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How to hire an Education Counselor

Education counselor hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring education counselors in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire an education counselor is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new education counselor to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire an education counselor, step by step

To hire an education counselor, you should create an ideal candidate profile, determine a budget, and post and promote your job. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a education counselor:

Here's a step-by-step education counselor hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write an education counselor job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new education counselor
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an Education Counselor do?

The work of education counselors revolves around giving students advice about their course choice, career structuring, and supporting them in their school endeavors. They must have the empathy to help students adjust to their everyday struggles and personal conflicts. They often give students information about scholarship grants and help them apply. They organize seminars talking about alcohol consumption and smoking. Counselors also discuss strategies to improve school performance regarding overall counseling services.

Learn more about the specifics of what an education counselor does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    The education counselor hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

    Determine Employee vs Contractor Status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    Hiring the perfect education counselor also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

    This list shows salaries for various types of education counselors.

    Type Of Education CounselorDescriptionHourly Rate
    Education CounselorSchool counselors help students develop academic and social skills and succeed in school. Career counselors assist people with the process of making career decisions by helping them develop skills or choose a career or educational program.$15-29
    Counselor InternshipWhen it comes to Counselor Internship, among the primary responsibilities is to assist in dealing with various activities such as preparing and verifying necessary documentation, observing consultations and outreach programs, guide clients and help develop multiple helpful strategies, and provide assessments. Furthermore, one can conduct counseling and consultation only under supervision... Show More$14-31
    Student Services CounselorStudent Services is a part of the school program that focuses on helping students in their studies. A Student Services Counselor handles this task and is the contact person for all students who need help or who have problems and issues requiring solutions and answers... Show More$12-28
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common Skills:
    • Mental Health
    • Crisis Intervention
    • Financial Aid
    • Behavioral Problems
    • Applied Behavior Analysis
    • Educational Programs
    • Tuition Assistance
    • Substance Abuse
    • CPR
    • K-12
    • Developmental Disabilities
    • at-Risk Youth
    • Public Schools
    • Community Resources
    Check All Skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Provide consultation and in-service to teachers, administrators and parents regarding IEP's, guidance and counseling practices and programs.
    • Collaborate as member of IEP teams, with school and district representatives and families, to identify specific student needs areas.
    • Work towards empowering juveniles and their families to support a positive lifestyle by providing strength base intensive intervention and rehabilitation services.
    • Participate in special education meetings as administrator, coordinate state testing and assist with RTI identifications.
    • Facilitate RTI process on caseload through identification, implementation, and through monitoring progress for further referrals for at-risk students.
    • Ensure client safety and provide necessary intervention toward adolescent teens admit into an inpatient drug and mental health treatment facility.
    More Education Counselor duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your education counselor job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. An education counselor can vary based on:

    • Location. For example, education counselors' average salary in west virginia is 48% less than in california.
    • Seniority. Entry-level education counselors 46% less than senior-level education counselors.
    • Certifications. An education counselor with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in an education counselor's salary.

    Average education counselor salary

    $45,465yearly

    $21.86 hourly rate

    Entry-level education counselor salary
    $33,000 yearly salary
    Updated February 13, 2025

    Average education counselor salary by state

    RankStateAvg. SalaryHourly Rate
    1California$58,096$28
    2New Jersey$53,318$26
    3District of Columbia$52,254$25
    4Maryland$51,208$25
    5Connecticut$50,898$24
    6Virginia$50,666$24
    7New York$50,474$24
    8Massachusetts$49,551$24
    9Washington$47,108$23
    10Colorado$45,585$22
    11Texas$44,817$22
    12Illinois$44,063$21
    13Pennsylvania$42,306$20
    14Georgia$39,939$19
    15Ohio$38,889$19
    16Oklahoma$35,939$17
    17Florida$29,724$14

    Average education counselor salary by company

  4. Writing an Education Counselor Job Description

    An education counselor job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of an education counselor job description:

    Education Counselor job description example

    JOB DESCRIPTION: The Lactation Counselor develops a breastfeeding program to include parent and staff education, consultation and follow-up. Acts as a resource person for staff, patients, and community members and advocates for breastfeeding as the child-feeding norm Assesses patient and family, emotional, cognitive, social and motivational status relative to learning and determines their educational needs and priorities using a family centered approach. Educational needs may range from pre-conception through time of weaning. Provides professional leadership and advanced knowledge in the practice of lactation management. Addresses the physiological, emotional, developmental, psychosocial and spiritual needs of the patient and family/support system Delivers patient care in complex, multiple problem breastfeeding situations to assist the mother to attain her individual breastfeeding goals. Functions as a member of the multidisciplinary health care team as a Consultants, instructors and mentors/preceptors to other health care professionals and clients in the hospital and community settings. Provides individual consultation via inpatient, outpatient and/or telephone. Assists in the design, instruction and evaluation of internal and external breastfeeding/OB education and promotion. Contributes to efficient departmental operations in order to control cost and ensure productivity by organizing and utilizing time, supplies, and equipment efficiently and effectively. Assists in the development, implementation and evaluation of policies and procedures. Performs other related responsibilities as required.

    MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN) preferred if a RN. Current GA Licensure as a Registered Nurse, Licensed Lactation Consultant, or other allied health license (e.g.,Occupational therapist, Physical therapist, Registered Dietician, Speech & language Pathologist); Certification by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBCLE). Must have some experience with lactation support.

    PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS (Medium): 20-50 lbs; 0-33% of the work day (occasionally); 11-25 lbs, 34-66% of the workday (frequently); 01-10 lbs, 67-100% of the workday (constantly); Lifting 50 lbs max; Carrying of objects up to 25 lbs; Occasional to frequent standing & walking, Occasional sitting, Close eye work (computers, typing, reading, writing), Physical demands may vary depending on assigned work area and work tasks.

    ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS: Factors affecting environment conditions may vary depending on the assigned work area and tasks. Environmental exposures include, but are not limited to: Blood-borne pathogen exposure Bio-hazardous waste Chemicals/gases/fumes/vapors Communicable diseases Electrical shock, Floor Surfaces, Hot/Cold Temperatures, Indoor/Outdoor conditions, Latex, Lighting, Patient care/handling injuries, Radiation, Shift work, Travel may be required. Use of personal protective equipment, including respirators, environmental conditions may vary depending on assigned work area and work tasks. EEO/AA Statement: Emory does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability or veteran/Reserve/National Guard status, or on any basis prohibited by applicable law. The above statements are intended to generally describe the work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills, required of the personnel so classified. Based on established hospital/department/unit standards, employees may not perform all duties listed in this job description.
    **Connect With Us!**

    Connect with us for general consideration!

    **Division** _Emory Decatur Hospital_

    **Campus Location** _Decatur, GA, 30033_

    **Campus Location** _US-GA-Decatur_

    **Department** _DEC-OB Education_

    **Job Type** _Regular Full-Time_


    **Job Category** _Nursing_

    **Schedule** _Other_

    **Standard Hours** _32 Hours_

    Emory Healthcare is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer committed to providing equal opportunity in all of its employment practices and decisions. Emory Healthcare prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in employment based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age (40 and over), disability, citizenship, genetic information, service in the uniformed services, veteran status or any other classification protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
  5. Post your job

    To find the right education counselor for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with education counselors they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit education counselors who meet your education requirements.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your education counselor job on Zippia to find and recruit education counselor candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    During your first interview to recruit education counselors, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new education counselor

    Once you've decided on a perfect education counselor candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

    You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

    After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new education counselor. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire an education counselor?

Before you start to hire education counselors, it pays to consider both the one-off costs like recruitment, job promotion, and onboarding, as well as the ongoing costs of an employee's salary and benefits. While most companies that hire education counselors pay close attention to the initial cost of hiring, ongoing costs are much more significant in the long run.

You can expect to pay around $45,465 per year for an education counselor, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for education counselors in the US typically range between $15 and $29 an hour.

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