What You Need to Know About Educational, Guidance, School, or Vocational Counselor
Career Description Counsel individuals and provide group educational and vocational guidance services.
What Do Educational, Guidance, School, and Vocational Counselors Do On a Daily Basis?
- Attend meetings, educational conferences, and training workshops and serve on committees.
- Evaluate students’ or individuals’ abilities, interests, and personality characteristics, using tests, records, interviews, or professional sources.
- Conduct follow-up interviews with counselees to determine if their needs have been met.
- 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.
- Plan and conduct orientation programs and group conferences to promote the adjustment of individuals to new life experiences, such as starting college.
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What an Educational or Vocational Counselor Should Know
Below is a list of the skills most Educational, Guidance, School, and Vocational Counselors say are important on the job.
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:
- Offender Employment Specialist (OES)
- Elementary School Counselor
- Counselor
- Career Development Facilitator
- Employment Coach
Job Demand for Educational, Guidance, School, and Vocational Counselors
There were about 291,700 jobs for Educational, Guidance, School, or Vocational Counselor in 2016 (in the United States). 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. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 35,300 job openings in this field each 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.
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 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Educational, Guidance, School, and Vocational Counselors
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?
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.
Other Jobs You May 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:
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More about our data sources and methodologies.
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