Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors
Community and Social Service
Day to day, the work is talking with students about what to take next, how to get through a rough stretch at school, and what comes after graduation. That includes reviewing transcripts against graduation and college-entrance rules, writing recommendation letters, and referring people to outside counseling or to programs that match their interests and assessments. When something serious happens at school, counselors step in for crisis support. Accurate records are required by law and district policy. The job suits people who listen closely, explain options clearly, and stay organized with paperwork and follow-up.
Typical education: Bachelor’s Degree (4-year)
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$64'330
Median Wage Market Position
$64'330
What you might do
- Counsel students on courses, schedules, and careers
- Review transcripts for graduation and college requirements
- Help students through personal problems affecting school
- Intervene when a crisis happens at school
- Write letters of recommendation for students
- Refer students to outside counseling or degree programs
Skills that matter
- Advice on courses, schedules, and career plans
- Review of transcripts for graduation and college
- Letters of recommendation for students
- Crisis help when difficult situations arise at school
- Counseling on personal problems that affect school
- Referrals to programs and outside counseling
AI & the future of this role
Information on courses, careers, and requirements may increasingly come from digital tools. Advising still hinges on reading a student's situation, building trust, and navigating school systems where judgment and relationships matter.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details