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What is a student services advisor and how to become one
In an educational institution, the student services advisor is in charge of addressing the non-academic concerns of students. Among their duties are providing guidance counseling, helping students with career planning, discussing student progress with parents and other staff, and evaluating students' abilities, interests, talents, and personalities.
Furthermore, a student services advisor is responsible for identifying signs of domestic abuse, illicit drug use, involvement in gangs, and other possible crises that students are going through. They are almost always obligated to notify the authorities and other school officials if such signs are detected in a student, and may also be responsible for directing students to social or mental health services.
If you think that this is the right career for you, you need at least a bachelor's or associate's degree in a relevant field to attain this role. More than that, you must have experience working in a secondary or tertiary education setting, preferably in a similar job position.
With this role, you can earn around $41,000 per year, on average. If you want to have a higher earning potential than that, you can pursue a higher level of education or gain more experience in a role similar to that of a student services advisor.
What's a day at work look like for a student services advisor?
William (Bill) Gentry Ph.D.
Assistant Vice President, High Point University
Avg. Salary $43,039
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 10%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.62%
Asian 3.74%
Black or African American 10.64%
Hispanic or Latino 14.20%
Unknown 3.76%
White 67.03%
Genderfemale 66.30%
male 33.70%
Age - 41American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 41Stress level is very high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is advanced
7 - challenging
Work life balance is fair
6.4 - fair
Student services advisor career paths
Key steps to become a student services advisor
Explore student services advisor education requirements
Start to develop specific student services advisor skills
Skills Percentages Student Services 24.54% Financial Aid 18.22% Customer Service 4.33% Academic Programs 3.66% Student Events 3.56% Complete relevant student services advisor training and internships
Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New student services advisors 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 student services advisor based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real student services advisor resumes.Research student services advisor duties and responsibilities
- Coach and mentore students in determining optimal course of study to achieve specific career performance goals and certifications.
- Adhere to and comply with FERPA guidelines and confidentiality.
- Have the ability to call, email and meet students and family members face to face under FERPA regulations.
- Partner with ESL schools and community colleges for international student transfers, enhancing international student community standing within the larger population.
Prepare your student services advisor resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your student services advisor 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 student services advisor resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable student services advisor resume templates
Build a professional student services advisor 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 student services advisor resume.
Apply for student services advisor jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a student services advisor job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first student services advisor job
Are you a student services advisor?
Share your story for a free salary report.
Average student services advisor salary
The average student services advisor salary in the United States is $43,039 per year or $21 per hour. Student services advisor salaries range between $33,000 and $55,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do student services advisors rate their job?
Student services advisor reviews
I love working in a university setting; I love working with people, and especially, students!
The current university student population is lacking in personal responsibility and critical thinking/problem solving. Some of them need constant hand-holding.
I like to work with students and their families
Want to be able to do more
Working closely with students and assisting them with resources.
The pay. I feel that I don't get paid nearly enough for the amount of work that I do and my responsibilities. I'm expected to be a counselor, security guard, nurse, baby sitter, IT, etc.
Updated January 8, 2025
