What Do Credit Counselor Do?
Credit Counselor Job Description Advise and educate individuals or organizations on acquiring and managing debt. May provide guidance in determining the best type of loan and explaining loan requirements or restrictions. May help develop debt management plans, advise on credit issues, or provide budget, mortgage, and bankruptcy counseling.
Life As a Credit Counselor: What Do They Do?
- Create action plans to assist clients in obtaining permanent housing via rent or mortgage programs.
- Assess clients’ overall financial situation by reviewing income, assets, debts, expenses, credit reports, or other financial information.
- Explain general financial topics to clients, such as credit report ratings, bankruptcy laws, consumer protection laws, wage attachments, or collection actions.
- Advise clients on housing matters, such as housing rental, homeownership, mortgage delinquency, or foreclosure prevention.
- Advise clients or respond to inquiries about financial matters in person or via phone, email, Web site, or Internet chat.
- Investigate missing checks, payment histories, held funds, returned checks, or other related issues to resolve client or creditor problems.
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Skills Needed to be a Credit Counselor
These are the skills Credit Counselors say are the most useful in their careers:
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Related Job Titles
- Mortgage Counselor
- Financial Aid Officer
- Loan Representative
- Debt Counselor
- Certified Credit Counselor
Credit Counselor Job Outlook
In the United States, there were 38,300 jobs for Credit Counselor in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 13.8% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 5,300 new jobs for Credit Counselor by 2026. The BLS estimates 3,800 yearly job openings in this field.
The states with the most job growth for Credit Counselor are Utah, North Dakota, and Idaho. Watch out if you plan on working in Wyoming, Vermont, or Maine. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Credit Counselor Salary
The typical yearly salary for Credit Counselors is somewhere between $30,440 and $76,690.
Credit Counselors who work in District of Columbia, New Jersey, or Nevada, make the highest salaries.
How much do Credit Counselors make in each U.S. state?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $48,260 |
| Arizona | $45,880 |
| Arkansas | $49,770 |
| California | $53,170 |
| Connecticut | $57,500 |
| Delaware | $52,360 |
| District of Columbia | $77,690 |
| Florida | $45,530 |
| Georgia | $51,720 |
| Hawaii | $47,810 |
| Idaho | $42,490 |
| Illinois | $47,290 |
| Indiana | $45,030 |
| Iowa | $43,690 |
| Kansas | $47,910 |
| Kentucky | $44,590 |
| Louisiana | $36,840 |
| Maine | $40,880 |
| Maryland | $47,330 |
| Massachusetts | $57,600 |
| Michigan | $48,340 |
| Minnesota | $51,190 |
| Mississippi | $42,660 |
| Missouri | $53,250 |
| Montana | $44,540 |
| Nevada | $56,510 |
| New Hampshire | $45,850 |
| New Jersey | $68,360 |
| New Mexico | $37,870 |
| New York | $60,520 |
| North Carolina | $54,400 |
| North Dakota | $43,330 |
| Ohio | $51,200 |
| Oklahoma | $42,290 |
| Oregon | $48,090 |
| Pennsylvania | $55,770 |
| Rhode Island | $59,760 |
| South Carolina | $45,320 |
| South Dakota | $38,900 |
| Tennessee | $48,560 |
| Texas | $46,160 |
| Utah | $38,070 |
| Virginia | $50,860 |
| Washington | $48,230 |
| West Virginia | $38,910 |
| Wisconsin | $39,860 |
| Wyoming | $50,960 |
What Tools do Credit Counselors Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Credit Counselors may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- Email software
- SAP
- Microsoft Dynamics
- Oracle PeopleSoft
- LexisNexis
- Freddie Mac Loan Prospector
- Chat software
Becoming a Credit Counselor
What education or degrees do I need to become a Credit Counselor?
How many years of work experience do I need?
Who Employs Credit Counselors?
The table below shows the approximate number of Credit Counselors employed by various industries.
References:
Image Credit: Dave Dugdale via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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