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Job outlook for international student counselors in the United States
Are international student counselor jobs in demand?
International student counselor job and salary trends over time
International student counselor jobs over time
International student counselor job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,275 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 1,258 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 1,276 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 1,228 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 1,168 | 0.00% |
Average international student counselor salary over time
International student counselor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $45,015 | $21.64 | +1.9% |
| 2024 | $44,179 | $21.24 | +1.3% |
| 2023 | $43,613 | $20.97 | +1.6% |
| 2022 | $42,916 | $20.63 | +1.6% |
| 2021 | $42,258 | $20.32 | +1.7% |
International student counselor jobs by state
Most common states for international student counselors
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 128 | 18% |
| 2 | Delaware | 961,939 | 103 | 11% |
| 3 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 94 | 9% |
| 4 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 50 | 9% |
| 5 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 275 | 8% |
| 6 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 249 | 8% |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 923 | 7% |
| 8 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 56 | 7% |
| 9 | Vermont | 623,657 | 46 | 7% |
| 10 | New York | 19,849,399 | 1,170 | 6% |
| 11 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 451 | 6% |
| 12 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 437 | 6% |
| 13 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 418 | 6% |
| 14 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 340 | 6% |
| 15 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 307 | 6% |
| 16 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 238 | 6% |
| 17 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 108 | 6% |
| 18 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 84 | 6% |
| 19 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 64 | 6% |
| 20 | Alaska | 739,795 | 48 | 6% |
International Student Counselor job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of international student counselor experts
Hiram College
Peak to Peak Charter School
Assumption University
Seattle University
East Tennessee State University
Eastern Kentucky University
Boise State University
American University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
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Montana State University
Kent State University
Vanguard University
Amber Chenoweth Ph.D.
Associate Professor of PsychologyHiram College
Department of Psychology
What International Student Counselor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Amber Chenoweth Ph.D.: For a graduate who is interested in working in mental health and is considering taking time between undergraduate and graduate school, I strongly recommend getting involved in some way with the field. Internships can be difficult with the pandemic restrictions, but this might be an opportunity to connect with an organization that does remote mental health work, for example, working with a suicide hotline.
Also, depending on the program requirements, they may want to take this time to prepare for the GRE. I know some programs are waiving the GRE due to the pandemic but may still consider those scores.
Regardless, any graduate program is going to want students who are strong communicators. If your writing wasn't strong as an undergrad, use this time to enhance those skills. Take free online courses that have a writing emphasis. If you do land an internship or an entry-level position with your B.A., ask for writing or presentation assignments and for your supervisor to provide you with constructive criticism for ways to improve.
Lastly, and this is advice I give all of my students, schedule some informational interviews with professionals in your field(s) of interest. Graduate school is an investment, both in time and money, so you need to be informed about the realities of the career outcome - can you really see yourself doing this? What are the challenges, in addition to the rewards, of that career path? What advice would that professional give if they had it to do all over again? And these kinds of interviews have great networking potential - my students who have done these kinds of interviews have found them valuable, both in gaining excellent insights and advice and some in landing internship and even job interview opportunities.
Macaela Holmes Fuller
Post Graduate CoordinatorPeak to Peak Charter School
College Counseling Department
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the International Student Counselor job market given the pandemic?
Macaela Holmes Fuller: Those seeking temporary employment in the service industry are going to find it more difficult to secure positions. As restaurants and retail are not operating at full tilt, I imagine those employers will prioritize their more permanent employees. I expect enrollment at community colleges will increase although I'm not sure how distance learning will impact that trend. I also expect there to be changes in employment opportunities at colleges and universities; with many institutions facing slashed budgets, there may be faculty and staff layoffs unfortunately. For many institutions, both admissions and fundraising positions will be of higher importance. I anticipate many college students to be considering options that are closer to home to be able to more easily travel home if another shutdown happens or to be able to live at home for remote learning opportunities.
What International Student Counselor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Macaela Holmes Fuller: While there are many reasons to consider a gap year, I highly encourage anyone considering one to have a set plan for what they'll do during that time away from academia. The more traditional options (e.g., traveling, serving their community, working to save money) are much harder to pursue during the pandemic. Having a plan with a set timeline will prevent the opportunity for procrastination because a year will certainly pass by quickly! Colleges also want students pursuing a gap year to have a set out plan so that the student doesn't spend the year sitting on their couch eating bon bons!
Some people should use a gap year to prepare themself for collegiate academics, which may include improving time management skills, working on reading speed and comprehension, and exploring their own passions and aptitudes. I encourage anyone to take advantage of the many free online courses but highly caution taking courses at a local college or university. If you take accredited classes, you may impact your admission status (first-year versus transfer) or even scholarships and financial aid. Others may want to use the gap year to figure out how to manage daily life without the constant presence of parents or guardians - perhaps that means learning how to cook or not relying on a parent to be their alarm clock. Other students may want to make sure they know how to do laundry, balance bills, and healthy eating habits. Those skills will better prepare for wherever their path after high school takes them.
Susan Scully-Hill Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies; and Director of School Counseling programAssumption University
School Counseling program in the Department of Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on International Student Counselors?
Susan Scully-Hill Ph.D.: Yes, there will be, but I feel the long term impact will be positive. Our 2020 graduates and our, soon to be, 2021 graduates have had to be even more flexible, adaptable, innovative, creative, and sensitive than a pre-COVID school counselor in training. Graduates are prepared to handle crises and challenges because they had no choice but to address challenges during their field experience and subsequent employment. School counseling graduates have become adept at using technology and web-based applications to help their students reach important academic, behavioral, social, and emotional goals. The pandemic has changed how school counselors interact with students but have not changed the goals and outcomes that students must achieve. The pandemic has impacted all of us, and the impact has implications for how we live our lives now and in the future.
Theresa Earenfight Ph.D.
Professor of History, Director, Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies ProgramSeattle University
History Department
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on International Student Counselors?
Theresa Earenfight Ph.D.: As a historian of the European Middle Ages, I'm struck by how students this past year have acquired something scarce: historical empathy. The past can seem so remote, so very different from our lived experiences today, and this can make history seem irrelevant. But this fall, I was teaching a section on the bubonic plague, which historians of medicine now know was a global pandemic, not just an epidemic in Europe. Usually, students are fascinated by the gruesome medical details, but not this group.
They did not need or want to look death in the eyes. They wanted to know how did people react? How did they get back to normal? When we ticked off the list of reactions--fear, distrust of science (such as it was in 1348), xenophobia, scapegoating, economic collapse, hoarding supplies, turn to religion, gallows humor about worms crawling about corpses--they got it. When we talked about the aftermath--eat, drink, be merry, and protest the inequality--they got it. That is historical empathy, and I'm sad that this was how it had to be learned, but it will give them broader compassion that can encompass people alive today.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on International Student Counselors?
Dr. Frederick Gordon Ph.D.: Graduate students will need to refocus on the changing institutional role, being both remote and in-person, and impacting agency goals and performance.
Michael A. Taylor
Associate Director for Career ServicesEastern Kentucky University
Office of Academic and Career Services
What type of skills will young International Student Counselors need?
Michael A. Taylor: In addition to the basic attending skills all counselors need, graduates will need to exemplify several soft skills, such as flexibility, collaboration, problem-solving skills, teamwork, strong work ethic, and ability to communicate (both orally and in written form). Most of all, patience and perseverance are desperately required. Since the national education reform in the early 90s, administrators have placed many tasks at the feet of school counselors that were never meant to be parts of a school counselor's job, such as testing and scheduling.
Sometimes, school counselors are even expected to handle discipline. Therefore, school counselors wear many hats, for which they were never fitted in their Master's program. It can sometimes become frustrating not having enough time to get to do all the things you were actually trained to do. Additionally, the ability to effectively communicate and counsel across all cultures is vital. The student population in schools is becoming increasingly diverse and will come with their own unique needs and requests. School counselors will be called upon to help those students navigate the challenges these students face and connect them to culturally appropriate resources.
How do you envision technology impacting International Student Counselors in the next 5 years?
Michael A. Taylor: Technology is already impacting every field you can think of! However, due to COVID-19, the use of technology has become paramount for school counselors. Platforms like Zoom and Microsoft Teams will become a mainstay for school counselors as they strive to communicate with parents and other community stakeholders who may not be able to travel to the school for meetings. They are also a great way to provide virtual office hours for parents and students to advise on academic, career, and college options. Since March, all of our career counseling appointments at EKU have been conducted via Zoom, and I see this being a popular option for students in the future.
School counselors would also be remiss if they didn't take advantage of students' addiction to social media. The use of dedicated hashtags could be an easy way for students to interact with their counselors. Of course, school counselors should remember not to use their personal social media accounts for this. Additionally, apps such as Stop, Breathe & Think or Calm have seen increasing popularity among counselors as students tend to look to their phones for guidance more than people.
What International Student Counselor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Laura L. Gallo Ph.D.: If a student takes a gap year- I think looking for opportunities to work with children/adolescents, especially in diverse settings, would be most beneficial, or even working abroad would be great. School counselors who can bring diverse views into the school setting will benefit everyone (staff, students, and families). As far as how they go about doing it, networking is helpful, or working with organizations who organize these types of experiences for counselors and educators (use the skills you've been trained in!).
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for International Student Counselors in the next 3-5 years?
Laura L. Gallo Ph.D.: I think there could be a shift for more schools to go online, even after the pandemic is over, as more students/families find they prefer it. So, school counselors who are tech-savvy with doing online counseling and using the platforms available would be helpful. Other technology that connects people in different ways could be beneficial. I think another piece of this is for school counselors to be creative with how to use technology to benefit their students. How can we increase interaction and keep students engaged.
What experience really stands out on International Student Counselor resumes?
Laura L. Gallo Ph.D.: For school counselors, experiences that highlight work with children; this could include volunteering, teaching, etc., and of course, internship experiences, in a few different types of schools, are helpful as well. For example, having some experience in alternative school settings shows administrators you have worked with diverse populations.
How do you envision technology impacting International Student Counselors in the next 5 years?
Dr. Adelaide Kelly-Massoud: Well, every teacher and teacher candidate was thrust into distance learning. Misguided attempts to foster understanding often leaned our adult distant learning pedagogy. Teachers, and those who prepare teachers, found their job to research, define, design, and implement meaningful teaching and learning using a virtual platform. Words such as synchronous and asynchronous are now a part of our everyday vernacular. But there is a much more optimistic change on the horizon that we can thank coronavirus for.
Communication and collaboration have been forced to change. Parents and Teachers are more connected and have been put in a position to leverage technology to build networks of support and consistent dialog. I urge teachers to leverage this in their future as we work to reopening schools; we should learn from this experience to leverage technology to keep us connected.
What type of skills will young International Student Counselors need?
Dr. Thomas Dearden Ph.D.: Indeed, the way we work is changing. The skills that young graduates will need are diverse. Transferable skills and soft skills will certainly be marketable. These include traditional crafts such as communication, but I also think the world expects more empathy from its employees. Young graduates with an understanding of racism, sexism, and environmental responsibility will become increasingly important.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for International Student Counselors to find work opportunities?
Mariah Stopplecamp: Right now, we see companies in larger metropolitan areas being the hubs of employment for recent grads. These are the companies that are large enough to survive the fiscal challenges that COVID has provided. These larger metro areas are working remotely, currently, and are providing recent grads the flexibility to stay located where they are.
Dr. Janice Byrd Ph.D.
ProfessorKent State University
School of Lifespan Development and Educational Sciences
How do you envision technology impacting International Student Counselors in the next 5 years?
Dr. Janice Byrd Ph.D.: Increased use of technology in school settings, I believe, is here to stay regardless of changes due to the nation's response to COVID. As school counselors and school counselor educators, we need to continue examining how parts of what we do look like in a virtual environment. I imagine educational tech companies will develop platforms that will help us complete tasks smoothly.
Most importantly, school counselors collaborating with instructional designers to identify meaningful solutions that do not require lots of money from schools or parents will be essential. For individual and group counseling tasks, school counselors may find themselves doing more Telehealth and/or increasing consultation with school-based clinical mental health counselors. Additionally, there is a lot of room for new tasks we can undertake as school counselors to support our students and school communities.
Dr. Tommy Casarez Ph.D.
Dr., Assistant Professor of Historical and Systematic TheologyVanguard University
Religion, Undergraduate Religion
What general advice would you give to an International Student Counselor?
Dr. Tommy Casarez Ph.D.: 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.