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Job outlook for outreach counselors in the United States
Outreach counselor job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected outreach counselor job growth rate is 10% from 2018-2028.
About 32,400 new jobs for outreach counselors are projected over the next decade.
Outreach counselor salaries have increased 7% for outreach counselors in the last 5 years.
There are over 3,542 outreach counselors currently employed in the United States.
There are 77,659 active outreach counselor job openings in the US.
The average outreach counselor salary is $45,946.
Are outreach counselor jobs in demand?
Outreach counselor job and salary trends over time
Outreach counselor jobs over time
Outreach counselor job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,542 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 3,532 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 3,576 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 3,459 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 3,350 | 0.00% |
Average outreach counselor salary over time
Outreach counselor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $45,946 | $22.09 | +1.9% |
| 2025 | $45,092 | $21.68 | +1.3% |
| 2024 | $44,515 | $21.40 | +1.6% |
| 2023 | $43,804 | $21.06 | +1.6% |
| 2022 | $43,132 | $20.74 | +1.7% |
Outreach counselor jobs by state
Most common states for outreach counselors
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 2,189 | 32% |
| 2 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 173 | 25% |
| 3 | Alaska | 739,795 | 138 | 19% |
| 4 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 191 | 14% |
| 5 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 443 | 12% |
| 6 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 846 | 11% |
| 7 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 646 | 11% |
| 8 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 142 | 11% |
| 9 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 113 | 11% |
| 10 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 112 | 11% |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 1,306 | 10% |
| 12 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 583 | 10% |
| 13 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 558 | 10% |
| 14 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 315 | 10% |
| 15 | Delaware | 961,939 | 96 | 10% |
| 16 | Vermont | 623,657 | 61 | 10% |
| 17 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 1,171 | 9% |
| 18 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 650 | 9% |
| 19 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 387 | 9% |
| 20 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 51 | 9% |
Most common cities for outreach counselors
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beverly | 1 | 2% | $51,517 |
| 2 | Boston | 1 | 0% | $51,754 |
Outreach Counselor job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of outreach counselor experts
Ohio University
Colorado State University - Pueblo
University of Indianapolis
Campbellsville University
Virginia Wesleyan University
Jackson State University
Pennsylvania State University
Siena College
Nazareth College of Rochester
Nebraska Christian College
Kennesaw State University
Azusa Pacific University
What general advice would you give to an Outreach Counselor?
Emily McCave PhD, MSW, LCSW: Most people find social work to be incredibly rewarding, knowing that you are a facilitator of positive change, whether be within an individual, organization, or at a larger community or societal level. For many, being able to help people reach their full capacity is fulfilling. The amount of documentation we must complete in clinical settings is often what is liked the least.
What Outreach Counselor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Emily McCave PhD, MSW, LCSW: The need for social workers is high, particularly after the pandemic. A shortage of social workers means that there's an increasing demand in the field. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics social work jobs are expected to increase 13% between 2020 and 2030.
What will help Outreach Counselors increase their earning potential?
Emily McCave PhD, MSW, LCSW: For clinical positions, which is what most social workers do, daily tasks typically include conducting assessments and providing individual, family, and/or group therapy to children and/or adults, while collaborating with other providers working with the client. There is also daily clinical documentation that needs to be completed.
What will help Outreach Counselors increase their earning potential?
Jennifer Shadik: Social workers are involved in helping individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities in a variety of ways. Depending on the specific job, they may provide education, mediate conflict, connect individuals and families to resources, provide therapeutic intervention, and/or develop policies to help at an individual or national level.
What general advice would you give to an Outreach Counselor?
Pamela Richmond Ph.D.: Challenges social workers can face are high caseloads, not enough resources to assist clients and exposure to horrific aspects of humanity. Social workers enjoy being a part of the change process by recognizing the strengths and resiliency of individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities. Workers advocate for individuals that are marginalized and oppressed, ensuring they have a voice. They enjoy looking at solutions to problems and empowering others to make changes beneficial for their lives.
What Outreach Counselor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Pamela Richmond Ph.D.: Social workers are trained to understand and intervene on three levels—micro (individuals and families), mezzo (formal groups and organizations) and macro (community and the broader society). Given the challenges currently taking place nationally and internationally such as poverty, immigration, abortion controversy, societal racism/discrimination and the war in the middle east, social workers are trained to intervene and advocate for change on a variety of system levels.
What will help Outreach Counselors increase their earning potential?
Pamela Richmond Ph.D.: Social workers employed in a variety of diverse settings to include prisons, hospitals, child welfare, homeless shelters, nursing homes, substance abuse facilities, mental health facilities, community organizations and politics (and there are many, many more settings). The setting and the population of clients the social workers assist (children, youth, adults, etc.) will determine the specific day-to-day workload. However, general daily tasks completed regardless of the setting include interacting with clients/community constituents, responding to phone calls/e-mails, problem-solving, teamwork within the organization employed and/or with community constituents and documentation. Social workers entering the profession have fulfilled placement work during their educational training. Meaning, prior to graduation they have been placed in an agency working under the supervision of a social worker applying what they have learned in their coursework. As a result, when they begin their work as a social worker, they are ready to apply the knowledge, values and the skills they have learned to fulfill the tasks mentioned above.
What Outreach Counselor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Lynell Cooper MSW, LCSW: Being empathetic will enhance your ability to connect with clients, while resilience will help you manage emotional stress effectively. Fostering a lens of cultural humility will serve as a conduit to success and effectiveness.
Dr. Kimberly Mudd-Fegett DSW, MSSW
Associate Professor of Social WorkCampbellsville University
Social Work
What Outreach Counselor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Kimberly Mudd-Fegett DSW, MSSW: The best thing about being a Social Worker is the ability to serve, assist and empower other individuals who are facing challenges within their life. Although this can be very overwhelming, at times the rewards this can provide, and self-fulfillment is hard to put into words. One of the greatest challenges of Social Work is maintaining adequate self-care and knowing that you can impact or help all individuals. This can be extremely challenging and overwhelming, particularly for new workers. One must ensure that they have adequate supervision, education, and resources to protect their wellbeing or burnout is highly likely.
Dr. Jennifer Slivka
Associate Professor of EnglishVirginia Wesleyan University
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, And Group Studies
What Outreach Counselor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Jennifer Slivka: Be open-minded, flexible, and patient. Our recent GWSS graduates secure jobs in a number of related fields that might not spring to mind when new graduates think of GWSS careers (e.g., political campaigns/staff, higher education, non-profits, law, publishing, business, and even sexual assault prevention and victim advocacy for the Navy). These are in addition to more traditionally associated GWSS careers, such as domestic abuse and trafficking shelters for women and children, LGBTQ+ outreach services, and counseling centers. As with most first jobs in the field, you need to think of them as learning experiences that can enhance the knowledge and skills you learned in college, while also providing you the necessary professional experience to move forward in the field.
What will help Outreach Counselors increase their earning potential?
Dr. Jennifer Slivka: Because of its interdisciplinary nature, Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies already offers students diverse perspectives that prepare them for the multi-faceted, complex viewpoints they will encounter in graduate study and in the workplace. In particular, soft skills will become even more important. These skills include communication, critical thinking and problem solving, empathy, collaboration, community-building, leadership, and adaptability. The field is dynamic, so being able to continue to learn and grow after graduation is a necessity.
Jie Ke
Associate Professor of Human Resource DevelopmentJackson State University
Student Counseling And Personnel Services
What Outreach Counselor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Jie Ke: - Technology skills: With the increasing integration of technology in educational settings, school counselors will need to be proficient in using technology tools and platforms for counseling, data analysis, and communication. - Data analysis skills: School counselors will need to have strong skills in collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data to inform their counseling interventions and measure their effectiveness.- Collaboration and interdisciplinary teamwork skills: School counselors will increasingly collaborate with other professionals, including teachers, administrators, psychologists, and community organizations. - Crisis intervention skills: The ability to provide immediate, short-term help to individuals who experience an event that produces emotional, mental, physical, and behavioral distress or problems.
What will help Outreach Counselors increase their earning potential?
Jie Ke: - Collaborate with professionals in the field and build up a network in the specific areas that you are interested in. Seek professional development opportunities: Engage in professional development activities such as attending conferences, workshops, or webinars specific to school counseling. These opportunities will help you stay current with the latest research, enhance your skills, and connect with other professionals in the field. Stay informed about educational trends: Stay up to date with current trends and research in education and counseling. This includes being aware of new intervention strategies, evidence-based practices, and developments in the field of school counseling. Continuous learning will help you provide the most effective support to students.
What will help Outreach Counselors increase their earning potential?
James Andrews LCSW, LICSW, BCD: Completing the MSW and graduating as a professional social worker is exciting and can be overwhelming. There are some general areas of professional development that I would strongly recommend new social workers entering the workforce focus on addressing. The first (and in many ways perhaps the most important) is to actively network. Connect with peers and mentors by building and maintaining professional relationships through joining professional organizations and attending industry events such as conferences and other professional events. Join your state chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and become active; don’t just pay your dues every year. Contact the chapter office and volunteer for a committee and run for a volunteer leadership position. Get involved! Next, be adaptable! If the social service field is characterized by any one quality, it is change. Cultivating the ability to grow, adapt to new technologies, methodologies, and work environments will be crucial to one’s career success. Not only does the quality of flexibility makes one a valuable employee and prepares you for unexpected challenges and opportunities, but it is also a central trait needed for those who desire to open their own clinical practices one day. Related to adaptability is the practice of continuous learning. Social work and the larger industry of social services ever evolving, so it is imperative that new graduates embrace the idea that even though they have graduated, they must always be students, ever learning and developing new skills. This involves a commitment to lifelong learning which involves pursuing certifications, workshops attendance, and staying updated with the latest industry trends and technologies through independent reading and research. This not only keeps your skills relevant but also demonstrates your commitment to professional growth. And finally, and too often ignored, is the importance of developing and cultivating what are called “soft skills”. Skills such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and time management a(and others) are essential. For the successful social worker. Such soft skills complement one’s technical abilities and are highly valued by employers. And in many ways are what will enable a person to advance in their career.
Elisa Martin Ph.D., MSW
Associate Professor of Social Work, Department Chair & Program DirectorSiena College
Social Sciences
What general advice would you give to an Outreach Counselor?
Elisa Martin Ph.D., MSW: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the need for social workers will grow faster than many other professions, which means finding employment upon graduation will not be a problem.
What will help Outreach Counselors increase their earning potential?
Elisa Martin Ph.D., MSW: The beauty of the social work profession is that the skills you learn from your degree can be applied in a range of settings and populations. Depending on your interest, you could be working with children, youth, adults, older adults, or in an area of interest like domestic violence, homelessness, child welfare, gerontology. The work you do could be one-on-one, with small groups, running programs within an organization, and/or working in communities.
What general advice would you give to an Outreach Counselor?
Erin Cole DSW, LCSW: There is a phrase that sometimes comes out in social work that we are "in it for the outcome, not for the income." This is true but also, we deserve a livable wage. I already see graduates starting at higher salaries so I think this is trending in the right direction. With that said, I think the best way to maximize salary potential is to build your resume with trainings and certifications, beyond the degree, to show that you have something extra to offer compared to another new graduate. There are so many courses available online to get certified in specific interventions.
What Outreach Counselor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Erin Cole DSW, LCSW: When you're looking for jobs, don't look for a forever job. Find something that seems like a good fit right now. The pressure for it to be forever is too much. Do it for as long as it feels right and move on when it doesn't. Also, remember that being a new graduate is an asset! You are more current on trends in social work, literature, and evidence-based practices than many seasoned professionals. You add value to the setting and should not minimize that by falling back on being new in the field.
What will help Outreach Counselors increase their earning potential?
Erin Cole DSW, LCSW: Understanding trauma has become a necessary and foundational skill in social work. This is going to continue being important and we will continue working with more and more people who have trauma histories. Practitioners need evidence-based interventions for trauma that include cultural and identity affirming components. With so little research in this area, I suspect a skill that will become important is the ability to adapt evidence-based interventions to meet the needs of the individual being served while maintaining the initial integrity of the intervention.
What Outreach Counselor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Cynthia Peters MSW: It is a good profession to enter now, due to the need for social workers in some of the jobs that I mentioned in the previous question. Social Workers can provide a different perspective on service delivery. Meeting the clients where they are at; developing relationships with the community; advocating for client services; writing grants; monitoring grants; brokering services......
Christine Kiewra
Associate Professor of PracticeNebraska Christian College
Human Development, Family Studies, And Related Services
What general advice would you give to an Outreach Counselor?
Christine Kiewra: The HDFS program is a flexible degree that offers the “human” element that is necessary but often missing from pre-health and pre-law tracks. The flexibility also allows for students to double major and broaden their learning outcomes.
What will help Outreach Counselors increase their earning potential?
Christine Kiewra: Human Development Specialists have many options including specializing in working with young children, families, and elderly clients. Specialists can pursue working in large or small businesses, non-profit agencies, education, or government agencies.
What general advice would you give to an Outreach Counselor?
Cindy Snell: Be able to articulate the skills and experience you have that are relevant to the jobs you are seeking - tell your story! Learn another language than English. Negotiate your hiring terms. Learn about loan forgiveness options.
What will help Outreach Counselors increase their earning potential?
Cindy Snell: Working effectively with diverse populations. This includes knowing your own biases, speaking another language, and continually striving for cultural competence. Openness to learning/integrating new technologies and careful consideration of their impact on the services you provide clients. These could include telehealth, record keeping, and the use of AI. Advocacy. Social workers need to advocate for their clients but also for policies that affect their clients and the field of social work. Social workers also need to remember to advocate for themselves and know this is not selfish but often allows them to be more effective social workers.
What general advice would you give to an Outreach Counselor?
Camille Coleman: Do your research within the state and or country, and or agency you are seeking potential employment. Look up the laws, compare them to other states, don't be afraid to look at all careers within the social work field, for example research in social work gets overlooked, facilitation, curriculum development, etc. Future social workers should seek reciprocity in multiple states to practice counseling services after obtaining one's licensure, if wanting to provide therapeutic services. This will give one leverage to negotiate higher salary requests.
What general advice would you give to an Outreach Counselor?
Dr. Aimée Vadnais Psy.D, LMFT: Keep in touch with your professors and classmates. They will be able to provide you with letters of recommendations in the future, connect you with job leads, and can make introductions to you to people in the field. Keep your resume current with any trainings or seminars that you attend and include additional certifications you obtain. Keep educating yourself by taking continuing education to learn more about certain topics, theories, interventions, or populations you are interested in learning more about. Network through CAMFT or AAMFT by attending their local chapter events, where you can meet others in the field in your area. Lastly, create a Linked In page so you can advertise about yourself and form local connections with others in your field.
What Outreach Counselor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Aimée Vadnais Psy.D, LMFT: With the aging of the Baby Boomer generation, careers with the geriatric population are/will continue to be in high demand. Family education surrounding geriatric mental health is key, as well as providing caregiver support to those family members who are caring for aging loved ones. Issues related to kids and teens post-COVID-19 pandemic may still be prevalent in the next couple of years, specifically around socialization, face-to-face communication, and self-esteem. The impact of AI on people, business, and society in general is an area to pay attention to in the years ahead.
What will help Outreach Counselors increase their earning potential?
Dr. Aimée Vadnais Psy.D, LMFT: Research the going rates in your industry and ask colleagues to have a good idea. Recognize your worth and advocate for yourself during pay discussions. Highlight unique skill sets that may be valuable to the agency. Provide free education nights to benefit the community, potentially leading to clients. Find a niche population you enjoy working with and market your services specifically to this area.
What general advice would you give to an Outreach Counselor?
Andrew Schoolnik: Saying 'yes' to as many challenges and tasks as possible. The accumulation of these experiences will create new opportunities and the cumulation of myriad opportunities is central to career advancement. The 2021 revision to the Social Work Code of Ethics includes the importance of self-care, and saying 'yes' must be balanced with this.
What Outreach Counselor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Alexis Henderson M.S., OTR/L, CLT, OCC: Never take the first salary offer but also do not get hung up on salary right out of the gate. Remember that helping professions are about more than money. Take every single continuing education and training opportunity that comes your way or that you can find. Training and becoming a master at your craft is how you increase your salary most productively!
What will help Outreach Counselors increase their earning potential?
Alexis Henderson M.S., OTR/L, CLT, OCC: My advice to new graduates would be three-fold: First, take everything in stride. You cannot know what you do not know so do not feel embarrassed or incompetent if there is knowledge you are lacking. Most education in human service truly is acquired on the job. Never be afraid to ask questions and never let anyone make you feel inferior for needing to ask a question. Remember, you are working with human lives and therefore you would much rather ask the question and be safe than hurt someone. Second, work to separate work and personal life. It is so easy to come out of school and into the human profession field and want to fix everyone and everything. This is wonderful but also remember that your job is not your entire identity. There has to be some boundaries and separation, or burnout will be inevitable. Lastly, remember that your attitude dictates your experience. If you approach your work with kindness, gratitude, openness, and dedication it will take you so much farther in life. Challenging patients/clients are usually those who need help the most, so extend them a little extra kindness and grace. Your boss has a job to do, just like you, so ensure you stand up for what you need but also remember that them doing their job is not a personal attack.
Dr. Roxanne Ruiz-Adams
What will help Outreach Counselors increase their earning potential?
Dr. Roxanne Ruiz-Adams: Embarking on a career in social work demands a commitment to embrace lifelong learning, as the field is constantly evolving with new challenges and methodologies. It's essential to continuously update your knowledge through workshops, conferences, and further education to remain relevant and effective. Equally important is the cultivation of empathy and resilience, which allows you to connect deeply with clients while navigating the emotional and psychological demands of the job, ensuring a balance between compassion and self-care. Networking and collaborating with other professionals, both within and outside the field of social work, opens up new perspectives, resources, and opportunities for professional growth. Advocacy for social justice is a cornerstone of social work, pushing for broader social changes and addressing systemic issues that affect clients. Lastly, regular reflection on your practice is crucial for personal and professional development, allowing you to seek feedback and be open to constructive criticism, thereby enhancing your skills and effectiveness
What general advice would you give to an Outreach Counselor?
Nicole Willis Ph.D., LMSW: Maximizing your salary first starts with doing the groundwork in the junior and senior year of the Social Work program. You'll want to have a strong and competitive professional resume that show how you stand-out from the other job seekers. The second phase is during the entry-level job interview phase. Best advice I ever received about salary is to NOT accept the first salary offered right away. Let your potential employer know that you'd like a day or two to think about the offer. During those two days, do your homework. Find out what is the average pay for like positions there and in other organizations. Talk with mentors you have within your professional network to get their thoughts on your offer. Don't be afraid to negotiate salary or negotiate the possibility that the potential employer would include paying for you to participate in a conference every year so you can earn the CEUs you need to maintain your Social Work license. In Social Work, we utilize great humility when working with clients and client systems. However, when in the office interviewing and considering that salary offer, put that humility aside for a while and think like a business person.
What Outreach Counselor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Candace Riddley: I anticipate technological, critical thinking, and communication skills will be most important in the field of social work over the next 3-5 years. AI and digital technologies have become popular in recent years, and new skills will need to be learned or refreshed to maintain in our changing job market. In today's job market, public speaking and problem-solving skills are critical factors when employers are seeking new hires.
What will help Outreach Counselors increase their earning potential?
Candace Riddley: I would encourage a beginning graduate to find a mentor who works in the field of social work. Mentorship is a great way for social workers to enhance their skills, knowledge, and career paths. This is an opportunity to provide guidance, support, feedback, and networking opportunities. Lastly, mentorship provides the opportunity to discuss job-related issues, career concerns, licensure, and challenges within the field. Mentorship is a great way to help graduates grow personally and professionally.