What Does it Take to Be an Educational, Guidance, School, or Vocational Counselor?

Job Description & Duties Counsel individuals and provide group educational and vocational guidance services.

A Day in the Life of an Educational or Vocational Counselor

• Refer qualified counselees to employers or employment services for job placement.
• Provide crisis intervention to students when difficult situations occur at schools.
• Counsel students regarding educational issues, such as course and program selection, class scheduling and registration, school adjustment, truancy, study habits, and career planning.
• Compile and study occupational, educational, and economic information to assist counselees in determining and carrying out vocational and educational objectives.
• Review transcripts to ensure that students meet graduation or college entrance requirements and write letters of recommendation.
• Refer students to degree programs based on interests, aptitudes, or educational assessments.

Qualities of an Educational or Vocational Counselor

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.

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.

Types of Educational, Guidance, School, or Vocational Counselor

• Child Guidance Counselor
• High School Guidance Counselor
• Counselor Supervisor
• Enrollment Counselor
• Career Services Coordinator

What Kind of Educational or Vocational Counselor Job Opportunities Are There?

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 291,700 jobs in the United States for Educational, Guidance, School, or Vocational Counselor. 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.

Educational or Vocational Counselor Salary

The typical yearly salary for Educational, Guidance, School, and Vocational Counselors is somewhere between $33,610 and $94,690.

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 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
• Facebook
• Microsoft Publisher
• Google Docs
• FileMaker Pro
• Oracle PeopleSoft
• Microsoft Internet Explorer

How do I Become an Educational or Vocational Counselor?

Individuals working as an Educational, Guidance, School, or Vocational Counselor have obtained the following education levels:

How Long Does it Take to Become an Educational or Vocational Counselor?

Where do Educational, Guidance, School, and Vocational Counselors Work?

Educational, Guidance, School, and Vocational Counselors work in the following industries:

You May Also Be Interested In…

Are you already one of the many Educational, Guidance, School, or Vocational Counselor in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:

• Education Professors
• Postsecondary Education Administrators
• Home Economics Professors
• Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
• Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Professors

References:

• Bureau of Labor Statistics
• College Factual
• O*NET Online

Image Credit: Umary.marketing via CC BY-SA 4.0

More about our data sources and methodologies.