Credit Counselor
Credit counselors advise and educate individuals or organizations on acquiring and managing debt. They also may provide guidance on credit issues and on budgeting, mortgages, or student financial aid packages.
What the job is
- The work
- Credit counselors advise and educate individuals or organizations on acquiring and managing debt. They also may provide guidance on credit issues and on budgeting, mortgages, or student financial aid packages.
BLS
Credit Counselors — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- Work environment
- Most credit counselors work full time. They usually work standard business hours but may need to work in the evenings or on weekends to meet with clients.
BLS
Credit Counselors — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- Good fit for
- Empathetic people who can talk about money without judging and help others make a plan.
- Career cluster
- Financial Services
Key numbers
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, pay for May 2025 (credit counselors).
- Median pay
- $52,230 a year ($25.11 an hour)
BLS
Credit Counselors — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- Jobs in 2025
- 31,200
- Typical entry
- Bachelor's degree
- Training after hire
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
Job outlook, 2025–35
- Projected growth
- +3%, which BLS calls "as fast as average"
BLS
Credit Counselors — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- Jobs added
- +1,000 over 2025–35
- All U.S. jobs
- 3.5% over the same period, for comparison
How to become one
- The usual route
- Credit counselors typically need a bachelor’s degree to enter the occupation. Candidates with a high school diploma may qualify for some jobs. Once hired, workers typically need several months of on-the-job training to attain competency.
BLS
Credit Counselors — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- In short
- Credit counselors typically need a bachelor's degree, usually in business, finance or psychology; a high school diploma qualifies for some jobs. New counselors need several months of on-the-job training. Employers may prefer or require certification.
- License
- None; certification may be required
- Paying for it
- File the FAFSA (opens by October 1) for grants, work-study and federal loans; a Pell Grant pays up to $7,395 a year (2026–27). Average public four-year tuition and fees: $11,950 in-state vs $31,880 out-of-state (2025–26). Residency rules and regional discounts · Save with 2+2 transfer
- Your state
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StateChoose a state
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Step-by-step roadmap
The routes step by step, the exam gates and the state license step are on one page.
Credit counselor: degree in business, finance or psychology, months of on-the-job training
See the roadmap
Route 1: Degree → months of training with experienced counselors
More careers in Financial Services
Open the cluster hubEvery career page in this cluster, with entry, license, pay and outlook side by side.
Every number links to the BLS page it came from, checked 20 Oct 2026. Education Margdarshan does not recommend paid courses.