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Job outlook for college advisers in the United States
College adviser job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected college adviser job growth rate is 10% from 2018-2028.
About 32,400 new jobs for college advisers are projected over the next decade.
College adviser salaries have increased 7% for college advisers in the last 5 years.
There are over 3,990 college advisers currently employed in the United States.
There are 16,942 active college adviser job openings in the US.
The average college adviser salary is $46,038.
Are college adviser jobs in demand?
College adviser job and salary trends over time
College adviser jobs over time
College adviser job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,990 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 3,934 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 3,991 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 3,843 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 3,653 | 0.00% |
Average college adviser salary over time
College adviser salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $46,038 | $22.13 | +1.9% |
| 2024 | $45,183 | $21.72 | +1.3% |
| 2023 | $44,605 | $21.44 | +1.6% |
| 2022 | $43,892 | $21.10 | +1.6% |
| 2021 | $43,218 | $20.78 | +1.7% |
College adviser jobs by state
Most common states for college advisers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 121 | 2% |
| 2 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 18 | 2% |
| 3 | Alaska | 739,795 | 12 | 2% |
| 4 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 11 | 2% |
| 5 | California | 39,536,653 | 210 | 1% |
| 6 | New York | 19,849,399 | 107 | 1% |
| 7 | Ohio | 11,658,609 | 85 | 1% |
| 8 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 80 | 1% |
| 9 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 59 | 1% |
| 10 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 58 | 1% |
| 11 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 57 | 1% |
| 12 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 52 | 1% |
| 13 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 46 | 1% |
| 14 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 41 | 1% |
| 15 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 26 | 1% |
| 16 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 21 | 1% |
| 17 | Nevada | 2,998,039 | 18 | 1% |
| 18 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 16 | 1% |
| 19 | Delaware | 961,939 | 9 | 1% |
| 20 | Vermont | 623,657 | 8 | 1% |
Most common cities for college advisers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amherst | 1 | 3% | $66,278 |
| 2 | Chicago | 2 | 0% | $45,421 |
| 3 | Boston | 1 | 0% | $66,017 |
| 4 | Los Angeles | 1 | 0% | $56,882 |
College Adviser job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of college adviser experts
University of Houston - Clear Lake
Beloit College
High Point University
Humboldt State University
Monmouth University
Butler University
Lycoming College
Southern Methodist University
University of Wisconsin - Madison
Rutgers School of Public Health
University of Arkansas
Colorado State University
Emory University School of Law
Florida International University
University of Arkansas
University of Maine
Carleton College
Rocky Mountain College
Quinnipiac University
Antonio Corrales
Doctoral Program Coordinator and Associate Professor of Educational LeadershipUniversity of Houston - Clear Lake
College of Education
What skills stand out on College Adviser resumes?
Antonio Corrales: Educational adviser resumes need to focus on skills transferable to students. Specifically, aspects that can be transferable and relatable to student success. For example, advising, admissions, registration, testing center, student orientation, student activities, recreational sports, ability services, veterans, students with disabilities, grants, financial aid, and student discipline.
What soft skills should all College Advisers possess?
Antonio Corrales: It is critical to show for how long one has served as a student advisor in one way or another. Also, it is important to show how many students one has advised, which academic programs, what degree plans, and the level of success within that advising.
What skills will help College Advisers earn the most?
Antonio Corrales: Showing the capacity and experience to work with students and move them forwards with their careers.
Jingjing Lou Ph.D.
Chair and Associate ProfessorBeloit College
Department of Education & Youth Studies
What skills stand out on College Adviser resumes?
Jingjing Lou Ph.D.: Apart from other common skills and characters you often see in education majors, our graduates from the education program stand out from other education graduates because they are trained to think interdisciplinarily and internationally. Specifically, our graduates learn different perspectives about teaching, learning, youth, and society from international and interdisciplinary perspectives. They have an in-depth understanding of social justice in different cultural contexts concerning different social groups -elite or marginalized, urban or rural, majority or minority. Some of the institutional learning outcomes of Beloit College are listed below, and these are all soft skills our graduates are proud to be equipped with and help them to be successful candidates of the positions they are applying for in teaching or other jobs in the broad field of education studies, including but not limited to education policy, counseling, school psychology, social work, international education, etc. We even have education graduates working for Facebook.
What soft skills should all College Advisers possess?
Jingjing Lou Ph.D.: 1) Productive Collaboration
2) Effective Communication
3) Creative Problem Solving
4) Intellectual and Professional Agility
What hard/technical skills are most important for College Advisers?
Jingjing Lou Ph.D.: To go along with these soft skills, our students master hard skills such as communications (writings and presentations), quantitative thinking (a requirement for all requirements), and intercultural literacy (understanding and working with people from different contexts).
What skills will help College Advisers earn the most?
Jingjing Lou Ph.D.: As our students received interdisciplinary education in addition to their education major, they often have very unique perspectives when examining issues in their work and can come up with creative and innovative solutions to problems. The soft skills and hard skills listed above are essential for our students' long-term career development when they grow into senior teachers, policymakers, school psychologists/counselors, social workers, and even in technology such as working for Facebook.
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 College Advisers?
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.
Loren Collins
Faculty support Coordinator for Service Learning and Career EducationHumboldt State University
Academic and Career Advising Center
What soft skills should all College Advisers 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 College Advisers?
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 College Adviser?
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 College Adviser 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.
Julie Schrader
Sr. Associate DirectorButler University
Career and Professional Success
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the College Adviser 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's a good job out of college for College Advisers?
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 skills stand out on College Adviser 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.
John Potter
Clinical Associate ProfessorSouthern Methodist University
Department of Dispute Resolution and Counseling
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on College Advisers?
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.
Will there be an increase or decrease in demand for College Advisers in the next 5 years?
Pamela Garcia-Rivera: I surely don't think there will be a decrease in demand for graduates, but the field of journalism has been evolving and changing and will continue to do so. There is a strong need for journalists, especially journalists who represent this country and are from diverse backgrounds, who can better share the stories and report on everyone's issues.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the College Adviser job market given the pandemic?
Pamela Garcia-Rivera: Some of the trends that seem to be growing are the ability to work remotely, connect with people that we may not have been able to communicate with in-person (and do so virtually), and flexibility in one's work schedule. The pandemic has led to innovative ways of performing one's job function by using various technology forms and being more self-reliant. It also provides organizations an opportunity to think of ways of saving overhead costs - and operating at a lower budget. Freelance opportunities also seem to be growing as organizations' budgets may have been reduced, and hiring employees full-time may not be feasible.
Claire Brown
Assistant Director of Student Support Services and Head of Career ServicesRutgers School of Public Health
How do you envision technology impacting College Advisers 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 College Advisers 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 College Advisers?
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.
How do you envision technology impacting College Advisers in the next 5 years?
Leanna Biddle: Within the field of fisheries sciences and management, the use of technology has offered great advancements towards conservation efforts and the fishing industry. Technology has provided new information to managers, fishers, and consumers alike, and, when done in a sustainable manner, has improved fisheries management practices. Globally, the emerging technology within marine fisheries will be hugely useful as, for example, remote data sensors and satellite internet will enable fishing vessels to access real-time information on sea conditions, helping fishers locate fish anywhere on the planet. The development of technology will continue to aid in enforcement as well, offering the ability to quickly identify species of fish with DNA technology to help stop illegal fishing. This technology will undoubtedly impact recreational fishing as well, allowing anglers to learn more about the water they are fishing and where fish are. Ultimately, all fisheries worldwide will benefit from better data collection as smartphones are ever-present, and global internet coverage is continuing to expand.
As it relates to job opportunities, I foresee technical positions increasing with need, like Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and the need for GIS Technicians across our nation. An increase in job opportunities includes academic preparedness for students at universities, with the recent addition of the GIS Minor at CSU, as an example. I encourage students to seek minors or certifications that focus on these technologies to diversify their skillset and knowledge for future employment.
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 College Advisers?
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.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on College Advisers?
Katherine Martin: This epidemic will impact everyone in the future in ways we are not clear about yet. However, even though the pandemic has greatly affected the hospitality industry throughout the latter part of spring and through the summer, many companies and sectors within the hospitality industry have been recovering well and seeing an increase in guest reservations for the fall and upcoming winter. With that, our upcoming graduates should be able to find more opportunities in the hospitality industry as well in non-traditional hospitality companies that are seeking our students' guest service, creative problem solving, and leadership skills and experiences.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on College Advisers?
Donna Graham: While Coronavirus will leave a mark on all our lives, it has uniquely affected college graduates. A time in their life that should have led to the celebration, optimism, and new beginnings was tainted by canceled plans, uncertainty, and at times, tragedy. As unfair as this may be, I believe today's graduates will rise above adversity and become more adaptive and innovative. Already characteristic of this generation, I also think the 2020 graduates will continue to be civic-minded and will look to work for companies with purpose who want to take action to make the world a better place.
What general advice would you give to a College Adviser?
Crisanne Blackie: A first job is always exciting, so make the most of this experience by being willing to excel at your responsibilities, take the initiative, be curious and ask questions, be ready to learn, and do your very best. Networking with your fellow employees will help you to meet the staff and learn about the organizational culture. If you are working remotely, make sure you understand the expectations and implement your time management skills. If you are searching for a position, be open to all opportunities; consider an internship, project, or volunteer position to expand your skills. Your college or university's career center is typically still available to you after you graduate and continue to use its services for extra assistance.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on College Advisers?
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.
Keri Asp
Program Director for Career Coaching and the First-Year ExperienceCarleton College
Career Coaching
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on College Advisers?
Keri Asp: The most recent graduates (Class of 2020) are entering the job market in a time of uncertainty.
We are most concerned with our most vulnerable students whose personal circumstances have required significant compromise. Our BIPOC students have encountered racism, exacerbated by the pandemic. Some graduates were expected to return home to provide care for younger siblings and contribute to their families' household income. Our international students have been impacted by restrictive immigration policies that have reduced the likelihood of spending a fifth year working in the U.S., which often serves as the culminating experience of four years in U.S. higher education.
Another implication could be that the starting salaries that people are offered will be lower than in years past, with employers trimming compensation budgets. This can impact future earning potential, with the lower starting salary being harder to make up for over the long run.
We anticipate that even a delay of 6 - 8 months that some graduates are experiencing can delay loan repayment options, resulting in students holding onto debt longer into their future. This could influence the decisions that they make related to the sector that they choose to work in or even delaying personal choices related to lifestyle.
One upside is that they have the advantage of having significant opportunities during their college years. A strong job market afforded many internships and experiential opportunities that helped them to build networking connections and develop skills that can be leveraged in the job market perhaps better than future graduates. We are cautiously optimistic about this Class's experience.
A review of relevant literature reveals the following: voters who experience significant events between the ages of 14 - 24 tend to cement/solidify their political attitudes/views for the rest of their lives. The Class of 2020's cohort generation expressed the following: About 8% of Americans between 18 - 29 think the government is working as it should be, with fewer than 1 in 5 describing themselves "very patriotic," (2020 Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics survey of young Americans). In conclusion, emerging/young adults view U.S. institutions with skepticism; however, they remain hopeful for change, despite feeling let down by the current system. So, while the pandemic represents a global and national public health crisis, the Class of 2020's entry into the world of work is also a defining moment.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on College Advisers?
Lisa Wallace: I think our entire global society and economy will see impacts. Much as healthcare changed when we struggled to handle AIDS (nurses and other healthcare professionals used to draw blood without gloves!), there will be changes that are pervasive, enduring, and at the end, positive - but we don't know what they are yet. I participated in a webinar earlier this summer that talked about the relationships between higher education and employers. The presenter (Terry Hartle from the American Council on Education) said something that stuck with me. When I shared with my coworkers in Student Life also hit home for them - we are all going to need to have a high tolerance for ambiguity.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for College Advisers in the next 3-5 years?
Shelley Sadin: We cannot predict this, given how rapidly technology is advancing. We can say that remote meetings have taken over. Zoom use has increased exponentially, and distant court proceedings in Connecticut are being held via Microsoft Teams. Graduates will generally need to adapt to new technologies as they are introduced to keep up with the people and businesses they hope to represent.