What You Need to Know About Educational, Guidance, School, and Vocational Counselors

Educational or Vocational Counselor Definition Counsel individuals and provide group educational and vocational guidance services.

A Day in the Life of an Educational or Vocational Counselor

• Assess needs for assistance, such as rehabilitation, financial aid, or additional vocational training, and refer clients to the appropriate services.
• Prepare reports on students and activities as required by administration.
• Provide students with information on topics, such as college degree programs and admission requirements, financial aid opportunities, trade and technical schools, and apprenticeship programs.
• Plan and conduct orientation programs and group conferences to promote the adjustment of individuals to new life experiences, such as starting college.
• Supervise, train, and direct professional staff and interns.
• Evaluate students’ or individuals’ abilities, interests, and personality characteristics, using tests, records, interviews, or professional sources.

Educational or Vocational Counselor Needed 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.

Types of Educational or Vocational Counselor Jobs

• Career Services Coordinator
• Advisor
• Educational Adviser
• Vocational Examiner
• Employment Trainer

Are There Job Opportunities for Educational, Guidance, School, and Vocational Counselors?

There were about 291,700 jobs for Educational, Guidance, School, and Vocational Counselors in 2016 (in the United States).

New jobs are being produced at a rate of 12.6% which is lower than average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 36,700 new jobs for Educational, Guidance, School, and Vocational Counselors by 2026. The BLS estimates 35,300 yearly job openings in this field per year.

The states with the most job growth for Educational, Guidance, School, and Vocational Counselors are Texas, California, and New York.

Watch out if you plan on working in Alaska, Vermont, or Maine. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Educational or Vocational Counselor Salary

Educational, Guidance, School, and Vocational Counselors Make between $33,610 and $94,690 a year. An Educational, Guidance, School, or Vocational Counselor median salary is $56,310.

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for jobs of this type in different U.S. states.

Annual Mean Salary by State

State	Annual Mean Salary
California	$74,530
New Jersey	$72,050
Massachusetts	$69,570
New York	$67,920
District of Columbia	$67,050
Alaska	$66,730
Maryland	$65,910
Connecticut	$65,510
Virginia	$65,230
Washington	$64,210
Delaware	$63,990
Rhode Island	$62,800
Oregon	$62,250
Pennsylvania	$61,260
Nebraska	$60,200
Texas	$60,080
Hawaii	$59,110
Kentucky	$58,770
Minnesota	$58,360
Ohio	$57,280
North Dakota	$57,250
Illinois	$56,540
Georgia	$56,500
New Mexico	$56,200
Wyoming	$56,080
Michigan	$55,890
Louisiana	$55,500
Wisconsin	$55,330
Nevada	$54,960
Vermont	$54,790
Iowa	$54,650
Arizona	$53,980
Arkansas	$53,950
Alabama	$53,420
Maine	$53,100
Colorado	$53,090
New Hampshire	$53,070
South Carolina	$52,890
Utah	$52,200
Indiana	$51,560
Tennessee	$51,240
Mississippi	$50,940
Missouri	$50,900
Florida	$50,350
North Carolina	$50,140
Kansas	$50,100
Montana	$48,010
West Virginia	$44,730
Oklahoma	$44,000
Idaho	$43,660
South Dakota	$42,750

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:

• Data entry software
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services
• Microsoft Dynamics
• Blackbaud The Raiser’s Edge
• Google Drive
• Microsoft Office
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Microsoft Excel
• Oracle PeopleSoft

Becoming an Educational or Vocational Counselor

Learn what Educational, Guidance, School, or Vocational Counselor education requirements there are.

How many years of work experience do I need?

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

Similar Careers

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

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

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics

College Factual

O*NET Online

Image Credit: Via Wikimedia Commons