Did You Know?
According to government projections, the fastest-growing job in the U.S. from 2025 to 2035 is nurse practitioner, with employment expected to grow 41%. Solar panel installers and data scientists are close behind.
The Numbers Behind the Career
The median salary for career counselors and advisors in the U.S. in 2025 was $64,330.
About 27,800 school and career counselor and advisor job openings are projected each year over the next decade.
There were about 389,500 school and career counselors and advisors in the U.S. in 2025.
Where This Career Is Headed
Career counseling is changing along with the world of work. AI-powered tools can now suggest careers, polish resumes, and run practice interviews, which can free counselors to spend more time on the human side of guidance: listening, encouraging, and helping people make sense of their choices. Interest in hands-on career training is also growing, with enrollment in community college certificate programs rising four years in a row, so counselors who understand apprenticeships, certificates, and other paths beyond a four-year degree are especially useful. At the same time, schools are expected to hire more counselors to help students with their academic, personal, and career-planning needs, and more colleges are opening career centers.
Employment of school and career counselors and advisors is projected to grow about as fast as average over the next decade, as schools respond to students' academic and career-planning needs and colleges expand their career centers.
Career changers, people who have lost their jobs, and military veterans looking for new paths also turn to career counselors for help.
Online meetings let counselors reach students and adults in rural areas or with busy schedules who might not otherwise get guidance.
Education & Certification
Most career and school counselors earn a master's degree in counseling, school counseling, or a related field, which usually takes 2 to 3 years after a bachelor's degree. These programs teach counseling skills, career development theory, how to use interest and skills assessments, and how to support people from all backgrounds.
Public school counselors must earn a state-issued credential, which typically requires a master's degree, a supervised internship, and a test. Some states also require a license for career counselors, and counselors in private practice may need a state counseling license, such as Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). Optional credentials, such as the National Certified Counselor (NCC) from the National Board for Certified Counselors or the Certified Career Counselor (CCC) from the National Career Development Association, can help counselors show their expertise.
To Prepare...
Take classes in psychology, English, and social studies to build skills in understanding people, writing clearly, and communicating with confidence.
Volunteer as a peer mentor, tutor, or peer helper at school to practice listening to others and helping them reach their goals.
Plan for a bachelor's degree in psychology, education, or a related field, followed by a master's degree in counseling, and look for chances to gain experience in roles like career center assistant or youth program helper along the way.
