Education
School Counselor
School counselors help students navigate academics, college and career planning, and personal challenges. People-centered work with strong meaning and stability.
Median salary (BLS)
$61,000
10th–90th percentile (BLS)
$45k – $90k
Job outlook
+5% (faster than average)
AI exposure
Early-career check: graduates of the matching programs below typically earn $85,000 ten years after starting college — an early-career figure, vs. the all-experience BLS median above. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard.
Plan a path to School Counselor
Education
Typical entry: Master's degree
Master's in school counseling plus state certification.
Plan my path to this →How to qualify
EstimateLicense requiredCost to qualify
$64,100–$230,700
Time to qualify
6.3 yr
Renewal
$20/yr
- 1
Bachelor's degree
DegreeFour years at public in-state rates — average published tuition & fees ≈ $11,610/yr, plus books. Private and out-of-state run higher; grant aid lowers most students' actual net price.
$40,000–$150,000 · 4 years source
- 2
Master's degree
DegreeTypically two years; average graduate tuition ≈ $20,000/yr at public universities (NCES).
$24,000–$80,000 · 2 years source
- 3
State teaching certification
LicenseApproved educator-prep program, pedagogy & subject exams, background check, and a state application.
$100–$700 · 3 months · varies by state · renews every 5 yr source
Estimated typical U.S. route for "School Counselor" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.
Typical progression
Junior School Counselor
Entry / Junior
$45,000
~2 yrs to advance
School Counselor
Established
$61,000
~3 yrs to advance
Senior School Counselor
Senior
$75,500
Key skills
A typical day
- •Meet with students
- •Guide course and college planning
- •Support wellbeing
Fields of study
Counseling · Psychology · Education
Top colleges for Education
Explore all- University of Michigan18% admit · $87,000 grad pay
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill19% admit · $73,000 grad pay
- University of Wisconsin–Madison49% admit · $72,000 grad pay
- Vanderbilt University7% admit · $88,000 grad pay
- University of Virginia19% admit · $85,000 grad pay
Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.