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What is a head counselor and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted Expert
Dr. Tommy Casarez Ph.D.
The average head counselor salary is $31,654. The most common degree is a bachelor's degree degree with an psychology major. It usually takes 2-4 years of experience to become a head counselor. Head counselors with a First Aid, CPR and AED Instructor certification earn more money. Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 10% and produce 28,100 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a Head Counselor?

Dr. Tommy Casarez Ph.D.Dr. Tommy Casarez Ph.D. LinkedIn Profile

Dr., Assistant Professor of Historical and Systematic Theology, Vanguard University

Opportunities come in many different shapes and sizes, but they are still out there. Whether you are seeking to land a job in education or the non-profit sector, you will need to familiarize yourself and get used to all things digital, for the sake of communicating effectively. The younger your student or service partner's mindset, the more digitally savvy you will need to be, especially in the classroom and in the non-profit world.
ScoreHead CounselorUS Average
Salary
2.5

Avg. Salary $31,654

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
9.1

Growth Rate 10%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
9.9
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.67%

Asian 5.03%

Black or African American 12.95%

Hispanic or Latino 14.84%

Unknown 5.57%

White 60.94%

Gender

female 56.01%

male 43.99%

Age - 43
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43
Stress Level
9.1

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
7.9

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
7.5

Work Life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Head Counselor career paths

Key steps to become a head counselor

  1. Explore head counselor education requirements

    Most common head counselor degrees

    Bachelor's

    72.8 %

    Master's

    8.7 %

    Associate

    8.0 %
  2. Start to develop specific head counselor skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Camper Safety44.20%
    Leadership15.98%
    CPR12.34%
    Role Model8.35%
    Conflict Resolution3.90%
  3. Complete relevant head counselor training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New head counselors learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a head counselor based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real head counselor resumes.
  4. Research head counselor duties and responsibilities

    • Manage the dispute resolution/litigation process; responding to and resolving threaten litigation; responding to subpoenas and regulatory inquiries and investigations.
    • Complete full CPR training with certification.
    • Perform CPR and first aid when necessary.
    • Point person overseeing all phases of successful ACA accreditation visit.
  5. Prepare your head counselor resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your head counselor resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a head counselor resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Head Counselor Resume templates

    Build a professional Head Counselor resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Head Counselor resume.
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  6. Apply for head counselor jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a head counselor job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Head Counselor Job

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Average head counselor salary

The average Head Counselor salary in the United States is $31,654 per year or $15 per hour. Head counselor salaries range between $13,000 and $71,000 per year.

Average Head Counselor Salary
$31,654 Yearly
$15.22 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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