Guidance counselor demographics and statistics in the US
Guidance counselor demographics research summary. Zippia estimates guidance counselor demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our guidance 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 guidance counselors after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 21,509 guidance counselors currently employed in the United States.
- 68.7% of all guidance counselors are women, while 31.3% are men.
- The average guidance counselor age is 41 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of guidance counselors is White (67.0%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (14.2%), Black or African American (10.6%) and Unknown (3.8%).
- In 2022, women earned 98% of what men earned.
- 11% of all guidance counselors are LGBT.
- Guidance counselors are 88% more likely to work at education companies in comparison to government companies.
On this page
Guidance counselor demographics by:
Guidance counselor gender statistics
68.7% of guidance counselors are women and 31.3% of guidance counselors are men.
- Female, 68.7%
- Male, 31.3%
Guidance counselor gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Female | 68.7% |
| Male | 31.3% |
Guidance counselor gender pay gap
Women earn 98¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$44,362
Female income
$43,682
Guidance counselor gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in guidance counselor positions over time. Currently, 68.7% of guidance counselors are female.
Guidance counselor gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 41.59% | 58.41% |
| 2011 | 39.81% | 60.19% |
| 2012 | 39.58% | 60.42% |
| 2013 | 39.32% | 60.68% |
| 2014 | 38.22% | 61.78% |
| 2015 | 38.30% | 61.70% |
| 2016 | 37.04% | 62.96% |
| 2017 | 36.23% | 63.77% |
| 2018 | 31.98% | 68.02% |
| 2019 | 33.45% | 66.55% |
| 2020 | 29.50% | 70.50% |
| 2021 | 31.34% | 68.66% |
Guidance counselor related jobs gender ratio
We compared guidance 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% |
| Guidance Counselor | 31% | 69% |
| 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%
Guidance counselor demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among guidance counselors is White, which makes up 67.0% of all guidance counselors. Comparatively, 14.2% of guidance counselors are Hispanic or Latino and 10.6% of guidance counselors are Black or African American.
- White, 67.0%
- Hispanic or Latino, 14.2%
- Black or African American, 10.6%
- Unknown, 3.8%
- Asian, 3.7%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
Guidance counselor race
| Guidance counselor race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 67.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 14.2% |
| Black or African American | 10.6% |
| Unknown | 3.8% |
| Asian | 3.7% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.7% |
Guidance counselor race and ethnicity over time
See how guidance counselor racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Guidance 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 | 70.75% | 10.81% | 4.54% | 11.44% |
| 2019 | 69.83% | 12.09% | 4.04% | 11.42% |
| 2020 | 68.46% | 10.85% | 3.30% | 12.57% |
| 2021 | 67.03% | 10.64% | 3.74% | 14.20% |
Guidance counselor wage gap by race
According to our data, hispanic or latino guidance counselors have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american guidance counselors have the lowest average salary at $43,653.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $43,964 |
| White | $44,023 |
| Black or African American | $43,653 |
| Asian | $44,781 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $45,412 |
Average guidance counselor age
See how the average age of guidance counselors varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Guidance counselor age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 44 | 44 |
| Unknown | 40 | 43.5 |
| Asian | 40 | 38 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 38.5 | 39 |
| White | 41 | 42 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 48 |
Guidance counselor age breakdown
The average age of guidance counselors is 40+ years years old, representing 55% of the guidance counselor population.
Guidance counselor age breakdown
| Guidance Counselor Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 55% |
| 30-40 years | 31% |
| 20-30 years | 14% |
Guidance counselor educational attainment
The most common degree for guidance counselors is bachelor's degree, with 51% of guidance counselors earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 38% and master's degree degree at 5%.
- Bachelor's, 51%
- Master's, 38%
- Associate, 5%
- High School Diploma, 2%
- Other Degrees, 4%
Guidance counselors by degree level
| Guidance counselor degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 51% |
| Master's | 38% |
| Associate | 5% |
| High School Diploma | 2% |
| Other Degrees | 4% |
Guidance counselor jobs you might like
Guidance counselor wage gap by degree level
According to the data, guidance counselors with a Doctorate degree earn more than those without, at $53,139 annually. With a Master's degree, guidance counselors earn a median annual income of $52,310 compared to $46,048 for guidance counselors with an Bachelor's degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $52,310 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $46,048 |
| Doctorate Degree | $53,139 |
Guidance counselor employment statistics
Most guidance counselors work for a education in the education industry.
Company size where guidance counselors work
Below, you can see the size of companies where guidance counselors work.
Guidance counselor jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 10% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 29% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 33% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 5% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 17% |
| > 10,000 employees | 5% |
Guidance counselor jobs by company type
Employees with the guidance counselor job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most guidance counselors prefer to work at education companies over government companies.
Guidance counselor jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 88% |
| Public | 0% |
| Private | 5% |
| Government | 7% |
Guidance counselor jobs by industry
The most common industries for guidance counselors are education, government and non profits.
Guidance counselor industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 82% |
| Government | 7% |
| Non Profits | 5% |
| Manufacturing | 1% |
| Finance | 1% |
| Health Care | 1% |
| Hospitality | 1% |
| Professional | 1% |
Guidance counselor turnover and employment statistics
Guidance counselor unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for guidance counselors between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Guidance counselor unemployment rate by year
| Year | Guidance 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 | 2.05% |
| 2019 | 1.74% |
| 2020 | 2.08% |
| 2021 | 2.02% |
Average guidance counselor tenure
The average guidance counselor stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 6,134 guidance counselors resumes in Zippia's database.
Guidance counselor tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 21% |
| 1-2 years | 32% |
| 3-4 years | 14% |
| 5-7 years | 13% |
| 8-10 years | 6% |
| 11+ years | 14% |
Guidance counselor LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of guidance 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Grief Counselor | 8.96% | 27,537 |
| Chief Juvenile Probation Officer | 9.50% | 63,012 |
| Guidance Counselor | 10.75% | - |
| Sexual Assault Social Worker | 11.25% | 42,731 |
| Coordinator | 11.48% | 151,508 |
| Residence Counselor | 15.06% | 78,872 |
| Mental Health Unit Lead Psychologist | 15.06% | 84,954 |
Similar guidance counselor jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Grief Counselor | 8.96% | 27,537 |
| Chief Juvenile Probation Officer | 9.50% | 63,012 |
| Sexual Assault Social Worker | 11.25% | 42,731 |
| Coordinator | 11.48% | 151,508 |
| Residence Counselor | 15.06% | 78,872 |
| Mental Health Unit Lead Psychologist | 15.06% | 84,954 |
Foreign languages spoken by guidance counselors
The most common foreign language among guidance counselors is Spanish at 61.8%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 7.0% and Filipino is the third-most popular at 3.9%.
- Spanish, 61.8%
- French, 7.0%
- Filipino, 3.9%
- Italian, 3.1%
- Russian, 3.1%
- Other, 21.1%
Guidance counselor languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 61.8% |
| French | 7.0% |
| Filipino | 3.9% |
| Italian | 3.1% |
| Russian | 3.1% |
| Other | 21.1% |
