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Job outlook for youth mentors in the United States
Youth mentor job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected youth mentor job growth rate is 12% from 2018-2028.
About 52,400 new jobs for youth mentors are projected over the next decade.
Youth mentor salaries have increased 13% for youth mentors in the last 5 years.
There are over 28,036 youth mentors currently employed in the United States.
There are 68,561 active youth mentor job openings in the US.
The average youth mentor salary is $32,750.
Are youth mentor jobs in demand?
Youth mentor job and salary trends over time
Youth mentor jobs over time
Youth mentor job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 28,036 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 27,270 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 27,289 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 26,571 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 25,444 | 0.01% |
Average youth mentor salary over time
Youth mentor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $32,750 | $15.75 | +2.6% |
| 2024 | $31,931 | $15.35 | +3.9% |
| 2023 | $30,738 | $14.78 | +1.9% |
| 2022 | $30,164 | $14.50 | +4.1% |
| 2021 | $28,971 | $13.93 | +3.2% |
Youth mentor jobs by state
Most common states for youth mentors
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 2,458 | 36% |
| 2 | Alaska | 739,795 | 177 | 24% |
| 3 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 233 | 17% |
| 4 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 947 | 16% |
| 5 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 101 | 15% |
| 6 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 147 | 14% |
| 7 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 652 | 12% |
| 8 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 647 | 12% |
| 9 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 236 | 12% |
| 10 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 159 | 12% |
| 11 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 126 | 12% |
| 12 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 826 | 11% |
| 13 | Delaware | 961,939 | 106 | 11% |
| 14 | Vermont | 623,657 | 70 | 11% |
| 15 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 911 | 10% |
| 16 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 670 | 10% |
| 17 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 369 | 10% |
| 18 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 292 | 10% |
| 19 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 165 | 10% |
| 20 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 75 | 10% |
Most common cities for youth mentors
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Plant City | 2 | 5% | $27,300 |
| 2 | Dedham | 1 | 4% | $32,281 |
| 3 | Cedar City | 1 | 3% | $28,595 |
| 4 | Warminster | 1 | 3% | $30,160 |
| 5 | Provo | 2 | 2% | $27,445 |
| 6 | Millcreek | 1 | 2% | $27,336 |
| 7 | Peabody | 1 | 2% | $32,274 |
| 8 | West Palm Beach | 1 | 1% | $27,322 |
| 9 | Westland | 1 | 1% | $31,904 |
Youth Mentor job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of youth mentor experts
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
University of New Orleans
Concordia University Irvine
Presbyterian College
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
The University of Findlay
AAMFT
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Vanguard University
Professor Purvi Shah
Associate Professor of MarketingWhat general advice would you give to a Youth 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 Youth 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 Youth 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 Youth 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 Youth 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 Youth 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.
What will help Youth Mentors increase their earning potential?
Emily Yowell Ph.D.: Psychologists should be aware of what others in their field are making for similar positions. It is important to ask for what your work is worth in an initial position to assure raises are based on a solid starting salary. Newer psychologists may also consider asking for an early review that prompts an early conversation around potential raises, bonus, or other job benefits.
What will help Youth Mentors increase their earning potential?
Christopher Todd Belser Ph.D.: In many states and districts, school counselor salaries are based on a set pay scale, so earning potential is more tied to getting a school counseling job and keeping that job. New graduates often face the dreaded critique of lacking work experience as compared to more seasoned job candidates. However, newer graduates are also more likely to have been trained to design and deliver multi-tiered interventions and more trained on how to utilize school data to drive school counseling programming. Job candidates looking to stand out will need to be able to concretely discuss how their training will help solve issues that the school is facing, which does involve doing a bit of research on the school to which one is applying. Additionally, graduates need to recognize the importance of ongoing professional development--trainings, workshops, and certifications that equip school counselors to address unique circumstances of the school can only increase a person's effectiveness and longevity as a school counselor. Although grants and other external funding typically don't increase salaries for school counselors, these funding opportunities can help purchase evidence-based programs, support interventions, and buy other necessary materials that can make a school counselor's work a little bit easier. Lastly, school counselors can consider pursuing a doctorate degree in a related field (e.g., counselor education and supervision, educational leadership) to enhance their skills and expertise, open doors for new work opportunities and promotions, and possibly move them up on a pay scale.
What's a good job out of college for Youth Mentors?
Michael Eschelbach Ph.D.: A good job out of college is any job, some might argue. A better job would be one that employs what you studied in college because it asks you to do what you prepared to do. A still better job is one that offers the opportunity to use the whole college experience in problem-solving, creativity, interpersonal relationships - learning, thinking, and communication skills that allow you to see an opportunity, be inspired by it, and pursue it.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Youth Mentor job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Carla Alphonso: I expect more remote work options and also more jobs opening in health care and social services. Not only due to the pandemic but to the aging of the babyboomers. We will see a greater need for medical social workers, hospital administration, and non-profit administration (and especially in the nursing home/assisted living sector). Contact tracing and research on human social behaviors during the pandemic will continue to be important.
What skills stand out on Youth Mentor resumes?
Dr. Carla Alphonso: Skills involving data collection and analysis remain important, and are one of the qualities that help sociology majors to stand out compared to their peers. Communication skills, especially strong writing skills but also confident, effective public speaking, are helpful in today's job market. Sociology students are also well-positioned in terms of problem solving and critical thinking skills. Many jobs that our students enter need applicants who are solutions-focused, and sociology helps students in that area.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Youth Mentors to find work opportunities?
Dr. Carla Alphonso: Sociology students can easily find work wherever there are people and wherever there are social problems. In other words, just about anywhere! Again, due to the aging of the babyboom generation, I would recommend areas that have large proportions of elderly including Florida, Maine, and West Virginia. More jobs may be available in urban areas, but there are needs for workers with sociology skills in rural areas, too. More social services and non-profits are located in urban areas and especially in/around state capitals.
Kenneth Coley
Senior Professor of Christian Education, Director of Ed.D. StudiesSoutheastern Baptist Theological Seminary
Christian Education
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Youth Mentor job market given the pandemic?
Kenneth Coley: In our field of religious education, we see trends that are unique to the pandemic and the ripple effect as people consider returning to church. Consistent with every generation of local church ministry pastors and leaders must be passionate about their calling to serve God and His people, have a strong understanding of Scripture, and a servant's heart to shepherd God's people. In the current season these professional and personal qualities need to be communicated digitally and virtually, and this isn't going away.
With many community schools closed, parents are anxious to have their children welcomed back to church in safe environments. Many families will select the church that best meets the needs of their children and teens. Many people are looking for ministers to lead groups who can assist members of their community in serious need of basic food, shelter, and academic tutoring. And with many people being isolated there is an increased need for counseling for both individuals and couples. (Unfortunately, some are predicting an increase in divorce and abuse.)
What skills stand out on Youth Mentor resumes?
Kenneth Coley: As is the case in any generation-does your resume reveal that you love God's church and His people? Serving. Leading. Teaching. Witnessing in your community and internationally. In a paid capacity is preferred, but even in a volunteer position. Now enter COVID...can you do this creatively? Are you an effective communicator in writing, on camera, and in virtual groups? What technology training do you have?
Effective teaching skills are crucial especially when it comes to engaging group members. As people return, we are seeing an incredible hunger to reconnect with other believers. Teaching that includes engagement and collaboration is essential.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Youth Mentors to find work opportunities?
Kenneth Coley: Our Doctor of Education students are having great success at getting positions in higher education, particularly in Online Instruction. Colleges, universities, and seminaries of all sizes are hiring teachers who can be Subject Matter Experts, Instructional Design planners, and teachers who deliver the lessons. Another growing area of opportunity is private schools in locations where public schools have closed their buildings and gone 100% virtual. We are hearing that these schools are experiencing strong increase in enrollment and hiring teachers and administrators.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Youth Mentor job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Louis Stulman Ph.D.: First, let me say that, like many fields of study, it has been quite challenging for graduates in biblical studies to enter the job market during the pandemic. However, many undergraduates in biblical studies continue their education at seminary in preparation for careers in church-related professions. Others do graduate work for the M.A. and Ph.D. in preparation for teaching positions in colleges, universities, and seminaries. Some do both: they pursue a M.Div. degree, which is the basic degree required by many denominations for ordination and ministry, and a Ph.D which is a prerequisite for teaching in higher education. I should say that still others enter the job market directly and well prepared due to their strong humanities education, which focuses on writing, critical thinking, and understanding diverse religious and cultural traditions, as well as their work in the major, which concentrates on interdisciplinary skills, reading texts proficiently, and engaging in questions of meaning, morality, and service.
What skills stand out on Youth Mentor resumes?
Dr. Louis Stulman Ph.D.: All of these skills stand out on resumes as well as language proficiency in Hebrew for reading the Old Testament and Greek for reading the New Testament, as well as community service, strong interpersonal skills, and travel and cultural immersion experiences.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Youth Mentors to find work opportunities?
Dr. Louis Stulman Ph.D.: We often tell Religious Studies majors to build bridges wherever they find themselves, including and especially their local communities, but at the same time, not to hesitate to venture beyond their "comfortable worlds" to unfamiliar places inundated with needs.
How do you envision technology impacting Youth Mentors in the next 5 years?
Shelley Hanson: Technology is opening doors to innovative methods of training - such as simulation wherein students can practice their skill-building through avatar sessions - to online learning and association connectivity and community. Additionally, the confluence of technology and a global pandemic has shed light on what is possible in addressing the much-needed access to mental health. It is clear that there is a great need for license portability - crossing state lines - so that through the use of teletherapy, any person needing access can choose their mental health provider. Insurance companies must re-envision coverage of mental health so that under-addressed - or unaddressed - mental health does not result in physical health issues, which are much more costly. As a couple and family therapist, technology provides a seamless path to connecting persons across geographical locals to do their relational health work through teletherapy, which addresses and promotes mental health.
The use of non-traditional approaches to mental health - such as apps - is also bringing opportunities and challenges. Mental health professionals, such as Marriage and Family Therapists, go through rigorous education, training, and years of supervision to be fully qualified to address mental health needs in individuals, couples, and families. Through the new venues of technology, the public may be receiving "help" through unqualified persons who may help or actually do harm. Additionally, the costs of some of these access points undermine the living wage required for a professional.
What experience really stands out on Youth Mentor resumes?
Shelley Hanson: The world is shaping the demand in mental health, so areas of need include training/experience in substance abuse, trauma, diversity, cultural humility; working with marginalized communities such as LGBTQ, impoverished/homeless, children, families, couples; strong knowledge of therapeutic models that produce change; and evidence of being an ongoing, receptive learner.
What type of skills will young Youth Mentors 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.
Dr. Tommy Casarez Ph.D.
Dr., Assistant Professor of Historical and Systematic TheologyVanguard University
Religion, Undergraduate Religion
What general advice would you give to a Youth Mentor?
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.