School & Career Counselor Career

school-career-counselor-500School and career counselors are vital to education organizations. These professionals provide advice, information and guidance to students regarding career and educational opportunities. They must have a desire to help students find and reach their goals.

School counselors work at all levels of public and private schools. They work closely with teachers, other counselors and students to identify education and career options for students. In many cases, they are the one link that leads a student to the next level in their education. Career counselors assist students in identifying career paths as they make choices about classes, training or college.

School & Career Counselor Career Snapshot

A large majority of counselors work at the middle and high school levels of public and private schools. They often have a percent of the school’s student body and can be asked to work before or after school, depending on the needs of the school. There are limited opportunities for self-employment, mostly working with a particular family or group of students in need of additional assistance.

Career counselors can be found more at high school and post-secondary institutions where they work with students and parents. They might also work with local employers to assist in job placement.

Further details on a career as a school and career counselor are listed below (statistics from the May 2015 Bureau of Labor Statistics and Onet Online):

$53,660

is the average yearly pay for school & career counselors.

8%

increase in employment between 2014 and 2024.

93%

have a Master’s degree while 4% have a Post-Master’s certificate.

School Counselor Education

Most school districts and private schools require at least a Master’s degree in School Counseling for this career. Some districts also require the counselor to pass a Praxis II exam. Post-secondary institutions may require a Bachelor’s degree, with a preference for candidates with a Master’s.

School Counselor Job Duties

School and career counselors are tasked with meeting with students and parents regarding schedules, goals and next steps in the student’s educational journey. They also work with students in need of personal or social counseling.

School Counselor Salaries

The average annual salary for school and career counselors was $53,360 in May 2015 according to BLS.gov data. This varies according with employment location. The lower paying locations pay around $32,000, while the highest paying around $87,500. In addition to location, experience and degree type are considered in salary placement.

School Counselor Job Outlook

The occupational outlook for school and career counselors is relatively good. With 273,400 jobs in 2014, it is expected that there will be an additional 21,872 (8%) will be added in the coming years. The expected growth is due to retirement and additional enrollment in schools.

School & Career Counselor Skills & Traits

School Counselor Skill Set:Required Abilities:Tools Used by School Counselors:Typical Work Activities:
• Active Listening
• Speaking
• Reading Comprehension
• Social Perceptiveness
• Critical Thinking
• Oral Expression
• Oral Comprehension
• Written Comprehension
• Written Expression
• Deductive Reasoning
• Liquid crystal display projector
• Notebook computers
• Photocopiers
• Videoconferencing systems
• Analytical or scientific software
• Caring for others
• Maintaining relationships
• Communicating with others
• Getting information
• Solving problems

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