Counselors, Social Workers, and Other Community and Social Service Specialists

How to become an Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselor or Advisor

Official title: Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors

Also called: Academic Advisor, Academic Counselor, Admissions Counselor, Career Counselor, College Counselor, Elementary School Counselor, Guidance Counselor, School Counselor, Student Services Coordinator, Vocational Counselor

Advise and assist students and provide educational and vocational guidance services.

Main tasks

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.

How to become one

Most school counselors need a master's degree in school counseling or a related field and have a state-issued credential. Some states require licensure for career counselors and advisors.

Typical education to start: Master's degree

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

Apprenticeship: Counselor.
College: Education & Teaching degrees, Offered by 35 universities in the US
College: Psychology degrees, Offered by 33 universities in the US
Licence: A licence is required in 41 states.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $64,330 a year The middle half earn $51,270 to $82,870.
About 389,500 people work in this job now, and about 400,900 are projected by 2035. (+2.9%)
People already use generative AI for a good share of this work, which usually changes the job more than it replaces it. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as high.

Questions people ask

How do I become an Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselor or Advisor?

Most school counselors need a master's degree in school counseling or a related field and have a state-issued credential. Some states require licensure for career counselors and advisors.

How much does an Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselor or Advisor earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $64,330 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $51,270 to $82,870.

Is an Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselor or Advisor a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 3% by 2035, from about 389,500 to about 400,900 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become an Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselor or Advisor?

Usually. 88% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of an Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselor or Advisor?

People already use generative AI for a good share of this work, which usually changes the job more than it replaces it. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as high.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.