How much does a Career Counselor make?

The national average salary for a Career Counselor is $53,233 per year in United States. Filter by location to see a Career Counselor salaries in your area. Salaries estimates are based on 1389 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by a Career Counselor employees.

The highest salary for a Career Counselor in United States is $82,902 per year.

The lowest salary for a Career Counselor in United States is $34,182 per year.

If you are thinking of becoming a Career Counselor or planning the next step in your career, find details about the role, the career path and salary trajectory of a Career Counselor.

Glassdoor users working as career counselors are satisfied with their salaries at a rate of 68%. Some employers encourage high performance with profit sharing and bonuses, which have the potential to raise your salary by $3,263.53 and qualify the pay as satisfactory.

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Career counselors usually earn between {{TOTAL_PAY_LOW}} and {{TOTAL_PAY_HIGH}} each year. When you choose a company that provides commissions, profit sharing, or bonuses, you could make even more — total compensation often ranges from $36,074.92 to $88,874.55. Many employers pay more the longer you're in the profession. If you're interested in making progress on the career counselor career path, you can seek out higher-paying senior positions.

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If you need practical ways to increase your career counselor salary, start by improving your professional communication; it's essential for working effectively with stakeholders, students, parents, and industry contacts. Career counselors often lead workshops and group events, so your income might benefit from building skills in teaching and public speaking. While you're at it, start reading up on different careers and the relevant educational paths. To better serve your students, focus on building relationships with employers, employment agencies, mentors, and educational institutions.

Some organizations and institutions prefer career counselors to have advanced degrees; consider a master's degree in education, psychology, counseling, or a related discipline.

When your experience and skills are worth more than your current career counselor salary, it's time to negotiate. Using the job description as a reference, show how your years of counseling, educational background, and professional abilities will help the company meet its goals. In particular, point to training in counseling, higher education, mentoring, or psychology.

How much wiggle room is there to negotiate the salary in career counselor jobs? That depends on the organization's budget; you might start with 10%, and increase it based on your unique qualifications. Check the Glassdoor salary data for counselors in your area to get an idea of what employers are paying.