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Job outlook for student mentors in the United States
Student mentor job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected student mentor job growth rate is 10% from 2018-2028.
About 32,400 new jobs for student mentors are projected over the next decade.
Student mentor salaries have increased 7% for student mentors in the last 5 years.
There are over 30,332 student mentors currently employed in the United States.
There are 18,591 active student mentor job openings in the US.
The average student mentor salary is $33,392.
Are student mentor jobs in demand?
Student mentor job and salary trends over time
Student mentor jobs over time
Student mentor job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 30,332 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 30,616 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 31,017 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 87,592 | 0.03% |
| 2017 | 86,983 | 0.03% |
Average student mentor salary over time
Student mentor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $33,392 | $16.05 | +1.9% |
| 2024 | $32,771 | $15.76 | +1.3% |
| 2023 | $32,352 | $15.55 | +1.6% |
| 2022 | $31,835 | $15.31 | +1.6% |
| 2021 | $31,347 | $15.07 | +1.7% |
Student mentor jobs by state
Most common states for student mentors
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware | 961,939 | 59 | 6% |
| 2 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 34 | 6% |
| 3 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 145 | 5% |
| 4 | Vermont | 623,657 | 31 | 5% |
| 5 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 73 | 4% |
| 6 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 39 | 4% |
| 7 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 31 | 4% |
| 8 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 28 | 4% |
| 9 | Alaska | 739,795 | 27 | 4% |
| 10 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 196 | 3% |
| 11 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 89 | 3% |
| 12 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 73 | 3% |
| 13 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 40 | 3% |
| 14 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 37 | 3% |
| 15 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 35 | 3% |
| 16 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 24 | 3% |
| 17 | New York | 19,849,399 | 402 | 2% |
| 18 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 139 | 2% |
| 19 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 65 | 2% |
| 20 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 28 | 2% |
Most common cities for student mentors
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nampa | 1 | 1% | $24,484 |
| 2 | Austin | 1 | 0% | $28,450 |
| 3 | New York | 1 | 0% | $39,979 |
Student Mentor job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of student mentor experts
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
University of Houston - Clear Lake
Beloit College
California State University - Los Angeles
High Point University
Southern Methodist University
University of Maine
Professor Purvi Shah
Associate Professor of MarketingWhat general advice would you give to a Student Mentor?
Professor Purvi Shah: These were the questions lined up: 1. What general advice would you give to a graduate beginning their career? 2. What skills do you think will become more important and prevalent in the field in the next 3-5 years? 3. How can you maximize your salary potential when starting your career?
What Student Mentor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Professor Purvi Shah: We will be sure to feature your response in the article and send a draft over for your review before we promote it.
What will help Student Mentors increase their earning potential?
Professor Purvi Shah: We've found we get better responses over email than the phone because it gives you some time to think about it.
What general advice would you give to a Student Mentor?
David Dunning: The classic skills people overlook are the soft ones: communication, time management, self-awareness of strengths and weaknesses, writing, and leadership. The important secret of life is that the better you are at technical skills, the more likely you are to be promoted to positions where they are less important. For the next 3-5 years, see what your mentors talk about and what your peers encounter. Get creative with new things. AI is entering the picture and the question is not how it can make your life easier but how it can help you do new and better things.
What Student Mentor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
David Dunning: Gain different types of experiences and acquire useful skills as you navigate the next phase.
What will help Student Mentors increase their earning potential?
David Dunning: Always good to have mentors--more than one--and a network of people (and perhaps university alumni) to talk to and compare notes. Get out, be seen.
Antonio Corrales
Doctoral Program Coordinator and Associate Professor of Educational LeadershipUniversity of Houston - Clear Lake
College of Education
What skills stand out on Student Mentor resumes?
Antonio Corrales: Educational adviser resumes need to focus on skills transferable to students. Specifically, aspects that can be transferable and relatable to student success. For example, advising, admissions, registration, testing center, student orientation, student activities, recreational sports, ability services, veterans, students with disabilities, grants, financial aid, and student discipline.
What soft skills should all Student Mentors possess?
Antonio Corrales: It is critical to show for how long one has served as a student advisor in one way or another. Also, it is important to show how many students one has advised, which academic programs, what degree plans, and the level of success within that advising.
What skills will help Student Mentors earn the most?
Antonio Corrales: Showing the capacity and experience to work with students and move them forwards with their careers.
Jingjing Lou Ph.D.
Chair and Associate ProfessorBeloit College
Department of Education & Youth Studies
What soft skills should all Student Mentors possess?
Jingjing Lou Ph.D.: 1) Productive Collaboration
2) Effective Communication
3) Creative Problem Solving
4) Intellectual and Professional Agility
What hard/technical skills are most important for Student Mentors?
Jingjing Lou Ph.D.: To go along with these soft skills, our students master hard skills such as communications (writings and presentations), quantitative thinking (a requirement for all requirements), and intercultural literacy (understanding and working with people from different contexts).
What skills will help Student Mentors earn the most?
Jingjing Lou Ph.D.: As our students received interdisciplinary education in addition to their education major, they often have very unique perspectives when examining issues in their work and can come up with creative and innovative solutions to problems. The soft skills and hard skills listed above are essential for our students' long-term career development when they grow into senior teachers, policymakers, school psychologists/counselors, social workers, and even in technology such as working for Facebook.
How have salaries changed over time for Student Mentors?
Dr. Ambika Raj Ph.D.: Unfortunately, salaries have not changed significantly at all. The pandemic has made all teachers/professors and instructors jobs triple - but the compensation is about the same. In fact, I would say many of the schools furloughed their teachers.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Student Mentor job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Ambika Raj Ph.D.: Given the pandemic, the biggest trend we are seeing in the job market for the field of curriculum and instruction is the need for qualified teachers who are comfortable teaching on an online platform. Last May, some colleges and universities included technology training such as a ACUE micro-credential in online teaching, promoting engaged and active online learning etc. These are nationally accredited credentials. And teachers/students who have taken these are at a definite advantage.
Another trend that we are seeing - everyone who has a computer and computer skills are offering classes of one sort or the other - they realize they can set up "office" simply by opening their computer. I know of at least a few teenagers who have done this with great success. High school seniors offering to teach/coach younger students, dance, music, theater, PE teachers having a side business teaching classes in the weekends online.
Currently, LAUSD in looking for qualified substitute teachers because schools have opened up in the larger LA area and only a few students can attend at a time. So in order to manage the days and not burnout teachers, many substitute teachers are being hired.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Student Mentors?
Dr. Ambika Raj Ph.D.: Certainly certifications that say that you have an online credential have the most impact. Our College has a wonderful online teaching program that they offer to students. Last summer we saw a rise in the number of applicants who wanted to become teachers - both in the credential as well as bachelors/masters programs.
William (Bill) Gentry Ph.D.
Assistant Vice PresidentHigh Point University
Career and Professional Development
What will help Student Mentors increase their earning potential?
William (Bill) Gentry Ph.D.: Philosophy majors are employable in a variety of fields such as education, law, ethics, business, religious-affiliated areas, community services, government, and communications to name a few. A 538 article in 2015 showed that philosophy majors have the fourth-highest median earnings for those with only undergraduate degrees. The Winter 2020 National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) salary survey indicated philosophy majors have the highest mean and median salary across all humanities majors and is comparable to other majors as well. To increase their earning potential, we encourage our students to focus on life skills that can separate themselves from all the others who are applying to the job. How can you showcase pertinent life skills that philosophy majors are known for - such as resiliency, the flexibility and capacity for growth, analytical, organizational and research skills like idea generation, problem formulation and problem solving, persuasion, and communication skills - on your brand documents like your resume, cover letter, LinkedIn, or in interviews? Specifically, how can you display that you have learned and developed those skills inside and outside the classroom in strong bullet points on your resume or in your cover letter? How can you clearly articulate how you've displayed or enhanced those skills through your classwork, internships, jobs, volunteer work, or other experiences in answering interview questions like "Tell me about yourself" or "What are your strengths?" or "Tell me about a time you had to influence others?" A GPA will likely get your foot in the door, but the ability to demonstrate these important like skills on paper, online, and in person in networking and interviewing will show others that you will be successful not just on day one of the job, but be seen as a high potential in your fist year, five years, and beyond.
John Potter
Clinical Associate ProfessorSouthern Methodist University
Department of Dispute Resolution and Counseling
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Student Mentors?
John Potter: Indeed. Current students have experienced multiple ways of learning, which they would not necessarily experience otherwise. And this provides more skills and a broader understanding of the modalities to use to help others in the future.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Student Mentors?
Crisanne Blackie: During the coronavirus pandemic, our graduates experienced many losses as they finished their final year of college. They have also been given opportunities to build new skills.This will be a memorable as well as formative time. Graduates have become resilient and have developed the capacity to adapt to change quickly. They will bring, to the workforce, a new outlook and adaptability. Graduates will find themselves in unexpected places and excel in ways that they would never have predicted and, in doing so, will achieve greatness.