What Do Educational, Guidance, School, or Vocational Counselor Do?
Educational or Vocational Counselor Example Counsel individuals and provide group educational and vocational guidance services.
Daily Life Of an Educational or Vocational Counselor
- Address community groups, faculty, and staff members to explain available counseling services.
- Prepare students for later educational experiences by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.
- Establish and enforce administration policies and rules governing student behavior.
- Counsel individuals to help them understand and overcome personal, social, or behavioral problems affecting their educational or vocational situations.
- Provide special services such as alcohol and drug prevention programs and classes that teach students to handle conflicts without resorting to violence.
- Attend meetings, educational conferences, and training workshops and serve on committees.
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What Every Educational or Vocational Counselor Should Know
When polled, Educational, Guidance, School, and Vocational Counselors say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
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.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Career Developer
- Admissions Counselor
- Transition Advisor
- Offender Employment Specialist (OES)
- Career Development Specialist
Educational or Vocational Counselor Job Outlook
In the United States, there were 291,700 jobs for Educational, Guidance, School, or Vocational Counselor in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 12.6% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 36,700 new jobs for Educational, Guidance, School, or Vocational Counselor by 2026. There will be an estimated 35,300 positions for Educational or Vocational Counselor per year.
The states with the most job growth for Educational or Vocational Counselor are Utah, Nevada, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Alaska, Maine, or Vermont. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
How Much Does an Educational or Vocational Counselor Make?
The salary for Educational, Guidance, School, and Vocational Counselors ranges between about $33,610 and $94,690 a year.
Educational, Guidance, School, and Vocational Counselors who work in California, New Jersey, or Massachusetts, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Educational, Guidance, School, and Vocational Counselors in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $53,420 |
Alaska | $66,730 |
Arizona | $53,980 |
Arkansas | $53,950 |
California | $74,530 |
Colorado | $53,090 |
Connecticut | $65,510 |
Delaware | $63,990 |
District of Columbia | $67,050 |
Florida | $50,350 |
Georgia | $56,500 |
Hawaii | $59,110 |
Idaho | $43,660 |
Illinois | $56,540 |
Indiana | $51,560 |
Iowa | $54,650 |
Kansas | $50,100 |
Kentucky | $58,770 |
Louisiana | $55,500 |
Maine | $53,100 |
Maryland | $65,910 |
Massachusetts | $69,570 |
Michigan | $55,890 |
Minnesota | $58,360 |
Mississippi | $50,940 |
Missouri | $50,900 |
Montana | $48,010 |
Nebraska | $60,200 |
Nevada | $54,960 |
New Hampshire | $53,070 |
New Jersey | $72,050 |
New Mexico | $56,200 |
New York | $67,920 |
North Carolina | $50,140 |
North Dakota | $57,250 |
Ohio | $57,280 |
Oklahoma | $44,000 |
Oregon | $62,250 |
Pennsylvania | $61,260 |
Rhode Island | $62,800 |
South Carolina | $52,890 |
South Dakota | $42,750 |
Tennessee | $51,240 |
Texas | $60,080 |
Utah | $52,200 |
Vermont | $54,790 |
Virginia | $65,230 |
Washington | $64,210 |
West Virginia | $44,730 |
Wisconsin | $55,330 |
Wyoming | $56,080 |
What Tools & Technology do Educational, Guidance, School, and Vocational Counselors Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Educational, Guidance, School, and Vocational Counselors:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- Data entry software
- Email software
- Word processing software
- Microsoft Project
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
- Microsoft Dynamics
- Microsoft Publisher
- Google Docs
- FileMaker Pro
- Oracle PeopleSoft
- Microsoft Internet Explorer
How to Become an Educational or Vocational Counselor
What education is needed to be an Educational, Guidance, School, or Vocational Counselor?
How many years of work experience do I need?
Where do Educational, Guidance, School, and Vocational Counselors Work?
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those who work as an Educational, Guidance, School, or Vocational Counselor sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
- Education Professors
- Postsecondary Education Administrators
- Home Economics Professors
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
- Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Professors
References:
Image Credit: Umary.marketing via CC BY-SA 4.0
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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