What Do Educational, Guidance, School, or Vocational Counselor Do?
Career Description Counsel individuals and provide group educational and vocational guidance services.
Daily Life Of an Educational or Vocational Counselor
- Teach classes and present self-help or information sessions on subjects related to education and career planning.
- Establish contacts with employers to create internship and employment opportunities for students.
- Collaborate with teachers and administrators in the development, evaluation, and revision of school programs and in the preparation of master schedules for curriculum offerings.
- Supervise, train, and direct professional staff and interns.
- Review transcripts to ensure that students meet graduation or college entrance requirements and write letters of recommendation.
- Provide disabled students with assistive devices, supportive technology, and assistance accessing facilities, such as restrooms.
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What an Educational or Vocational Counselor Should Know
Educational, Guidance, School, and Vocational Counselors state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
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 Coordinator
- Vocational Rehabilitation Supervisor
- College Counselor
- Student Services Counselor
- Job Developer
Job Opportunities 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.
Educational or Vocational Counselor Average Salary
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 each U.S. state?
| 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
Becoming an Educational or Vocational Counselor
What education is needed to be an Educational, Guidance, School, or Vocational Counselor?
What work experience do I need to become an Educational or Vocational Counselor?
Who Employs Educational, Guidance, School, and Vocational Counselors?
The table below shows the approximate number of Educational, Guidance, School, and Vocational Counselors employed by various industries.
Related Careers
Career changers with experience as an Educational, Guidance, School, or Vocational Counselor sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
- 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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