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Job outlook for career development counselors in the United States
Career development counselor job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected career development counselor job growth rate is 10% from 2018-2028.
About 32,400 new jobs for career development counselors are projected over the next decade.
Career development counselor salaries have increased 7% for career development counselors in the last 5 years.
There are over 4,753 career development counselors currently employed in the United States.
There are 90,563 active career development counselor job openings in the US.
The average career development counselor salary is $46,715.
Are career development counselor jobs in demand?
Career development counselor job and salary trends over time
Career development counselor jobs over time
Career development counselor job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,753 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 4,686 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 4,754 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 4,578 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 4,351 | 0.00% |
Average career development counselor salary over time
Career development counselor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $46,715 | $22.46 | +1.9% |
| 2024 | $45,847 | $22.04 | +1.3% |
| 2023 | $45,260 | $21.76 | +1.6% |
| 2022 | $44,536 | $21.41 | +1.6% |
| 2021 | $43,853 | $21.08 | +1.7% |
Career development counselor jobs by state
Most common states for career development counselors
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 257 | 24% |
| 2 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,179 | 21% |
| 3 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 159 | 21% |
| 4 | Alaska | 739,795 | 153 | 21% |
| 5 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 162 | 19% |
| 6 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 357 | 17% |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 1,990 | 16% |
| 8 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 1,097 | 16% |
| 9 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 311 | 16% |
| 10 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 1,493 | 14% |
| 11 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 427 | 14% |
| 12 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 395 | 14% |
| 13 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 380 | 13% |
| 14 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 91 | 13% |
| 15 | Texas | 28,304,596 | 3,331 | 12% |
| 16 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 813 | 12% |
| 17 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 714 | 12% |
| 18 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 1,092 | 11% |
| 19 | South Carolina | 5,024,369 | 536 | 11% |
| 20 | Nevada | 2,998,039 | 316 | 11% |
Most common cities for career development counselors
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cambridge | 1 | 1% | $55,875 |
| 2 | Lawrence | 1 | 1% | $54,536 |
| 3 | Houston | 1 | 0% | $46,995 |
Career Development Counselor job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of career development counselor experts
Adelphi University
Siena College
Pennsylvania State University - Harrisburg
Saint Xavier University
Western Illinois University
Tuskegee University
The University of Texas at El Paso
Louisiana State University at Shreveport
Wisconsin Business School
High Point University
Humboldt State University
Monmouth University
Lycoming College
Southern Methodist University
Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP)
University of Maryland Global Campus
University of California, Los Angeles
Wake Forest University
What will help Career Development Counselors increase their earning potential?
Katherine Stavrianopoulos Ph.D.: Continued Learning and Development: Stay committed to lifelong learning by attending workshops, pursuing advanced certifications, and staying updated on the latest research and therapeutic techniques. Supervision and Mentorship: Seek out supervision and mentorship opportunities from experienced professionals in the field. Consider participating in a peer supervision group where you can support one another and be open to constructive criticism as part of your development. Engage in regular self-reflection for personal growth. Prioritize Self-Care: Establish healthy boundaries between work and personal life, engage in activities that recharge you and help prevent burn out. Cultural Competence and Diversity: Cultivate cultural humility and strive to understand the diverse backgrounds and perspectives of your clients. Continuously educate yourself on multiculturalism and antiracism to provide competent and inclusive counseling services. Ethical Practice: Adhere to ethical guidelines and professional standards in your practice. Strive to Build Strong Therapeutic Relationships: Establish rapport, demonstrate empathy, and create a safe and trusting environment where clients feel comfortable exploring their thoughts and feelings. Evidence-Based Practice: Stay informed about research findings and utilize interventions that have been empirically validated for specific client populations and presenting issues. Networking and Collaboration: Build professional connections within the counseling community. Attend conferences, join professional organizations, and participate in networking events to expand your professional network. Collaboration with colleagues can lead to referrals, consultation opportunities, and mutual support. Consider doing some pro bono work: Pro bono services help bridge the gap to access mental health services for individuals who cannot afford them.
Errol Rodriguez Ph.D., MAC, CRC
Assistant Dean & Program Director, Master's programs in General Psychology and Mental Health CounselingAdelphi University
Mental And Social Health Services And Allied Professions
What Career Development Counselor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Errol Rodriguez Ph.D., MAC, CRC: Given the complexities of the world today, emerging counseling professionals must be flexible in their treatment approach, inclusive in their understanding of diverse cultures and sub-cultures, and mature professionally through humility, self-reflection, and self-care.
What Career Development Counselor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Beverly Thompson: Employment fields are changing rapidly; far faster than college curriculum. Thus, I would encourage current students and recent graduates to use sites such as LinkedIn to reach out to people working in the targeted field one is interested in and speak to them directly, especially people who have entered the field in the last five years. Fields also change quickly, so it is best to speak to those recently entering the field about their experiences and advice. I would also encourage people to get experience in the field as soon as possible, such as pursuing a part time job, in order to begin seeing the reality of the field from the entry level perspective.
What will help Career Development Counselors 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 Development Counselor?
Arpita Agnihotri: PFA the responses. Please let me know if further elaboration is needed on any aspect or there are any questions.
What Career Development Counselor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Arpita Agnihotri: I shall be glad to provide answers to the questions. Kindly send me the questions.
What will help Career Development Counselors increase their earning potential?
Arpita Agnihotri: This is perfect! Thank you so much. We will be sure to feature your response in the article and send a draft over for your review before we promote it.
What will help Career Development Counselors increase their earning potential?
Emily Yowell Ph.D.: Psychologists should be aware of what others in their field are making for similar positions. It is important to ask for what your work is worth in an initial position to assure raises are based on a solid starting salary. Newer psychologists may also consider asking for an early review that prompts an early conversation around potential raises, bonus, or other job benefits.
David Parker LL.M. Human Rights Law, LL.M. National Security Law, JD, MBA, CFE
Associate ProfessorSaint Xavier University
Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services
What general advice would you give to a Career Development Counselor?
David Parker LL.M. Human Rights Law, LL.M. National Security Law, JD, MBA, CFE: Critical thinking and problem-solving, Technological literacy / digital literacy, Resiliency, stress tolerance and flexibility, Creativity, originality and ideation, Emotional intelligence & interpersonal skills, and Curiosity and active/continuous learning.
What Career Development Counselor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
David Parker LL.M. Human Rights Law, LL.M. National Security Law, JD, MBA, CFE: Build a proven record of experience and success (internships and volunteer work are excellent ways to achieve this). Skills. Refer back to #2. Negotiate. Know your market value and emphasize your value to the organization. Too many people 'leave money on the table' because they do not effectively negotiate their salary/compensation package. Many studies show this is particularly true of women.
What will help Career Development Counselors increase their earning potential?
David Parker LL.M. Human Rights Law, LL.M. National Security Law, JD, MBA, CFE: Build a proven record of experience and success (internships and volunteer work are excellent ways to achieve this).
Skills. Refer back to #2.
Negotiate. Know your market value and emphasize your value to the organization. Too many people 'leave money on the table' because they do not effectively negotiate their salary/compensation package. Many studies show this is particularly true of women.
Tammy Killian
Chair - Department of Theatre and DanceWestern Illinois University
Drama/Theatre Arts And Stagecraft
What general advice would you give to a Career Development Counselor?
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 Development Counselor 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.
What will help Career Development Counselors increase their earning potential?
Tammy Killian: Communication - written as well as spoken. During the pandemic we got very comfortable texting, using text speak, and hiding behind a computer. Speaking with folks in person takes practice. We all need to practice making eye contact, connecting with others via verbal communication, and thinking quickly and then articulating our thoughts in an intelligent way.
Dr. Kai KOONG
Dean, Brimmer College of Business and Information ScienceTuskegee University
Business Administration, Management And Operations
What general advice would you give to a Career Development Counselor?
Dr. Kai KOONG: First, besides working hard, work smart, in particular.
Second, find a mentor to help you adapt to the new work environment and culture.
Third, ask for help and be a true team player. You will be surprise most colleagues want you to do well.
Fourth, learn as much as you can and keep a balanced profile.
What Career Development Counselor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Kai KOONG: First, industry certifications and electronic badges will be useful for your longevity in the workplace.
Second, acquire additional soft skills and know when to put them to work
Third, learn new tools (SAP, and AI and ML in particular) can help you to climb the ladder and avoid being laid off too
What will help Career Development Counselors 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 will help Career Development Counselors increase their earning potential?
Hamidreza Sharifan: Do not take it for granted. Time never comes back, always think that you are working for yourself to build your resume and personality.
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 Career Development 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 certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Career Development Counselors?
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.
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 Development Counselors?
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 will help Career Development Counselors 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 soft skills should all Career Development Counselors 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 Development Counselors?
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 are the biggest trends we'll see in the Career Development Counselor 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 are the biggest trends we'll see in the Career Development Counselor 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.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Career Development Counselors 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
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Career Development Counselors?
John Potter: Indeed. Current students have experienced multiple ways of learning, which they would not necessarily experience otherwise. And this provides more skills and a broader understanding of the modalities to use to help others in the future.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Career Development Counselors to find work opportunities?
John Potter: Anywhere. Let me unpack that word, though. Many of our graduates are in the workplace and study dispute resolution and conflict management to expand their opportunities with the skills they learn. So, wherever the work will be is where they will excel, or perhaps move on to another growth opportunity in another workplace elsewhere. Other students seek the degree and the skills that come with it to create a new opportunity in an environment that does not have a core dispute resolution and conflict management already in place. So, anywhere there is conflict, our graduates can excel.
How do you envision technology impacting Career Development Counselors 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.
Dr. Tammy Manko Ed.D.
DirectorIndiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP)
Career and Professional Development Center, Academic Affairs
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Career Development Counselor job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Tammy Manko Ed.D.: We'll see an increased need for change management and agile responses. We'll also see an increase in the number of interviews being conducted virtually. More workplaces will conduct onboarding virtually and use flexible and hybrid work schedules, more specifically those including work-from-home or virtual work, at least temporarily, if not more permanently. We will see continued hiring and organizational growth, despite concerns from many regarding the job market. All industries will experience an increased need for upskilling and reskilling of employees. Technological skills will be in high demand and so will human skills, such as emotional intelligence, negotiation, nonverbal communication, collaboration, and change agility.
What Career Development Counselor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Tammy Manko Ed.D.: I recommend all graduates and professionals become adept at virtual communication in all its forms, so they can be effective communicators in all settings and are prepared to work with various technological platforms and tools. I also recommend all graduates and professionals review the NACE Competencies naceweb and ensure they have and continue to hone the outlined career-ready skill sets as well as these additional career and life skills (or power/soft skills): adaptability, prioritization, positivity, emotional intelligence, and nonverbal communication (i.e., body language).
What general advice would you give to a Career Development Counselor?
Dr. Tammy Manko Ed.D.: Aside from the recommended skills development mentioned in response to the gap year question, I encourage new professionals to find meaning in their work and to differentiate themselves in a positive manner by reskilling and upskilling, and to prioritize lifelong learning and the development of leadership/executive presence. All professionals will need to be able to mine data and analyze information. New graduates should take the initiative to join and be active members of professional organizations and engage regularly in professional networking to build and maintain relationships that will help them with their career development and management. That's especially important in the virtual world that we're facing today when face-to-face networking cannot take place. Taking professional networking one step further, I advise young professionals to identify a few mentors that will be there to help them learn and develop and several champions who have diverse skill sets and job responsibilities in their organization that will support, promote, and advocate for them within and outside of the organization.
Dr. Francine Blume Ph.D.
Assistant Vice PresidentUniversity of Maryland Global Campus
Career Development Office
What skills stand out on Career Development Counselor resumes?
Dr. Francine Blume Ph.D.: Skills that stand out depend on the field, but you always want to point out your tech skills, language skills and especially "soft" skills, such as communication and initiative.
For tech skills, you can demonstrate proficiency by citing certifications. For language skills, be as accurate as you can regarding proficiency in reading, writing, and speaking. For soft skills, make sure they are evident in the descriptions of your accomplishments and duties. Don't just say, "I have strong problem-solving skills and I learn fast." Anyone can say that, but you should quantify your experience and skills to demonstrate those soft skills.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Career Development Counselor job market given the pandemic?
Hassan Akmal: It's a time to pivot. More students - now than ever, are being forced to reskill, upskill, and explore new industries. The jobs of the future are being created now, and we will see much more career transitioning - a decrease in longevity, an increase in project-based work and micro internships, more side hustles, more careers over a 30 to 40 year runway, and finally, more careers at the same time.
What skills stand out on Career Development Counselor resumes?
Hassan Akmal: Transferable skills. Soft and hard. The soft skills are now referred to as "success skills" and include skills such as creativity, emotional intelligence, critical thinking and problem solving, analytics skills, and people management.
Active learning, agility, resilience, stress tolerance and flexibility are additional skills in demand that graduates need to consider.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Career Development Counselors to find work opportunities?
Hassan Akmal: Due to remote opportunities, the playing field has widely opened up. You can essentially work for almost any organization from where you are at the moment, at least for the time being. This actually increases the number of opportunities for you, as before, if you were out of state, you may have not been considered. That being said, there are still hot spots. They include: Top Metro Areas for Sociologists Source: 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov
Andy Chan
Vice President, Innnovation and Career DevelopmentWake Forest University
Office of Personal and Career Development
What general advice would you give to a Career Development Counselor?
Andy Chan: Grads entering the workforce in 2021 must be nimble and flexible. Organizations were forced to change in 2020 due to the pandemic and now employers are rethinking how work will happen in the future, said Wake Forest University Vice President for Innovation and Career Development Andy Chan. New workers will likely have to connect and develop relationships with their colleagues virtually, so being highly self-motivated and accountable, and having a positive attitude and strong communication skills will be more important than ever. It will be essential to take time for self-care and have a growth mindset bent towards learning, curiosity and appreciation.