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Job outlook for career transition specialists in the United States
Are career transition specialist jobs in demand?
Career transition specialist job and salary trends over time
Career transition specialist jobs over time
Career transition specialist job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 594 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 585 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 594 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 572 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 544 | 0.00% |
Average career transition specialist salary over time
Career transition specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $41,399 | $19.90 | +1.9% |
| 2024 | $40,630 | $19.53 | +1.3% |
| 2023 | $40,110 | $19.28 | +1.6% |
| 2022 | $39,469 | $18.98 | +1.6% |
| 2021 | $38,863 | $18.68 | +1.7% |
Career transition specialist jobs by state
Most common states for career transition specialists
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 77 | 11% |
| 2 | Alaska | 739,795 | 60 | 8% |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 375 | 5% |
| 4 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 49 | 5% |
| 5 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 310 | 4% |
| 6 | Vermont | 623,657 | 26 | 4% |
| 7 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 227 | 3% |
| 8 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 226 | 3% |
| 9 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 175 | 3% |
| 10 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 171 | 3% |
| 11 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 156 | 3% |
| 12 | South Carolina | 5,024,369 | 139 | 3% |
| 13 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 96 | 3% |
| 14 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 94 | 3% |
| 15 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 84 | 3% |
| 16 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 51 | 3% |
| 17 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 43 | 3% |
| 18 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 42 | 3% |
| 19 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 22 | 3% |
| 20 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 18 | 3% |
Most common cities for career transition specialists
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Albany | 1 | 1% | $35,629 |
| 2 | Baton Rouge | 1 | 0% | $37,880 |
| 3 | Los Angeles | 1 | 0% | $52,002 |
Career Transition Specialist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of career transition specialist experts
Siena College
Pennsylvania State University - Harrisburg
Saint Xavier University
Western Illinois University
Tuskegee University
The University of Texas at El Paso
University of Memphis
Arizona State University
Wisconsin Business School
High Point University
Humboldt State University
Monmouth University
Butler University
Lycoming College
Southern Methodist University
Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP)
University of Maryland Global Campus
University of California, Los Angeles
DePauw University
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
What general advice would you give to a Career Transition Specialist?
Beverly Thompson: Job skills specific to a particular sector will likely be learned on the job. College can provide general skills useful for entering into professions that will be client facing: critical thinking abilities, assessing legitimate information sources, strategic abilities to address problem solving, and precise organizational abilities. Careers in the future are not anticipated to be long term, and 3-5 years may represent how long one spends in one position. Thus, coming into the position with a clear understanding of the job, keeping track of one's key goal posts, including the time period expectations, are essential. Proper communication skills, for each mode of delivery, are important. The ability to shift with the changing employment landscape and to develop one's own insights into the future trajectories will be key in staying on top of the trends.
What Career Transition Specialist 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 Transition Specialists 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 Transition Specialist?
Arpita Agnihotri: PFA the responses. Please let me know if further elaboration is needed on any aspect or there are any questions.
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 Transition Specialist?
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 Transition Specialist 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 Transition Specialists 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 Transition Specialist?
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 Transition Specialist 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 general advice would you give to a Career Transition Specialist?
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 general advice would you give to a Career Transition Specialist?
Hamidreza Sharifan: Interpersonal skills including communication skills, and leadership.
What Career Transition Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
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.
What will help Career Transition Specialists 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.
Ali Fatemi
Ring Companies Professor and Chair of Mechanical EngineeringUniversity of Memphis
Mechanical Engineering
What general advice would you give to a Career Transition Specialist?
Ali Fatemi: Developing multidisciplinary skills as technology advances and being able to adapt to new technology areas in ones discipline with widespread applications such as artificial intelligence and machine learning.
What Career Transition Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Ali Fatemi: Research the company you will be working for and see how your skillsets and strengths, both academic and personal, match the needs of the company. Try to differentiate yourself from others with the same degree with unique qualifications, such as strong communication, teamworking, organizational, and leadership skills.
What will help Career Transition Specialists increase their earning potential?
Ali Fatemi: Don't consider the salary as your sole criterion. An important factor should be opportunities for professional growth. Also, when considering a position, don't think of it as your last position, but a first position which most people change after a few years. Therefore, it is important to take a job which enriches ones professional development and skillsets to prepare for a bigger/better opportunity.
Maryjo Douglas Zunk
Manager, Career Professional DevelopmentArizona State University
School of Public Affairs (SPA)
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Career Transition Specialists in the next 3-5 years?
Maryjo Douglas Zunk: Data analytics are crucial to the planning and implementation of public programs and services. Data collection and management systems, communication, and IT security will remain critical to connecting the government with the people. Analysts will be in high demand to gather, review, and communicate with decision-makers.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Career Transition Specialists?
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
What's a day at work look like for a Career Transition Specialist?
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 Transition Specialists 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 Transition Specialist 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.
How have salaries changed over time for Career Transition Specialists?
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 soft skills should all Career Transition Specialists 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 Transition Specialist 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 are the biggest trends we'll see in the Career Transition Specialist 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 Transition Specialist 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 Transition Specialists 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 Transition Specialists 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 Transition Specialist 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.
Dr. Francine Blume Ph.D.
Assistant Vice PresidentUniversity of Maryland Global Campus
Career Development Office
What skills stand out on Career Transition Specialist 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 Transition Specialist job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Francine Blume Ph.D.: There are some obvious changes that we are seeing, such as a more permanent move to telework or more flexibility in telework policies. We're seeing recruiting, hiring, and onboarding taking place virtually.
As services have shuttered, jobs have shifted to fulfillment needs. Amazon, UPS, CVS, and Walgreens have expanded hiring. We're also seeing a huge need for experienced biotech professionals.
I would say that many trends were already in process, and the pandemic exacerbated them. Traditional retail was already struggling against Amazon. Health services were already expanding with aging baby boomers. Tech continues to grow as does cybersecurity.
Other trends are dependent on the economy, economic stimulus, and other actions taken by the federal government. Which industries will get economic support, and which won't. We saw the beginnings of a speedier than expected recovery after the first wave of Covid eased and we were able to reopen parts of our economy.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Career Transition Specialist 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 Transition Specialist 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 Transition Specialists 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
Erin Duffy
Director of Career Services and Employer RelationsDePauw University
Kathryn F. Hubbard Center for Student Engagement
What Career Transition Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Erin Duffy: If students take a gap year, we recommend that they work to build connections in areas of industry interest as well as gain any additional skills that might be helpful. For example, if they are interested in IT and tech, maybe work on learning coding or other tech platforms. If they are interested in finance, work on learning some accounting. If they are interested in sales and marketing, read some books on current sales techniques, write some articles, or start a blog.
What general advice would you give to a Career Transition Specialist?
Erin Duffy: Find a mentor, whether that is within your workplace, with alumni, or someone you respect.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Career Transition Specialist job market given the pandemic?
Mike Hagarty: Job trends are volatile and segmented. With unemployment ranging from a record high of 14.7 percent in April (Bureau of Labor Statistics) to 6.7 percent in November (Trading Economics), we are on a roller coaster, and it is hard to predict when and where we will land post COVID-19. For example, U.S. private businesses were projected to hire 410,000 workers in November, and that was off by more than 100,000 with the significant rise in COVID cases and lockdowns (Trading Economics).
The impact of the pandemic will hit different segments of the economy differently. For example, healthcare and online services (Amazon alone has added nearly 500,000 jobs during the first several months of the pandemic) are strong and growing. Other Industries, including hospitality and travel, are experiencing significant reductions.
Students entering the workforce should not wait until their preferred segment of the economy bounces back or stabilizes but should look at who is hiring and find an opportunity there that matches their skills and abilities.
What Career Transition Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Mike Hagarty: The most important element of a gap year for a graduate is to do it with purpose and a plan. Before taking the gap year try to answer the question, "What do I want to be true at the end of the year?" For example, if you are a college graduate and you want to apply (or re-apply) to graduate school next year, what do you need to do in the gap year to succeed at being accepted (e.g., entrance exam practice, work or internship experience that will make you more qualified)? If you want to change direction or don't have a career direction yet, what will help you arrive at clarity or prepare you for the transition (perhaps testing a new field, volunteering, learning a new culture)? If you want to land a position at a dream company, set specific networking or skill-building goals (including certificates and other professional credentials) so that you are at a different place at the end of the gap year.
I know this is a graduate question, but if you are an incoming freshman and decide on a gap year, the same concept holds - fill the year with learning experiences that will bring clarity, experience, and direction. In all cases, set SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Realistic, and Timed) to be intentional about growing your knowledge, skills, abilities, and network of support.
What general advice would you give to a Career Transition Specialist?
Mike Hagarty: An often quoted statistic from the Bureau of Labor Statistics is that Americans between the ages of 18 and 48 will hold an AVERAGE of eleven different jobs. Your first job out of college will almost certainly not be your last, so don't sit back and wait for the "perfect" job to fall in your lap. Every job holds opportunities to earn, to learn, to contribute, and to network. Learn from each job, and take those new insights, skills, and networks with you to a new position or new company. Over time, you will put together a tapestry of experiences, which will create the picture of your career.
Regardless of the job market, the most valuable thing a graduate has is their education. They have a network (career services at their school, alumni, partner businesses and organizations); they have acquired knowledge and new critical-thinking skills; they are problem solvers; and hopefully they have gained experience through internships or externships. The lifetime earning potential makes the education price tag an excellent long-term return on investment. Getting a bachelor's degree brings the average lifetime earnings to $2.3 million. That's more than 31 percent more than workers with an associate's degree and 74 percent more than those with a high school diploma (Georgetown Center on Education and the workforce).