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Job outlook for afterschool counselors in the United States
Afterschool counselor job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected afterschool counselor job growth rate is 10% from 2018-2028.
About 28,100 new jobs for afterschool counselors are projected over the next decade.
Afterschool counselor salaries have increased 19% for afterschool counselors in the last 5 years.
There are over 20,953 afterschool counselors currently employed in the United States.
There are 27,280 active afterschool counselor job openings in the US.
The average afterschool counselor salary is $24,822.
Are afterschool counselor jobs in demand?
Afterschool counselor job and salary trends over time
Afterschool counselor jobs over time
Afterschool counselor job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 20,953 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 25,844 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 28,472 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 28,061 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 27,964 | 0.01% |
Average afterschool counselor salary over time
Afterschool counselor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $24,822 | $11.93 | +7.9% |
| 2025 | $22,998 | $11.06 | +5.1% |
| 2024 | $21,872 | $10.52 | +2.1% |
| 2023 | $21,418 | $10.30 | +2.8% |
| 2022 | $20,833 | $10.02 | +2.4% |
Afterschool counselor jobs by state
Most common states for afterschool counselors
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 86 | 12% |
| 2 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 72 | 7% |
| 3 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 220 | 6% |
| 4 | Delaware | 961,939 | 58 | 6% |
| 5 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 32 | 6% |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 659 | 5% |
| 7 | Alaska | 739,795 | 36 | 5% |
| 8 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 36 | 5% |
| 9 | New York | 19,849,399 | 791 | 4% |
| 10 | Florida | 20,984,400 | 738 | 4% |
| 11 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 374 | 4% |
| 12 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 361 | 4% |
| 13 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 333 | 4% |
| 14 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 257 | 4% |
| 15 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 232 | 4% |
| 16 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 223 | 4% |
| 17 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 153 | 4% |
| 18 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 57 | 4% |
| 19 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 47 | 4% |
| 20 | Vermont | 623,657 | 25 | 4% |
Most common cities for afterschool counselors
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Diego | 1 | 0% | $29,100 |
Afterschool Counselor job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of afterschool counselor experts
Saint Xavier University
Louisiana State University at Shreveport
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Ohio University
Vanguard University
What will help Afterschool Counselors increase their earning potential?
Kristen Toole: Post-pandemic disparities have highlighted the necessity of prioritizing mental health and the
need for more mental health providers (Fink-Samnick, 2023; Health Resources & Services
Administration, 2023). The counseling field is expected to outpace the national average for
occupational growth six-fold over the next ten years (U.S. Department of Labor, 2022). There is
no question that counselors are in demand, but there are still a few strategies for new
professionals to maximize their salary potential.
A growing number of students are entering counseling graduate programs, having completed
undergraduate minors and focus areas in related fields. This is fantastic conceptually and can be
a vital strategy for enhancing their counseling work. Skill building is one way to optimize
success and salary.
Some graduate programs, like Xavier's, offer options for obtaining additional certifications along
the way to a master's degree. In Xavier's counseling program, students can choose courses that
allow them to get certificates in addiction counseling and medical trauma-informed care. For
clinical mental health counselors, this is an excellent way to demonstrate skill mastery, and for
school counselors, it provides a unique opportunity to broaden their scope of practice. Either
way, additional certifications exhibit a commitment that potential employers can appreciate.
Counselors who are well-informed about their market value and earning potential can engage in
informed offer negotiations. Additional skills are one way beginning professionals can increase
their starting salary. However, it is important to remember that total earnings include several
elements, and salary is just one piece of that puzzle.
Counselors are immensely versatile and can find work in various settings, so they need to
understand their options in addition to their earning potential. Benefits, schedule, and location
are other things that can impact the earnings bottom line and are essential to consider. Finally,
counselors must know themselves: personality, interests, work values, and abilities impact job fit
and, ultimately, work satisfaction. These are crucial considerations for mitigating compassion
fatigue (Stamm, 2010), which can limit counselors' longevity.
New professionals must research and reflect as they enter the job market. There are many things
to consider when choosing a job, and it can feel overwhelming. Thankfully, various resources,
such as the Occupational Outlook Handbook, O*Net, Glassdoor, and Monster, offer
indispensable tools and information to job seekers.
Kacie Blalock Ph.D.
Associate Professor; Director, Master of CounselingLouisiana State University at Shreveport
Department Of Psychology
What hard/technical skills are most important for Afterschool 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 Afterschool 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 Afterschool 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.
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 Afterschool 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.