Career profile · SOC 21-1012

Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors

Advise and assist students and provide educational and vocational guidance services. Help students develop academic plans, choose courses, and explore career options.

Median salary
$65,140
per year
Growth outlook
Average
BLS 10-yr
Education
Master's degree
AI exposure
3.2/10
automation risk

Salary distribution (US)

Real salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The p10–p90 spread tells you more than the median alone.

Bottom 10%
$38,070
25th %ile
$47,440
Median
$65,140
75th %ile
$81,630
Top 10%
$102,220

Top skills

Active Listening Speaking Social Perceptiveness Service Orientation Critical Thinking Reading Comprehension Coordination Judgment and Decision Making Writing Monitoring

Knowledge you'll build

  • Therapy and Counseling
  • Psychology
  • Education and Training
  • English Language
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Sociology and Anthropology
  • Administration and Management
  • Law and Government

A day in the life

Your morning starts with one-on-one meetings with students—helping a junior narrow down a college list, walking a sophomore through course selection, and checking in on a freshman who has been missing classes. By mid-morning you might lead a classroom guidance lesson on study skills or career exploration using interest inventories and labor-market data. Afternoons are spent writing recommendation letters, coordinating with teachers about at-risk students, reviewing transcripts for graduation requirements, and meeting with parents who have questions about financial aid. The job is part mentor, part navigator, and the reward is watching students discover paths they never knew existed.

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