Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)
Community and Social Service · SOC 21-1012 · O*NET 21-1012.00
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors fall under the Community and Social Service category in the U.S. occupational classification. Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors earn a median salary of $64,330 per year, ranking in the top 45% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +2.9% job growth through 2035, projected to grow slower than the US average. Entry into this field typically requires a bachelor's degree, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.
What parents should know about educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors right now
School and career counselors help students navigate academics, college, careers, and mental health. It is a meaningful path for teens who want to support others and stay close to schools or campuses. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 4 percent employment growth from 2024 to 2034, about as fast as the average for all occupations. The median annual wage for school and career counselors and advisors was $65,140 in May 2024. The path is longer than many parents realize: nearly all states require school counselors to hold a master's degree in school counseling or a related field, plus a state-issued credential (license, certification, or endorsement) that typically requires a supervised practicum or internship and a passing exam, with criminal background checks standard. Some states also prefer or require classroom teaching experience. Demand is being driven by a major mental-health and caseload pressure: the American School Counselor Association recommends a 250-to-1 student-counselor ratio, but the national average for the 2024 to 2025 school year stood at 372 to 1, and a 2025 industry report found that more than 56 percent of counselors carry caseloads of 300 to 400 students. K-12 leaders increasingly cite student mental health as their top safety concern, which is creating sustained demand and new specializations in trauma-informed counseling and college and career advising. Encourage your teen to study psychology, sociology, and human development, and to volunteer as a peer mentor.
What do educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors earn?
The median annual wage for educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors is $64,330. That puts educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors at #369 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is above the U.S. median for individual workers and reflects a stable, credentialed occupation. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.
Is educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors a growing career?
The 10-year outlook for educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors is +2.9%, projected to grow slower than the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 389K positions in 2024 to 400K in 2034, a net change of 11K. Flat growth typically reflects a mature, stable field. Most openings will come from retirements rather than new positions, which can favor candidates with strong networks and willingness to relocate.
What education does my child need to become educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisor?
The standard path into educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors begins with a bachelor's degree in a related field, followed by entry-level experience or internships during college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.
Related careers your child might also consider
- Health Education Specialists$64,070 median
- Clergy$60,810 median
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers$60,280 median
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers$59,550 median
- Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other$56,730 median
- Directors, Religious Activities and Education$52,100 median
How parents help teens explore careers like this
Solyo helps parents map a teen's interests to specific careers, then back to the colleges and majors that lead there. Salary, outlook, and education data come from BLS and O*NET — the same sources high school counselors use — but presented for the parent's planning lens, not the student's exploration view.
Common questions parents ask about educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors
What is the median salary for educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors?
The median annual salary for educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors is $64,330 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Is educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors a growing career?
BLS projects +2.9% growth for educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors from 2025 through 2035, which is flat growth projected to grow slower than the US average.
What education does my child need to become educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisor?
The typical entry path requires a bachelor's degree, plus any state licensure or certification specific to the role. Programs that align well with this career can be filtered inside Solyo's college search.
What careers are similar to educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors?
Related occupations within the Community and Social Service category share education paths and skill profiles, so they're a useful starting set when a teen is uncertain. The "Related careers" section below lists nearby options.
Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics program. Skills, tasks, and education distribution from the O*NET database. Job outlook from the BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035 release.