A career in school or career counseling can be rewarding because of the impact you may have on students and clients. Demand for school and career counselors is expected to grow much faster than the average profession.

School counselor careers can be found in public and private educational institutions. These professionals may help:

Depending on grade level, school counselors’ day-to-day work may vary. An elementary school counselor may help students develop basic study skills, while a high school counselor might help students begin to plan for their college education or career.

The difference between school and career counseling is that career counselors work with people at any stage of their careers, helping clients make decisions about career changes, interwork conflicts, and training programs. Career counselors’ work is similar to some of the responsibilities of high school counselors, such as helping people to search for and apply for jobs, improve their resumes, and prepare for interviews. 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 45% of school and career counselors are employed in elementary and secondary schools. Another 38% work in colleges and professional schools, 7% work in healthcare and social assistance, and 4% work in other educational services.

When considering school counselor careers, you may wonder how much school counselors make. 

According to the BLS, the median salary for school and career counselors in May 2024 was $65,140 per year. At the low end, the bottom 10% of school and career counselors made less than $43,580, while the top 10% made more than $105,870. For context, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the median hourly wage for all U.S. occupations was $23.80 in May 2024 (about $49,500 per year for full-time work). That baseline can help you gauge whether school- and career-counseling programs tend to offer above-average earning potential compared with typical jobs. 

While most school and career counselors work full-time, some school counselors may not work during the summer when schools are closed.

A number of variables can affect school counselor salaries, including length of experience, the types of degrees counselors hold, job location, and work setting. School counselors may make more money than career counselors. 

The median salary for counselors working in local elementary and secondary schools was $76,960, while school and career counselors working in state and local junior colleges, colleges, universities, and professional schools earned $60,170, according to the BLS. School counseling salaries may also differ depending on the school setting in which one works. An elementary school counselor, a middle school counselor, and a high school counselor have different job descriptions, such as “Director of School Counseling”, and their salaries may vary. 

School counselor salaries at public schools may be dictated by local boards of education, while counselors in other settings may have their salaries dictated by market demand.

The outlook for school and career counseling jobs appears strong. The demand for school and career counselors is expected to grow 4% through 2034, about as fast as the average growth across all other occupations. This is largely due to rising enrollment in K-12 and college-level schooling. 

Typically, school counselors obtain a master’s in school counseling, even for entry-level jobs in the field. Nearly all states and the District of Columbia require a master’s degree in counseling or a related degree to become a school counselor. Prospective school counselors can obtain their master’s degree in counseling online or on campus. An undergraduate degree that may help students decide to enter this field is a bachelor’s in social work, psychology, sociology, or education. 

According to the BLS, these are the top-paying metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas for school and career counselors as of May 2024. Notably, four out of the top five are all in California, which is also the top-paying state for school counselors.

To give a broader idea of where school counselor jobs may be in demand, these are the top five metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas for total employment of school and career counselors as of May 2024:

And these are the top-paying states for school and career counselors as of May 2024. 

If you are interested in counseling but aren’t sure about working as a school or career counselor, there are several alternative professions you may want to consider. For instance, if you want to offer career services for marginalized people, you might consider a career in social work. Becoming a social worker typically requires at least a master’s degree in social work, though some employers may offer positions for graduates with just a bachelor’s in social work. 

Your career path should ultimately be determined by your goals, natural abilities, and interests. Consider what attracts you to a school counseling career, and also take time to explore other careers that may offer similar advantages. If you’re interested in working with people therapeutically, for example, you may want to become a mental health counselor. If you’re interested in working with students in particular, you may even want to consider becoming a teacher. 

Whether or not you decide on a different path beyond career or school counseling, thinking about these issues may help you find the most suitable work environment for you. 

Information last updated: February 2026