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Job outlook for adoption counselors in the United States
Are adoption counselor jobs in demand?
Adoption counselor job and salary trends over time
Adoption counselor jobs over time
Adoption counselor job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,421 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 1,401 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 1,421 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 1,368 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 1,301 | 0.00% |
Average adoption counselor salary over time
Adoption counselor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $31,200 | $15.00 | +1.9% |
| 2024 | $30,620 | $14.72 | +1.3% |
| 2023 | $30,229 | $14.53 | +1.6% |
| 2022 | $29,745 | $14.30 | +1.6% |
| 2021 | $29,289 | $14.08 | +1.7% |
Adoption counselor jobs by state
Most common states for adoption counselors
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 87 | 13% |
| 2 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 220 | 6% |
| 3 | Delaware | 961,939 | 58 | 6% |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 579 | 5% |
| 5 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 317 | 5% |
| 6 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 56 | 5% |
| 7 | Alaska | 739,795 | 36 | 5% |
| 8 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 34 | 5% |
| 9 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 28 | 5% |
| 10 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 323 | 4% |
| 11 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 297 | 4% |
| 12 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 254 | 4% |
| 13 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 237 | 4% |
| 14 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 206 | 4% |
| 15 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 114 | 4% |
| 16 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 56 | 4% |
| 17 | Vermont | 623,657 | 23 | 4% |
| 18 | California | 39,536,653 | 1,154 | 3% |
| 19 | New York | 19,849,399 | 629 | 3% |
| 20 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 354 | 3% |
Most common cities for adoption counselors
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stow | 1 | 3% | $29,840 |
| 2 | Indianapolis | 2 | 0% | $29,450 |
| 3 | Houston | 1 | 0% | $29,362 |
Adoption Counselor job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of adoption counselor experts
Saint Xavier University
Louisiana State University at Shreveport
Carolina Christian College
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Ohio University
Elms College
Vanguard University
Rider University
Angelo State University
Rider University
What general advice would you give to an Adoption Counselor?
Kristen Toole: Remember that this is a marathon, not a sprint. Personal and professional development are
lifelong processes that are never really finished. So, it is essential to pace yourself and establish a
foundation of healthy practices from the outset. Creating habits and routines in the beginning
with the end in mind can be a good strategy for success and sustainability.
Keep work-life balance and boundaries in mind from the start because breaking bad habits can
be tricky once established. Think about where you ultimately want to be and build toward that
future one step at a time. Also, it is okay if plans change! You never know where open-
mindedness and willingness to learn may take you.
Kacie Blalock Ph.D.
Associate Professor; Director, Master of CounselingLouisiana State University at Shreveport
Department Of Psychology
What soft skills should all Adoption Counselors possess?
Kacie Blalock Ph.D.: Soft skills that are essential for counselors include emotional intelligence, empathy, multicultural competency, interpersonal abilities, and authenticity.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Adoption Counselors?
Kacie Blalock Ph.D.: It is important that counselors are able to effectively take notes and summarize progress, interpret assessments, memorize and recall information, and keep clear yet concise records.
What type of skills will young Adoption Counselors need?
Dr. Andrew Wood: For Biblical Studies, it is vital that graduates have a genuine relationship with Jesus, that they are people of humility and integrity, desire to be lifelong learners, and have open minds to new things they learn that may challenge their original assumptions. They need to have a strong work ethic, organizational, and time management skills to work on their own productively and with integrity.
What type of skills will young Adoption Counselors need?
Dr. Thomas Dearden Ph.D.: Indeed, the way we work is changing. The skills that young graduates will need are diverse. Transferable skills and soft skills will certainly be marketable. These include traditional crafts such as communication, but I also think the world expects more empathy from its employees. Young graduates with an understanding of racism, sexism, and environmental responsibility will become increasingly important.
How do you envision technology impacting Adoption Counselors in the next 5 years?
Christine Suniti Bhat: The pandemic has already altered the way in which school counselors are engaging with their students. The importance of learning management systems and dynamic tools to interact with students online will continue to grow. School counselors will have to be prepared to deliver individual services as well as group and class interventions using technologies such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams.
This is something that we would not have anticipated five years ago. School counselors may also have to address issues related to isolation, loneliness, and excessive screen time, along with some of the issues that are related to the misuse of technology such as cyberbullying and sexting. Prevention (before problems arise) and intervention (addressing issues after they arise) are both important. Overall, health and wellness in relation to the use of technology will become more important.
What general advice would you give to an Adoption Counselor?
Dr. Meredith Bertrand: History is ever-changing, and teachers must clarify how current events are just as much a part of the study of history as any other socio-political period or event. If you are not comparing the civil rights movement of today to the ongoing civil rights movements of the past, and if you are not supporting the campaign against oppression and institutional racism upon which our nation was built, then you are doing continuous harm to those who need you to act and disrupt the cycle. History teachers better be ready to be activists, not just teachers, or else you are perpetuating the status quo.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Adoption Counselors?
Dr. Meredith Bertrand: Because of the coronavirus, teachers are moving into a new age of schooling. Everything has been converted to digital delivery, and modern history teachers live in this historical moment. I'd like to see that digital distribution continues, to some extent, as it can be an engaging and flexible way for kids to learn. Our schools are so rigid in their structure, which is to the detriment of all, as we see in this current crisis.
What has become strikingly apparent during this pandemic is how critically essential schools (and the structure of school) are for children and families' general welfare. I am struck by the irony of how underfunded schools are. Yet, our society is dependent upon them to provide nutrition, healthcare, counseling, and academic learning. Now, schools are pressured to reopen for the good of the economy (because parents need childcare). How is it that schoolchildren and teachers come to carry the US economy on their backs, yet still have to hold bake sales and walk-a-thons to support programming?
Dr. Tommy Casarez Ph.D.
Dr., Assistant Professor of Historical and Systematic TheologyVanguard University
Religion, Undergraduate Religion
What general advice would you give to an Adoption Counselor?
Dr. Tommy Casarez Ph.D.: Opportunities come in many different shapes and sizes, but they are still out there. Whether you are seeking to land a job in education or the non-profit sector, you will need to familiarize yourself and get used to all things digital, for the sake of communicating effectively. The younger your student or service partner's mindset, the more digitally savvy you will need to be, especially in the classroom and in the non-profit world.
Aubrey Daniels Ph.D.
Acting Assistant ProfessorRider University
Department of Graduate Education, Leadership, and Counseling
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Adoption Counselors?
Aubrey Daniels Ph.D.: There will be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on graduates. Luckily, most of the effects for those in mental health and social services professions will still be able to be employed as the pandemic occurring is currently having a massive impact on the mental health of people around the world, and it will have a lasting effect on individuals and families for years to come. As I was saying before, the use of video technology in these professions has allowed us to continue working and serving those who have been deeply impacted by this pandemic. So, the job market is still looking hopeful for these professions.
Lesley Casarez Ph.D.
Director, Quality Enhancement Plan Program Coordinator, M.S. Professional School Counseling Associate Professor, Curriculum and InstructionAngelo State University
Department of Curriculum and Instruction
What general advice would you give to an Adoption Counselor?
Lesley Casarez Ph.D.: Curriculum and instruction are such a broad field that graduates can tailor their job searches to fit their particular interests. Whether a candidate wants to focus on pedagogical development, curriculum development, instructional strategies, or program evaluation and data analysis, advanced degree programs in curriculum and instruction allow them to do so. The job market is changing right now, with many educational entities shifting to either a hybrid or entirely virtual model for students. With this change, graduates will need to adapt to a more technological-based environment in which they operate.
Juleen Buser Ph.D.
Professor and Director, School Counseling and Coaching ProgramsRider University
Graduate Education
What general advice would you give to an Adoption Counselor?
Juleen Buser Ph.D.: Counseling Services (school counseling concentration) and an MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (we have a CMHC concentration and a Dance Movement Therapy concentration in this program). The general advice I would give to graduates starting positions in the counseling field would be to understand the critical importance of the work of helping professionals. Counselors optimally provide a safe space for clients to discuss their fears, worries, anxieties, joys, traumas, insecurities, accomplishments, etc. This ability to be an empathic, listening, accepting presence will be even more crucial for clients in our current situation.