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Job outlook for career coordinators in the United States
Career coordinator job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected career coordinator job growth rate is 10% from 2018-2028.
About 32,400 new jobs for career coordinators are projected over the next decade.
Career coordinator salaries have increased 7% for career coordinators in the last 5 years.
There are over 3,500 career coordinators currently employed in the United States.
There are 41,051 active career coordinator job openings in the US.
The average career coordinator salary is $43,914.
Are career coordinator jobs in demand?
Career coordinator job and salary trends over time
Career coordinator jobs over time
Career coordinator job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,500 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 3,451 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 3,501 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 3,371 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 3,205 | 0.00% |
Average career coordinator salary over time
Career coordinator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $43,914 | $21.11 | +1.9% |
| 2024 | $43,098 | $20.72 | +1.3% |
| 2023 | $42,547 | $20.46 | +1.6% |
| 2022 | $41,867 | $20.13 | +1.6% |
| 2021 | $41,224 | $19.82 | +1.7% |
Career coordinator jobs by state
Most common states for career coordinators
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 2,334 | 34% |
| 2 | Delaware | 961,939 | 242 | 25% |
| 3 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 181 | 24% |
| 4 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 155 | 22% |
| 5 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 412 | 20% |
| 6 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 327 | 19% |
| 7 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 159 | 18% |
| 8 | Alaska | 739,795 | 123 | 17% |
| 9 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 968 | 16% |
| 10 | Oklahoma | 3,930,864 | 586 | 15% |
| 11 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 696 | 14% |
| 12 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 190 | 14% |
| 13 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 142 | 14% |
| 14 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 732 | 13% |
| 15 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 181 | 13% |
| 16 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 233 | 12% |
| 17 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 128 | 12% |
| 18 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 804 | 11% |
| 19 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 643 | 11% |
| 20 | Vermont | 623,657 | 69 | 11% |
Most common cities for career coordinators
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Braintree Town | 2 | 5% | $41,446 |
| 2 | Sarasota | 2 | 4% | $35,932 |
| 3 | Bloomington | 2 | 2% | $36,892 |
| 4 | Apopka | 1 | 2% | $35,769 |
| 5 | Baton Rouge | 3 | 1% | $38,358 |
| 6 | Tampa | 3 | 1% | $35,888 |
| 7 | Bakersfield | 2 | 1% | $55,404 |
| 8 | Kansas City | 2 | 1% | $44,923 |
| 9 | Peoria | 2 | 1% | $39,510 |
| 10 | Allentown | 1 | 1% | $43,894 |
| 11 | Arlington Heights | 1 | 1% | $44,340 |
| 12 | Denver | 3 | 0% | $40,443 |
| 13 | Atlanta | 2 | 0% | $35,829 |
| 14 | San Diego | 2 | 0% | $53,440 |
Career Coordinator job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of career coordinator experts
Siena College
Pennsylvania State University - Harrisburg
Western Illinois University
Tuskegee University
Wisconsin Business School
Heidelberg University
High Point University
Humboldt State University
Monmouth University
Butler University
Lycoming College
Southern Methodist University
Seattle University
American University
Rutgers School of Public Health
University of Arkansas
Colorado State University
Emory University School of Law
University of Maine
University of Arkansas Pulaski Tech
What will help Career Coordinators increase their earning potential?
Beverly Thompson: One would need to understand the various job opportunities in a particular field, research the pay ranges of each of these different employment sectors, and gain the skills relevant to the highest paid area of the job market. However, when one is starting their career, it is going to take time to begin accumulating promotions, and thus, being the best worker one can be and understanding the dynamics of one's particular company or field will be required research for the employee. Employees are tracked from their very first entry level position, so dedicating research to understanding these different employment trajectories will be central for finding and staying in the trajectory that will lead to the highest salary. Networking is key for learning about opportunities.
Arpita Agnihotri
Associate ProfessorPennsylvania State University - Harrisburg
International Business
What general advice would you give to a Career Coordinator?
Arpita Agnihotri: PFA the responses. Please let me know if further elaboration is needed on any aspect or there are any questions.
Tammy Killian
Chair - Department of Theatre and DanceWestern Illinois University
Drama/Theatre Arts And Stagecraft
What general advice would you give to a Career Coordinator?
Tammy Killian: Make sure you sell all of your skill sets when you are interviewing, be a strong communicator, demonstrate your organizational skills, and don't undersell yourself -- have confidence in your abilities and training. Be willing to take on additional duties if needed.
What Career Coordinator skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Tammy Killian: Breathe, be patient and also make as many connections as possible. Create those relationships and continue to network them even after you get a job. You are enough! and you have a lot to offer. Remind folks often of your worth, skills and do so in a kind and generous way.
Dr. Kai KOONG
Dean, Brimmer College of Business and Information ScienceTuskegee University
Business Administration, Management And Operations
What will help Career Coordinators increase their earning potential?
Dr. Kai KOONG: First, get an internship (within your targeted industry or segment) to show that you have work experience that are relevant.
Second, make sure you select a career in sectors known for high wages (examples: accounting, artificial intelligence, cyber technologies, finance, healthcare, and supply chain)
Third, acquire initial industry badges and beginner's certifications prior to graduation or immediately thereafter.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Career Coordinators?
Claire Jablonsky: We have a lot of students wanting to head into the creative side of marketing and thus are getting certificates (minors) in digital studies and graphic design. They are working on getting experience with Adobe, Photoshop, Lightroom and other programs that will give them the skills to work in advertising. On the analytical side, they are getting certificates in Google Analytics.
Paige Atterholt
Adjunct ProfessorHeidelberg University
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Career Coordinators?
Paige Atterholt: I think now, being in year 2 of the pandemic, I think if anything there will be more jobs for graduates. Just looking through the jobs online, there are many opportunities for graduates to get a job. I think the older community retired when things got bad, which opened the door for the younger generation.
What's a good job out of college for Career Coordinators?
Paige Atterholt: A good job out of college is a job that you feel passionate about because I believe your happiness comes first. Being in the world of education, a good job in my eyes is a job that you enjoy going to every day, want to make an impact, and enjoy the time you have with your students.
William (Bill) Gentry Ph.D.
Assistant Vice PresidentHigh Point University
Career and Professional Development
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Career Coordinators?
William (Bill) Gentry Ph.D.: In my opinion, yes. The pandemic is a once-in-a-century occurrence, I don't see how something like that will not affect philosophy graduates, or all of us. But graduates during this time have shown resiliency and flexibility particularly in the past 12+ months, which are great skills to showcase for employers right now. For the world of work, some organizations will go back to the way it was a couple of years ago (fully in person in offices) and other organizations have seen that people can work from home (or anywhere) and will allow that fully or partially. Organizations may need to shift their mindset on how work gets done to match how graduates now and in the future want to work in order to attract the best talent. To be marketable, graduates should focus not just on their resiliency and flexibility, but also other essential life skills such as the ability to communicate well (in person, phone, video, email, messaging systems), to span boundaries (organizational functions, time zones, cultural), and their problem solving, teamwork, and collaborative skills to be seen as high potential employees for organizations who are working fully in person, fully remote, or a mix of the two.
What's a day at work look like for a Career Coordinator?
William (Bill) Gentry Ph.D.: It depends on the organization. With more vaccines coming out and some clamoring to actually get out of their house and get back to being in an office, organizations will see that it is safer for people to come back to work, to fly to meetings, to be like it was a couple of years ago. In fact, some have already gone back to that. Other organizations have seen that people can indeed work from anywhere and production and work output still remain at a high level in quality or quantity, and they may allow virtual work in part or in full. Philosophy graduates need to be prepared for either of these. I and our office of Career and Professional Development encourage graduates to first think about what style they like best. In talking with graduates, I know some of them are burned out with video and miss being around people in person. For those graduates with that type of preference, we encourage them to be strategic and targeted in their approach to looking for jobs, ensuring that working in an office, around people, in person, should be a major priority when searching and applying for jobs. For other graduates who have enjoyed and become skilled at video meetings, like that type of interaction, and feel they want to work from home, they should make sure that any job they are applying to would allow the ability and flexibility to work from anywhere.
What will help Career Coordinators increase their earning potential?
William (Bill) Gentry Ph.D.: Philosophy majors are employable in a variety of fields such as education, law, ethics, business, religious-affiliated areas, community services, government, and communications to name a few. A 538 article in 2015 showed that philosophy majors have the fourth-highest median earnings for those with only undergraduate degrees. The Winter 2020 National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) salary survey indicated philosophy majors have the highest mean and median salary across all humanities majors and is comparable to other majors as well. To increase their earning potential, we encourage our students to focus on life skills that can separate themselves from all the others who are applying to the job. How can you showcase pertinent life skills that philosophy majors are known for - such as resiliency, the flexibility and capacity for growth, analytical, organizational and research skills like idea generation, problem formulation and problem solving, persuasion, and communication skills - on your brand documents like your resume, cover letter, LinkedIn, or in interviews? Specifically, how can you display that you have learned and developed those skills inside and outside the classroom in strong bullet points on your resume or in your cover letter? How can you clearly articulate how you've displayed or enhanced those skills through your classwork, internships, jobs, volunteer work, or other experiences in answering interview questions like "Tell me about yourself" or "What are your strengths?" or "Tell me about a time you had to influence others?" A GPA will likely get your foot in the door, but the ability to demonstrate these important like skills on paper, online, and in person in networking and interviewing will show others that you will be successful not just on day one of the job, but be seen as a high potential in your fist year, five years, and beyond.
Loren Collins
Faculty support Coordinator for Service Learning and Career EducationHumboldt State University
Academic and Career Advising Center
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Career Coordinator job market given the pandemic?
Loren Collins: Service sector, hospitality, and travel have been and will continue to be impacted negatively but we will see a huge boom in employment and growth coming at the end of the pandemic. People will trend back into higher education as we begin coming out of the pandemic and when more face-to-face opportunities are available at universities and community colleges. Typically in a recession this happens earlier, but the nature of the pandemic has probably delayed this effect.
As we exit the pandemic, I believe federal and state programs will focus on increasing the number of people entering all sorts of trades, leveraging the end of the pandemic and work programs to close an increasing gap in the number of people in the trades. Meaning a boom in logistics, management, and project management related jobs as well lots of focus on sustainability.
What soft skills should all Career Coordinators possess?
Loren Collins: According to NACE - the National Association of Colleges and Employers - the top ten skills employers want from college grads are: 1) Communication 2) Teamwork 3) Make Decisions and Solve Problems 4) Organize and Prioritize 5) Obtain and Process Information 6) Analyze Quantitative Data 7) Technical Skills related to the Position 8) Ability to Work with Computers 9) Creating Written Reports 10) Sell and Influence Others.
We share these and talk a lot with students about them. Including history students and helping them see where they've gotten these skills, like myself, through the major. Only one of the above is specific to any given job! The softer skills include showing up on time, interpersonal communication, and staying committed to a position for a reasonable amount of time!
How have salaries changed over time for Career Coordinators?
Loren Collins: In my field - and probably in many fields - I think the big trend has been not as much focus on salary and more the cost of retirement programs and healthcare. Landing a job with good retirement and great healthcare is not always easy and for many worth a trade for a slightly lower salary.
What's a day at work look like for a Career Coordinator?
William Hill: That's hard to say because different jobs will have different requirements both now and post-COVID. Some jobs, like sales,will probably revert to more in-person activities, while other may be able to remain mostly or partially remote. Yes, a typical day might mean working from home more often than in the past. Technology, especially AI, will become a large influence. I suspect more professional/office jobs will evolve in to a hybrid model, with some in-person activity blended with remote.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Career Coordinator job market given the pandemic?
William Hill: Remote recruiting is here to stay. COVID showed employers that they don't need to come to campus, nor do they have to meet with students in person in order to hire them. It is a substantial time and money saver for businesses. Long after COVID is gone, employers will continue to use Zoom, WebEx and other remote platforms as part of their recruiting strategy. Even job fairs, long a staple of recruiting, are going remote.
What soft skills should all Career Coordinators possess?
William Hill: Problem solving skills are essential in the workplace for new grads, especially now. They will find it increasingly difficult to engage more experienced co-workers for helpful problem solving advice in a virtual workspace. You can't just stroll over to someone's office for a quick chat anymore. They will be more often "on their own" when it comes to analyzing a challenge and crafting a solution. Verbal and written communication skills remain important in a workspace dominated by Zoom and email.
Julie Schrader
Sr. Associate DirectorButler University
Career and Professional Success
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Career Coordinator job market given the pandemic?
Julie Schrader: I think some trends we will see are more remote work components of internships or jobs given the pandemic. Some organizations will hope to return to fully in-person, but I think there will be more flexibility provided to employees to work remotely or partially remote. I also think some organizations may reduce their physical footprints and move from larger buildings to smaller spaces if they plan to have a mix of in-person and remote workforce, which can impact the culture. We have seen the impact the pandemic has had in some industries such as sports, events, hospitality, and others that rely on in-person functions and components, and I think we'll see fewer, more competitive opportunities in those areas for a while. Networking has always been important but I see a greater emphasis being put on networking and building connections during this time of limited in-person interactions and a more competitive job seeker environment. Finally, I think we have been pleased to see that many organizations have been hiring at the same or similar rate during the pandemic as they were prior to it.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Career Coordinators?
Julie Schrader: It would depend on the industry, but I think the following can be impactful and attractive to future employers:
- Language(s): In a global market, speaking another language can provide great value to an organization
- Creative: More for marketing and advertising areas, having courses or certifications in creative and graphic design tools
- Project Management: Many roles across industry sectors involve some aspect of project management
- Design Thinking: Problem-solving and critical thinking skills are highly sought by recruiters
- Salesforce/CRMs: We are seeing more organizations list this as a preferred/desired certification or knowledge area
What's a good job out of college for Career Coordinators?
Julie Schrader: I don't define a job as "good" only if it matches a student's area of study. It is great if it does, but to me the definition of "good job" is that the individual is fulfilled and utilizing skills, strengths, and interests and the position matches their value set. A good job can be one that also provides some sense of financial stability. The hope is that during college, students are exploring and discovering various career paths and participating in experiential learning such as internships, co-ops, rotations, case studies, informational interviews, and more. As they learn more about potential career paths, they can start to narrow what they think they would enjoy. I believe that a good job out of college includes an opportunity to be mentored and supported, provides the opportunity for growth and training, and engages the individual's strengths and abilities to make a positive impact. I think of an example of a young graduate with a Finance degree who started in an entry-level finance role. He liked the position and the people, but wasn't sure he wanted to stay with the organization when he was offered a promotion to a sales role. He said he was working in finance because that was his degree and he thought that is what he should be doing. But he longed to be active and outdoors, and reminisced about his time studying abroad in Australia and surfing. He saw a surf camp manager position in the country of Norway and was deciding if he should apply. I encouraged him to go for it. He did. And he got it. He has since returned to the states and in a sales role now, but has no regrets. To me, that was a good job because he followed his heart.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Career Coordinator job market given the pandemic?
Career Advisors of the CEAE : Fewer location-based positions due to the increased ability for remote and hybrid work environments.
What skills stand out on Career Coordinator resumes?
Career Advisors of the CEAE : Applicants need to connect their skills and experience with what an employer is looking for. With that being said, flexibility, adaptability, and experience with various technology is increasingly important during a pandemic. Quantifiable achievements are always important as well as leadership, presentation/communication skills, and teamwork ability.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Career Coordinators to find work opportunities?
Career Advisors of the CEAE : Research what cities are ranked high for a strong and growing job market and don't limit yourself to a specific location. Be creative and don't rely on one or two sources in your search. Use the many online job search and research tools that are available. Networking is one of the most powerful tools to discover advertised - as well as unadvertised - opportunities. Use the capabilities of LinkedIn to connect with alumni and to develop and strengthen your brand! Don't dismiss social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok that are often used for entertainment and other purposes. You may find opportunities here as well.
John Potter
Clinical Associate ProfessorSouthern Methodist University
Department of Dispute Resolution and Counseling
How do you envision technology impacting Career Coordinators in the next 5 years?
John Potter: Faster. Disputes and conflicts will escalate more rapidly because of the speed of information. And, information can be gathered more quickly to help disputants engage more constructively and sooner. So, people who work in this field need to think faster and act quickly, and those needs will only increase with time and technology.
Theresa Earenfight Ph.D.
Professor of History, Director, Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies ProgramSeattle University
History Department
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Career Coordinators?
Theresa Earenfight Ph.D.: As a historian of the European Middle Ages, I'm struck by how students this past year have acquired something scarce: historical empathy. The past can seem so remote, so very different from our lived experiences today, and this can make history seem irrelevant. But this fall, I was teaching a section on the bubonic plague, which historians of medicine now know was a global pandemic, not just an epidemic in Europe. Usually, students are fascinated by the gruesome medical details, but not this group.
They did not need or want to look death in the eyes. They wanted to know how did people react? How did they get back to normal? When we ticked off the list of reactions--fear, distrust of science (such as it was in 1348), xenophobia, scapegoating, economic collapse, hoarding supplies, turn to religion, gallows humor about worms crawling about corpses--they got it. When we talked about the aftermath--eat, drink, be merry, and protest the inequality--they got it. That is historical empathy, and I'm sad that this was how it had to be learned, but it will give them broader compassion that can encompass people alive today.
How do you envision technology impacting Career Coordinators in the next 5 years?
Dr. Adelaide Kelly-Massoud: Well, every teacher and teacher candidate was thrust into distance learning. Misguided attempts to foster understanding often leaned our adult distant learning pedagogy. Teachers, and those who prepare teachers, found their job to research, define, design, and implement meaningful teaching and learning using a virtual platform. Words such as synchronous and asynchronous are now a part of our everyday vernacular. But there is a much more optimistic change on the horizon that we can thank coronavirus for.
Communication and collaboration have been forced to change. Parents and Teachers are more connected and have been put in a position to leverage technology to build networks of support and consistent dialog. I urge teachers to leverage this in their future as we work to reopening schools; we should learn from this experience to leverage technology to keep us connected.
Claire Brown
Assistant Director of Student Support Services and Head of Career ServicesRutgers School of Public Health
How do you envision technology impacting Career Coordinators in the next 5 years?
Claire Brown: As the COVID-19 pandemic has created a demand for innovative, effective, and secure technology-driven methods of conducting contact tracing, communicating health risks to the public, and staying in touch with each other personally and professionally, I think that we'll see a greater emphasis on how public health shapes technology and how technology shapes public health. The general public's awareness of and investment in the scope of public health has also increased, and with that, I think public health data visualization, integrity, accessibility, and transparency-all of which depend heavily on good technology-will become a professional priority for many working in the public health field.
How do you envision technology impacting Career Coordinators in the next 5 years?
Terri Dill Chadick: Zoom is here to stay. As a result, graduates are not limited by the geographic boundaries that existed pre-pandemic. Remote legal internships are becoming more common, and I expect that trend to continue. We are also seeing an increase in video interviewing, which makes it easier for graduates to pursue opportunities outside their current location. Similarly, virtual job fairs are commonplace this year, and I expect they will be in the future. The move to virtual will follow graduates as they enter practice, as judges are expected to continue virtual court proceedings in situations where it makes sense, long after the pandemic ends.
Leanna Biddle
Career Education ManagerColorado State University
Career Center and Warner College of Natural Resources
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Career Coordinators?
Leanna Biddle: Last March, with COVID-19 and the shift to virtual business and engagement, the economy was negatively impacted, shown by high unemployment rates and business closures. Though this was unforeseen for many, jobs in this field have started to recover. As a Career Education Manager, I have seen the following: employers actively attending and engaging in virtual career fairs, job opportunities available for graduates, and the advertisement of internship opportunities for current students, offered both in-person and virtually.
In the career world, the new word I use is pivoting, looking for different ways to stand out as a candidate. It may not be as simple as applying for opportunities - there are different strategies to consider: attending networking events offered at your institution and/or in the community, making connections with faculty and staff in the field, and leaning into engagement opportunities, whether that be nationwide with an organization, like the American Fisheries Society, or volunteering in your city.
We don't know what the lasting impact will be. The landscape is still changing by the day, with hiring fluctuations and changing employer needs. I do know that graduates are not alone in this process; many institutions offer career support for recent graduates and alum.
Natasha Pate
Senior DirectorEmory University School of Law
Center for Professional Development & Career Strategy
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Career Coordinators?
Natasha Pate: Members of the class of 2020 have seen jobs postponed and bar exams delayed, in addition to suffering the health impact of the pandemic personally and on their loved ones. Moreover, the manner in how legal services provided to clients has also changed during the pandemic, with courts holding virtual hearings and M&A deals closing over secured software platforms. Some of these changes could become the new standard for the industry because they reduce the cost of delivering legal services to clients. This could negatively impact some entry-level legal positions.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Career Coordinators in the next 3-5 years?
Crisanne Blackie: The use of technology in the workplace has increased. It will be essential to understand the new platforms available. However, it is equally important to know why a specific technology or platform is the best choice. The more you know how to increase efficiencies in your position, the more effective you will be in selecting the best technology.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Career Coordinators?
Crisanne Blackie: During the coronavirus pandemic, our graduates experienced many losses as they finished their final year of college. They have also been given opportunities to build new skills.This will be a memorable as well as formative time. Graduates have become resilient and have developed the capacity to adapt to change quickly. They will bring, to the workforce, a new outlook and adaptability. Graduates will find themselves in unexpected places and excel in ways that they would never have predicted and, in doing so, will achieve greatness.
Cassandra Woods
Director of Advising and Career ServicesUniversity of Arkansas Pulaski Tech
Advising & Career Services
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Career Coordinators in the next 3-5 years?
Cassandra Woods: With everyone having to transition to online education and working virtually, Zoom and Microsoft Teams software have seen increases in usage. I do think companies will continue to use these services, beyond the pandemic. This is an excellent opportunity for Tech-savvy individuals to use their skills to create more innovative software.