Counselor demographics and statistics in the US
Counselor demographics research summary. Zippia estimates counselor demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our counselor estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about counselors after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 347,278 counselors currently employed in the United States.
- 61.5% of all counselors are women, while 38.5% are men.
- The average counselor age is 44 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of counselors is White (63.5%), followed by Black or African American (15.6%), Hispanic or Latino (11.1%) and Unknown (5.1%).
- In 2022, women earned 96% of what men earned.
- 9% of all counselors are LGBT.
- Counselors are 55% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to education companies.
On This Page
Counselor demographics by:
Counselor gender statistics
61.5% of counselors are women and 38.5% of counselors are men.
- Female, 61.5%
- Male, 38.5%
Counselor gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Female | 61.5% |
| Male | 38.5% |
Counselor gender pay gap
Women earn 96¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male Income
$38,056
Female Income
$36,590
Counselor gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in counselor positions over time. Currently, 61.5% of counselors are female.
Counselor gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 33.35% | 66.65% |
| 2011 | 31.74% | 68.26% |
| 2012 | 31.52% | 68.48% |
| 2013 | 31.29% | 68.71% |
| 2014 | 30.30% | 69.70% |
| 2015 | 30.38% | 69.62% |
| 2016 | 29.26% | 70.74% |
| 2017 | 28.53% | 71.47% |
| 2018 | 37.43% | 62.57% |
| 2019 | 35.92% | 64.08% |
| 2020 | 35.47% | 64.53% |
| 2021 | 38.54% | 61.46% |
Counselor related jobs gender ratio
We compared counselors with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, public health worker and rehabilitation engineer have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job Title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Breastfeeding Educator | 2% | 98% |
| Certified Lactation Counselor | 3% | 97% |
| Lactation Specialist | 5% | 95% |
| Counselor | 39% | 61% |
| Donation Worker | 70% | 30% |
| Rehabilitation Engineer | 70% | 30% |
| Public Health Worker | 81% | 19% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Counselor demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among counselors is White, which makes up 63.5% of all counselors. Comparatively, 15.6% of counselors are Black or African American and 11.1% of counselors are Hispanic or Latino.
- White, 63.5%
- Black or African American, 15.6%
- Hispanic or Latino, 11.1%
- Unknown, 5.1%
- Asian, 3.5%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%
Counselor Race
| Counselor Race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 63.5% |
| Black or African American | 15.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 11.1% |
| Unknown | 5.1% |
| Asian | 3.5% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 1.2% |
Counselor race and ethnicity over time
See how counselor racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
- White
- Asian
- Hispanic or Latino
- Black or African American
Counselor race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 70.45% | 15.69% | 2.72% | 8.31% |
| 2011 | 69.57% | 15.56% | 2.82% | 8.79% |
| 2012 | 68.76% | 15.46% | 2.62% | 9.65% |
| 2013 | 69.18% | 15.73% | 2.66% | 9.33% |
| 2014 | 68.78% | 15.39% | 2.79% | 9.76% |
| 2015 | 69.46% | 14.13% | 3.09% | 10.11% |
| 2016 | 68.87% | 14.04% | 2.98% | 10.56% |
| 2017 | 69.66% | 14.06% | 2.85% | 10.41% |
| 2018 | 68.25% | 15.65% | 2.94% | 9.42% |
| 2019 | 68.25% | 15.07% | 2.35% | 10.73% |
| 2020 | 63.35% | 16.73% | 3.77% | 11.15% |
| 2021 | 63.50% | 15.60% | 3.48% | 11.12% |
Counselor wage gap by race
According to our data, asian counselors have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. White counselors have the lowest average salary at $35,549.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $37,602 |
| White | $35,549 |
| Black or African American | $36,897 |
| Asian | $41,852 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $38,669 |
Average counselor age
See how the average age of counselors varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Counselor age by race and gender
| Race | Male Age | Female Age |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 45 | 40 |
| White | 48 | 42 |
| Black or African American | 45 | 47 |
| Asian | 42 | 42.5 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 35 | 35 |
Counselor age breakdown
The average age of counselors is 40+ years years old, representing 61% of the counselor population.
Counselor age breakdown
| Counselor Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 61% |
| 30-40 years | 25% |
| 20-30 years | 14% |
Counselor educational attainment
The most common degree for counselors is bachelor's degree, with 59% of counselors earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 18% and master's degree degree at 11%.
- Bachelor's, 59%
- Master's, 18%
- Associate, 11%
- High School Diploma, 8%
- Other Degrees, 4%
Counselors by degree level
| Counselor Degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 59% |
| Master's | 18% |
| Associate | 11% |
| High School Diploma | 8% |
| Other Degrees | 4% |
Counselor Jobs You Might Like
Counselor wage gap by degree level
According to the data, counselors with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $46,119 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, counselors earn a median annual income of $37,421 compared to $31,219 for counselors with an Associate degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $46,119 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $37,421 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $31,219 |
Counselor employment statistics
Most counselors work for a private in the health care industry.
Company size where counselors work
Below, you can see the size of companies where counselors work.
Counselor jobs by employer size
| Company Size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 10% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 26% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 35% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 10% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 14% |
| > 10,000 employees | 5% |
Counselor jobs by company type
Employees with the counselor job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most counselors prefer to work at private companies over education companies.
Counselor jobs by sector
| Company Type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 26% |
| Public | 6% |
| Private | 55% |
| Government | 12% |
Counselor jobs by industry
The most common industries for counselors are health care, non profits and education.
Counselor industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Health Care | 27% |
| Non Profits | 21% |
| Education | 15% |
| Professional | 12% |
| Government | 7% |
| Hospitality | 5% |
| Finance | 2% |
| Media | 2% |
| Technology | 2% |
| Manufacturing | 1% |
| Internet | 1% |
| Start-up | 1% |
| Utilities | 1% |
| Construction | 1% |
| Fortune 500 | 1% |
| Real Estate | 1% |
| Retail | 1% |
Counselor turnover and employment statistics
Counselor unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for counselors between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Unemployment rate
Counselor unemployment rate by year
| Year | Counselor Unemployment Rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 5.18% |
| 2011 | 5.42% |
| 2012 | 4.84% |
| 2013 | 4.91% |
| 2014 | 3.67% |
| 2015 | 3.13% |
| 2016 | 3.01% |
| 2017 | 2.42% |
| 2018 | 3.20% |
| 2019 | 3.79% |
| 2020 | 5.58% |
| 2021 | 4.98% |
Average counselor tenure
The average counselor stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 108,261 counselors resumes in Zippia's database.
Counselor tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 35% |
| 1-2 years | 33% |
| 3-4 years | 12% |
| 5-7 years | 11% |
| 8-10 years | 4% |
| 11+ years | 5% |
Counselor LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of counselors that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job Title | LGBT | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|
| Counselor | 8.96% | - |
| Probation Agent | 9.50% | 25,091 |
| Admissions Evaluator | 10.75% | 17,288 |
| Social Insurance Analyst | 11.25% | 60,694 |
| Disability Services Coordinator | 11.48% | 115,235 |
| Pre-Parole Counseling Aide | 15.06% | 43,059 |
| Case Manager | 15.06% | 84,959 |
Similar counselor jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|
| Probation Agent | 9.50% | 25,091 |
| Admissions Evaluator | 10.75% | 17,288 |
| Social Insurance Analyst | 11.25% | 60,694 |
| Disability Services Coordinator | 11.48% | 115,235 |
| Pre-Parole Counseling Aide | 15.06% | 43,059 |
| Case Manager | 15.06% | 84,959 |
Foreign languages spoken by counselors
The most common foreign language among counselors is Spanish at 62.8%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 10.4% and Italian is the third-most popular at 3.0%.
- Spanish, 62.8%
- French, 10.4%
- Italian, 3.0%
- German, 2.7%
- Mandarin, 2.7%
- Other, 18.4%
Counselor languages spoken
| Foreign Language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 62.8% |
| French | 10.4% |
| Italian | 3.0% |
| German | 2.7% |
| Mandarin | 2.7% |
| Other | 18.4% |
