What You Need to Know About Educational, Guidance, School, or Vocational Counselor
Career Description Counsel individuals and provide group educational and vocational guidance services.
A Day in the Life of an Educational or Vocational Counselor
- Provide crisis intervention to students when difficult situations occur at schools.
- Provide information for teachers and staff members involved in helping students or graduates identify and pursue employment opportunities.
- Counsel individuals to help them understand and overcome personal, social, or behavioral problems affecting their educational or vocational situations.
- Plan and promote career and employment-related programs and events, such as career planning presentations, work experience programs, job fairs, and career workshops.
- Establish and enforce administration policies and rules governing student behavior.
- Provide special services such as alcohol and drug prevention programs and classes that teach students to handle conflicts without resorting to violence.
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Educational or Vocational Counselor Required Skills
These are the skills Educational, Guidance, School, and Vocational 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.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
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.
Types of Educational, Guidance, School, or Vocational Counselor
- High School Guidance Counselor
- Academic Counselor
- Resume Writer
- Employment Coach
- Student Services Counselor
Job Demand for Educational, Guidance, School, and Vocational Counselors
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. The BLS estimates 35,300 yearly job openings in this field.
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.
What is the Average Salary of an Educational or Vocational Counselor
The average yearly salary of an Educational or Vocational Counselor ranges between $33,610 and $94,690.
Educational, Guidance, School, and Vocational Counselors who work in California, New Jersey, or Massachusetts, make the highest salaries.
How much do Educational, Guidance, School, and Vocational Counselors make 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 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Educational, Guidance, School, and Vocational Counselors
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Educational, Guidance, School, and Vocational Counselors may use on a daily basis:
- 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
Becoming an Educational or Vocational Counselor
What kind of Educational, Guidance, School, or Vocational Counselor requirements are there?
How Long Does it Take to Become an Educational or Vocational Counselor?
Where Educational, Guidance, School, and Vocational Counselors Are Employed
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Related Careers
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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