School Counselor
School counselors help students develop academic and social skills. Career counselors and advisors help people choose a path to employment.
What the job is
- The work
- School counselors help students develop academic and social skills. Career counselors and advisors help people choose a path to employment.
BLS
School and Career Counselors and Advisors — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- Work environment
- School counselors work in public and private schools. Career counselors and advisors are employed primarily in colleges and universities but also work in career centers and private practice. Both types of counselors usually work full time.
BLS
School and Career Counselors and Advisors — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- Good fit for
- Good listeners who want to help students with school, careers and personal problems.
- Career cluster
- Education
Key numbers
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, pay for May 2025 (school and career counselors and advisors).
- Median pay
- $64,330 a year ($30.93 an hour)
BLS
School and Career Counselors and Advisors — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- Jobs in 2025
- 389,500
- Typical entry
- Master's degree
- Training after hire
- None
Job outlook, 2025–35
- Projected growth
- +3%, which BLS calls "as fast as average"
BLS
School and Career Counselors and Advisors — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- Jobs added
- +11,400 over 2025–35
- All U.S. jobs
- 3.5% over the same period, for comparison
How to become one
- The usual route
- Most school counselors need a master’s degree in school counseling or a related field and have a state-issued credential. Some states require licensure for career counselors and advisors.
BLS
School and Career Counselors and Advisors — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- In short
- Nearly all states require school counselors to have a master's degree, usually in counseling, plus a state credential called a certification, license or endorsement.
- License
- State credential (public schools). Public school counselors must hold a state-issued credential; its name and the test differ by state. In Pennsylvania, a Professional Counselor license (LPC) exempts a school counselor candidate from the state tests.
- By state
- State rules on the roadmap
- 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
-
StateChoose a state
- AlabamaState guide
- AlaskaState guide
- ArizonaState guide
- ArkansasState guide
- CaliforniaState guide
- ColoradoState guide
- ConnecticutState guide
- DelawareState guide
- District of ColumbiaState guide
- FloridaState guide
- GeorgiaState guide
- HawaiiState guide
- IdahoState guide
- IllinoisState guide
- IndianaState guide
- IowaState guide
- KansasState guide
- KentuckyState guide
- LouisianaState guide
- MaineState guide
- MarylandState guide
- MassachusettsState guide
- MichiganState guide
- MinnesotaState guide
- MississippiState guide
- MissouriState guide
- MontanaState guide
- NebraskaState guide
- NevadaState guide
- New HampshireState guide
- New JerseyState guide
- New MexicoState guide
- New YorkState guide
- North CarolinaState guide
- North DakotaState guide
- OhioState guide
- OklahomaState guide
- OregonState guide
- PennsylvaniaState guide
- Rhode IslandState guide
- South CarolinaState guide
- South DakotaState guide
- TennesseeState guide
- TexasState guide
- UtahState guide
- VermontState guide
- VirginiaState guide
- WashingtonState guide
- West VirginiaState guide
- WisconsinState guide
- WyomingState guide
Step-by-step roadmap
The routes step by step, the exam gates and the state license step are on one page.
School counselor: master's in school counseling, internship, state credential
See the roadmap
Route 1: Bachelor's → master's in school counseling → state credential · Route 2: Career counselor or academic advisor
More careers in Education
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.