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Job outlook for student success counselors in the United States
Are student success counselor jobs in demand?
Student success counselor job and salary trends over time
Student success counselor jobs over time
Student success counselor job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,154 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 1,138 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 1,155 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 1,112 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 1,057 | 0.00% |
Average student success counselor salary over time
Student success counselor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $42,838 | $20.60 | +1.9% |
| 2025 | $42,042 | $20.21 | +1.3% |
| 2024 | $41,504 | $19.95 | +1.6% |
| 2023 | $40,841 | $19.63 | +1.6% |
| 2022 | $40,214 | $19.33 | +1.7% |
Student success counselor jobs by state
Most common states for student success counselors
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 180 | 26% |
| 2 | Delaware | 961,939 | 120 | 12% |
| 3 | Vermont | 623,657 | 63 | 10% |
| 4 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 57 | 10% |
| 5 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 356 | 9% |
| 6 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 306 | 9% |
| 7 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 97 | 9% |
| 8 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 66 | 9% |
| 9 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 528 | 8% |
| 10 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 526 | 8% |
| 11 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 428 | 8% |
| 12 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 235 | 8% |
| 13 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 103 | 8% |
| 14 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 89 | 8% |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 951 | 7% |
| 16 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 598 | 7% |
| 17 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 530 | 7% |
| 18 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 364 | 7% |
| 19 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 212 | 7% |
| 20 | Alaska | 739,795 | 52 | 7% |
Most common cities for student success counselors
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Marcos | 1 | 1% | $50,757 |
| 2 | Waterloo | 1 | 1% | $39,434 |
| 3 | Anchorage | 1 | 0% | $40,000 |
| 4 | Atlanta | 1 | 0% | $34,192 |
| 5 | Denver | 1 | 0% | $37,648 |
| 6 | San Diego | 1 | 0% | $50,604 |
| 7 | San Jose | 1 | 0% | $54,416 |
| 8 | Washington | 1 | 0% | $59,358 |
Student Success Counselor job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of student success counselor experts
Saint Xavier University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
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Montana State University
Kent State University
What will help Student Success Counselors increase their earning potential?
Kristen Toole: Post-pandemic disparities have highlighted the necessity of prioritizing mental health and the
need for more mental health providers (Fink-Samnick, 2023; Health Resources & Services
Administration, 2023). The counseling field is expected to outpace the national average for
occupational growth six-fold over the next ten years (U.S. Department of Labor, 2022). There is
no question that counselors are in demand, but there are still a few strategies for new
professionals to maximize their salary potential.
A growing number of students are entering counseling graduate programs, having completed
undergraduate minors and focus areas in related fields. This is fantastic conceptually and can be
a vital strategy for enhancing their counseling work. Skill building is one way to optimize
success and salary.
Some graduate programs, like Xavier's, offer options for obtaining additional certifications along
the way to a master's degree. In Xavier's counseling program, students can choose courses that
allow them to get certificates in addiction counseling and medical trauma-informed care. For
clinical mental health counselors, this is an excellent way to demonstrate skill mastery, and for
school counselors, it provides a unique opportunity to broaden their scope of practice. Either
way, additional certifications exhibit a commitment that potential employers can appreciate.
Counselors who are well-informed about their market value and earning potential can engage in
informed offer negotiations. Additional skills are one way beginning professionals can increase
their starting salary. However, it is important to remember that total earnings include several
elements, and salary is just one piece of that puzzle.
Counselors are immensely versatile and can find work in various settings, so they need to
understand their options in addition to their earning potential. Benefits, schedule, and location
are other things that can impact the earnings bottom line and are essential to consider. Finally,
counselors must know themselves: personality, interests, work values, and abilities impact job fit
and, ultimately, work satisfaction. These are crucial considerations for mitigating compassion
fatigue (Stamm, 2010), which can limit counselors' longevity.
New professionals must research and reflect as they enter the job market. There are many things
to consider when choosing a job, and it can feel overwhelming. Thankfully, various resources,
such as the Occupational Outlook Handbook, O*Net, Glassdoor, and Monster, offer
indispensable tools and information to job seekers.
What type of skills will young Student Success 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 Student Success 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 Student Success 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.