Post Job

What is a housing counselor and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted Expert
Dr. Meredith Bertrand
introduction image

Everyone needs a roof over their heads, and as a housing counselor, you'll play a crucial role in ensuring that people get the housing they need. Housing counselors specialize in creating action plans that make sure a person's housing needs are met. They are specifically trained to provide advice and counseling to renters, homebuyers, and homeowners. Housing counselors are well-versed on Federal Housing Administration (FAA) assistance programs and can also receive certification through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Working as a housing counselor can be very rewarding, because you always work with the person's best interest at heart. As a housing counselor, you'll spend a lot of time conducting homebuyer education and financial education, one-on-one counseling on pre-purchase issues and foreclosure prevention, as well as credit counseling services. As a housing counselor, you will be able to provide vital assistance for building client self-sufficiency, with an emphasis on long-term economic and housing stability.

Individuals working in this field will typically have either an associate's degree or bachelor's degree in social work. Housing counselor certification and bilingual skills are always a plus for those looking to work in this field.

What general advice would you give to a Housing Counselor?

Dr. Meredith BertrandDr. Meredith Bertrand LinkedIn Profile

Chair of Education; Associate Professor of Education, Elms College

History is ever-changing, and teachers must clarify how current events are just as much a part of the study of history as any other socio-political period or event. If you are not comparing the civil rights movement of today to the ongoing civil rights movements of the past, and if you are not supporting the campaign against oppression and institutional racism upon which our nation was built, then you are doing continuous harm to those who need you to act and disrupt the cycle. History teachers better be ready to be activists, not just teachers, or else you are perpetuating the status quo.
ScoreHousing CounselorUS Average
Salary
6.2

Avg. Salary $78,730

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
10.0

Growth Rate 10%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
2.5
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.31%

Asian 6.31%

Black or African American 5.48%

Hispanic or Latino 7.70%

Unknown 4.37%

White 75.84%

Gender

female 61.75%

male 38.25%

Age - 45
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 - 45
Stress Level
10.0

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
10.0

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
4.9

Work Life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Housing Counselor career paths

Key steps to become a housing counselor

  1. Explore housing counselor education requirements

    Most common housing counselor degrees

    Bachelor's

    48.4 %

    Doctorate

    27.2 %

    Master's

    8.7 %
  2. Start to develop specific housing counselor skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Litigation9.99%
    In-House Counsel7.93%
    Social Work7.70%
    Regulatory Compliance5.39%
    Crisis Intervention5.01%
  3. Complete relevant housing counselor training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New housing 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 housing counselor based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real housing counselor resumes.
  4. Research housing counselor duties and responsibilities

    • Manage day-to-day legal affairs of NYSE list airline.
    • Engage in own practice focusing on estate planning and probate with some business planning.
    • Assist senior counsel in all aspects of litigation management including factual investigation, document preparation, and trial preparation and support.
    • Draft legal correspondence, exhibits, and discovery documents in the fields of probate, family law and contract dispute issues.
  5. Prepare your housing counselor resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your housing 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 housing 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 Housing Counselor Resume templates

    Build a professional Housing 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 Housing Counselor resume.
    Housing Counselor Resume
    Housing Counselor Resume
    Housing Counselor Resume
    Housing Counselor Resume
    Housing Counselor Resume
    Housing Counselor Resume
    Housing Counselor Resume
    Housing Counselor Resume
    Housing Counselor Resume
    Housing Counselor Resume
    Housing Counselor Resume
    Housing Counselor Resume
    Housing Counselor Resume
    Housing Counselor Resume
    Housing Counselor Resume
    Housing Counselor Resume
  6. Apply for housing counselor jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a housing 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 Housing Counselor Job

Zippi

Are you a Housing Counselor?

Share your story for a free salary report.

Average housing counselor salary

The average Housing Counselor salary in the United States is $78,730 per year or $38 per hour. Housing counselor salaries range between $42,000 and $144,000 per year.

Average Housing Counselor Salary
$78,730 Yearly
$37.85 hourly

What Am I Worth?

salary-calculator

How do housing counselors rate their job?

Working as a Housing Counselor? Share your experience anonymously.
Overall Rating*
Career Growth
Work/Life balance
Pay/Salary

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.