School and career counselors held about 324,500 jobs in 2018. The largest employers of school and career counselors were as follows:
| Elementary and secondary schools; state, local, and private | 44% |
| Junior colleges, colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private | 35 |
| Healthcare and social assistance | 8 |
| Other educational services; state, local, and private | 4 |
| Self-employed workers | 3 |
School counselors often have private offices so that they can have confidential conversations with students.
Work Schedules
Most school and career counselors work full time. Some school counselors do not work during the summer when school is not in session.
Most school counselors must have a master’s degree in school counseling or a related field and have a state-issued credential. Some states require licensure for career counselors.
Education
Nearly all states and the District of Columbia require school counselors to have a master’s degree in school counseling or a related field. Degree programs teach counselors the essential skills of the job, such as how to foster academic development; conduct group and individual counseling; work with parents, school staff, and community organizations; and use data to develop, implement, and evaluate comprehensive school counseling programs for all students. These programs often require counselors to complete an internship.
Some employers prefer that career counselors have a master’s degree in counseling with a focus on career development. Career counseling programs prepare students to assess clients’ skills and interests and to teach career development techniques.
Many master’s degree programs in counseling require students to have a period of supervised experience, such as an internship.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Public school counselors must have a state-issued credential to practice. This credential can be called a certification, a license, or an endorsement, depending on the state. Licensure or certification typically requires a master’s degree in school counseling, an internship or practicum completed under the supervision of a licensed professional school counselor, and successful completion of a test.
Some states require applicants to have classroom teaching experience, or to hold a teaching license, prior to being certified. Most states require a criminal background check as part of the credentialing process. Information about requirements for each state is available from the American School Counselor Association .
Some states require licensure for career counselors; check with your state for more information. Contact information for state regulating boards is available from the National Board for Certified Counselors .
Work Experience in a Related Occupation
Some states require school counselors to have 1 to 2 years of experience as a teacher, or to hold a teaching license, prior to being certified.
School and career counselors typically have an interest in the Helping interest area, according to the Holland Code framework. The Helping interest area indicates a focus on assisting, serving, counseling, or teaching other people.
If you are not sure whether you have a Helping interest which might fit with a career as a school and career counselor, you can take a career test to measure your interests.
School and career counselors should also possess the following specific qualities:
Compassion. Counselors often work with people who are dealing with stressful and difficult situations, so they must be compassionate and empathize with their clients and students.
Interpersonal skills. Being able to work with different types of people is essential for counselors. They spend most of their time working directly with clients and students or other professionals and need good working relationships.
Listening skills. Good listening skills are essential for school and career counselors. They need to give their full attention to their students and clients to understand their problems.
Speaking skills. School and career counselors must communicate effectively with clients and students. They should express ideas and information in a way that their clients and students understand easily.
The median annual wage for school and career counselors was $57,040 in May 2019. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $34,380, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $96,090.
In May 2019, the median annual wages for school and career counselors in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
| Elementary and secondary schools; state, local, and private | $64,060 |
| Other educational services; state, local, and private | 51,880 |
| Junior colleges, colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private | 51,120 |
| Healthcare and social assistance | 40,620 |
Most school and career counselors work full time. Some school counselors do not work during the summer when school is not in session.
Employment of school and career counselors is projected to grow 8 percent from 2018 to 2028, faster than the average for all occupations.
Rising student enrollments in elementary, middle, and high schools is expected to increase demand for school counselors. As enrollments grow, schools will require more counselors to respond to the developmental and academic needs of their students. Colleges will need to hire additional counselors to meet the demand for career counseling services from their students.
Demand for career counseling is projected to increase in universities as an increasing number of campuses open onsite career centers to help students develop skills and prepare for transition to the workforce.
Career counselors also will be needed to assist those who change careers, to help laid-off workers find employment, and to help military personnel transition into the civilian job market.
Job Prospects
Job prospects are expected to be good for those with counseling degrees, especially in schools and colleges, because of the need to replace the workers who leave the occupation each year.
For more information about counseling and information about counseling specialties, visit
American Counseling Association
For more information about school counselors, visit
American School Counselor Association
For more information about career counselors, visit
National Career Development Association
For more information about state credentialing, visit
National Board for Certified Counselors