between $51,270 and $82,870. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and experience.
About Educational, Guidance & Career Counselor
Advise and assist students and provide educational and vocational guidance services.
- Median Wage
- $64,330
- Employed Nationally
- 353K
- Openings / Year
- 31,000
- Entry Education
- Master's degree
- Job Zone
- Zone 5: Extensive Preparation
Also known as:
Academic Advisor
Academic Counselor
Admissions Counselor
Adult School Counselor
Advisor
How Much Do Educational, Guidance & Career Counselors Make?
Educational, Guidance & Career Counselor earn $64,330 nationally, near the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $51,270 and $82,870. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and location.
$64,330
National Median (Annual)
Near the national median for college graduates.
$51K–$83K
Middle 50% Range
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
Earnings Range
$51,270
Entry-level
$64,330
Median
$82,870
Experienced
What Do Educational, Guidance & Career Counselors Do?
O*NET data identifies 5 core activities and 5 measurable skills for Educational, Guidance & Career Counselor roles. Use this section to judge whether the day-to-day reality aligns with what you actually want to spend time doing.
What You'll Do
- 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.
Core Skills Employers Look For
Active Listening
Speaking
Social Perceptiveness
Service Orientation
Reading Comprehension
Who Thrives Here
S
Social
Working closely with people, teaching, advising, or helping others navigate challenges is a defining feature of this career's daily work.
E
Enterprising
Leadership, influence, and business acumen are rewarded here, where managing teams, driving decisions, or persuading others shapes career outcomes.
A
Artistic
Creative and original thinking matters in this field, where fresh approaches, design sensibility, or expressive work drives real outcomes.
Where Do Educational, Guidance & Career Counselors Work?
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Work Setting
Mixed
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Physical Demands
Light
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Stress Level
Moderate
Moderate pressure. Regular deadlines exist but are generally manageable with experience.
What Is the Job Outlook for Educational, Guidance & Career Counselors?
The BLS projects +3.5% employment change for Educational, Guidance & Career Counselor through 2034, below the national average of +5%. About 31,000 openings per year keep the field accessible to new entrants.
↗ +3.5%
10-Year Growth (2024–2034)
About as fast as average.
31,000
Annual Openings
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
353K
Currently Employed
Total US employment as of BLS May 2024.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024.
Where the Jobs Are
The five states below employ the most Educational, Guidance & Career Counselor professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $64,330 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 44,160 | $94,320 | +46.6% |
| 2 | Texas | 32,350 | $65,660 | +2.1% |
| 3 | New York | 22,660 | $69,900 | +8.7% |
| 4 | Florida | 21,080 | $54,080 | -15.9% |
| 5 | Ohio | 13,030 | $61,960 | -3.7% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
How to Get Here
Most Educational, Guidance & Career Counselor positions require a master's degree to qualify. The 3 programs below are the most common academic pathways into this field, ranked by how many graduates they produce each year.
Typical Entry Education
Master's degree
Job Zone
Zone 5: Extensive Preparation
Extensive education (usually a master's or doctoral degree) plus years of field experience is required to qualify for most positions.
Degree Programs That Lead Here
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Counseling Psychology | 39,326 | $50,523 | 799 |
| 2 | Human Resources | 25,350 | $68,069 | 812 |
| 3 | Counseling Education | 14,512 | — | 493 |
Top Colleges for Aspiring Educational, Guidance & Career Counselors
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States Military Academy West Point, NY | 96 | — | — |
| 2 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, NY | 93 | $3,033 | $75,971 |
| 3 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | 93 | $12,548 | $82,511 |
| 4 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA | 93 | $12,470 | $84,943 |
| 5 | University of Florida Gainesville, FL | 93 | $6,541 | $71,588 |
| 6 | University of California-Irvine Irvine, CA | 92 | $14,251 | $80,735 |
Plan Your Path
Once you've sized up Educational, Guidance & Career Counselor, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if the degree that leads to Educational, Guidance & Career Counselor pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Educational, Guidance & Career Counselor Pros & Cons
The data on Educational, Guidance & Career Counselor shows 2 measurable strengths and 1 real trade-offs. All points are drawn from BLS wage data, employment projections, and IPEDS program completions.
PROS
- Competitive salary $64,330 median wage puts this career near or above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
- Wide job market 353K professionals are employed in this field, large enough to offer geographic flexibility and multiple entry paths.
CONS
- High education requirement Most employers require a master's degree, typically 6 to 10+ years of higher education before earning full wages. Factor tuition costs into your ROI calculation.
Educational, Guidance & Career Counselor Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Educational, Guidance & Career Counselor professionals earn?
The national median annual wage for Educational, Guidance & Career Counselor is $64,330, near the national median for full-time workers. The middle 50% of earners fall between $51,270 and $82,870. Pay varies by employer size, industry sector, specialization, and geography. National figures are a starting point, not a guarantee.
Is Educational, Guidance & Career Counselor a good career?
Yes, for the right person, but the commitment is significant. The $64,330 median wage reflects years of training most workers invest, and the path to a first career-level role typically spans 8 to 12 or more years. Job growth of +3.5% through 2034 means demand is real. The harder question is whether the education investment at your specific program will pay off. School selection matters enormously at this preparation level.
How long does it take to become a Educational, Guidance & Career Counselor?
Plan on 8 to 12 or more years of combined education and supervised training before qualifying for career-level roles. A master's degree is the typical minimum credential. Degree programs like Counseling Psychology are typical entry paths. Early-career pay during this ramp-up period will be meaningfully below the $64,330 national median. Factor that gap into any program ROI calculation.
Is a master's degree worth it to become a Educational, Guidance & Career Counselor?
It depends heavily on program cost. At $64,330 median, expensive graduate school debt can take 20 or more years to recover. In-state public schools, employer-sponsored programs, or income-driven repayment make the strongest case. School choice (specifically tuition cost and your expected local job market) matters as much as the credential itself.
What is the job outlook for Educational, Guidance & Career Counselor?
The BLS projects +3.5% employment change for Educational, Guidance & Career Counselor through 2034, about as fast as average compared to all occupations. About 31,000 job openings per year are projected, including new positions and replacements for workers who retire or change careers. 353K people currently work in this occupation nationwide (BLS May 2024).
What skills do Educational, Guidance & Career Counselor professionals need?
O*NET data identifies the core skills employers consistently prioritize for Educational, Guidance & Career Counselor roles: Active Listening, Speaking, Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, and Reading Comprehension. These develop through formal education and hands-on work. Programs with internship or co-op requirements give you a meaningful head start on the ones that take time to build.
Related Findings
-
10 Six-Figure Careers That Do Not Need a Bachelor's Degree
Air traffic controllers earn more than the typical bachelor's-degree career, with an associate degree. The occupations that pay six figures without four years of college.
- No bachelor degree
- High paying careers
- Associate degree
- Trades
- Median wage
-
Does a Master's Degree Pay Off? Barely, on Average
Group every career by the degree it requires and master's-level jobs pay a median of about $91,000, statistically tied with bachelor's-level work. The premium hides in a few fields.
- Master's degree
- Bachelor's degree
- Median wage
- Graduate school
- Career outcomes
-
Growing and Paying $80K Plus: The Careers That Do Both
Only 95 of 385 federal careers both pay a median above $80,000 and grow faster than the typical job. Here is the rare set that clears both bars.
- Career growth
- Median wage
- High-paying careers
- Job outlook
- Career change
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