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School Guidance Counselor

šŸ’° Earn $67K-$122K
šŸ“š Master Degree
ā±ļø 48 Month Training
šŸ“ˆ 3.5% Job Growth
  • Inspire and guide students to achieve their educational and career goals.
  • Make a positive impact by supporting students through academic and personal challenges.
  • Unique role in identifying and addressing students' diverse needs and potential.
School Guidance Counselor
What School Guidance Counselors DoAdvise and assist students and provide educational and vocational guidance services.
  • Provide crisis intervention to students when difficult situations occur at schools.
  • Confer with parents or guardians, teachers, administrators, and other professionals to discuss children's progress, resolve behavioral, academic, and other problems, and to determine priorities for students and their resource needs.
  • Identify cases of domestic abuse or other family problems and encourage students or parents to seek additional assistance from mental health professionals.
  • Counsel individuals to help them understand and overcome personal, social, or behavioral problems affecting their educational or vocational situations.
  • Counsel students regarding educational issues, such as course and program selection, class scheduling and registration, school adjustment, truancy, study habits, and career planning.
School Guidance Counselors Education, Salary, and Growth
Minimum EducationMaster Degree
Career ProspectsExcellent (Increasing by 5% or more)
Training TimeOver 4 years
Job Openings31,000 Annually
Median Earnings
$94,320 in California
$65,140 Nationally

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Is This Career Right For You?
YOU Like
  • Relating with or serving others
you value
  • Accomplishing things
  • Job security
  • Personal relationships
you are skilled in
  • Active Listening
  • Critical Thinking
  • Social Perceptiveness
  • Speaking
  • Monitoring
  • Reading Comprehension
Go Deeper: School Guidance Counselors Explained
School Guidance CounselorExplore career pathways, key skills, and what each role has to offer.
How Do You Train for This Career?

Learn about the education and training paths that can lead to this career — and what to expect from each one.

Associate's DegreeAn associate's degree typically provides graduates with foundational knowledge and skills for entry-level jobs in the graduate's industry, or serves as a stepping stone towards further education.
šŸŽ“ College
ā±ļø Finish in 2-3 years
Bachelor's DegreeA bachelor's degree typically results in increased knowledge about a variety of academic subjects, specialized knowledge in a focused field of study, and is considered the foundational qualification for many careers.
šŸŽ“ College
ā±ļø Finish in 4-5+ years
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Updated April 2026. Data sourced from O*NET and Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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School Guidance Counselor | Explore this Career