Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors
Also called: Academic Advisor, Career Counselor, Guidance Counselor, School CounselorAdvise and assist students and provide educational and vocational guidance services.
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What the data says: AI could halve the time on 14 of its 33 rated tasks, and jobs are projected to grow 2.9% by 2035. In the most exposed occupations, the squeeze shows up first among early-career workers. How to think about this →
About this projection
BLS builds AI into its projections where the research supports it: “BLS generally applies adjustments based on this research conservatively, where there is convincing evidence for a change.”
It also notes a limit: “BLS projection methods are not designed to capture extremely rapid technological change.”
On its AI exposure groups, BLS says exposure “does not imply job loss.”
Recent conditions
- In 2024, 1.4% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024
- From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 7.8 hires for every 10 job openings in private educational services, which employs about 90% of people in this work, against 7.3 across all industries BLS JOLTS
One box per opening, filled for each hire; hires beyond the openings are added in a lighter shade. Higher can mean openings get filled, or that people leave often; lower, that jobs go unfilled, or hiring is slow.7.8 this industry7.3 all industries
Median pay by state BLS OEWS May 2025, state estimates
Tap a state for its figures.
Median pay in every state
| State | Median | Middle half earn | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $59,570 | $45,590 to $73,450 | 4,410 |
| Alaska | $82,900 | $63,290 to $97,820 | 540 |
| Arizona | $58,250 | $49,590 to $68,390 | 7,330 |
| Arkansas | $59,770 | $46,610 to $67,570 | 2,310 |
| California | $86,500 | $63,910 to $119,790 | 45,140 |
| Colorado | $64,780 | $57,640 to $78,420 | 6,530 |
| Connecticut | $73,910 | $56,820 to $95,940 | 3,370 |
| Delaware | $74,070 | $59,700 to $88,900 | 1,700 |
| District of Columbia | $80,470 | $61,710 to $103,030 | 1,690 |
| Florida | $53,140 | $46,800 to $66,800 | 22,800 |
| Georgia | $63,720 | $49,000 to $79,140 | 11,460 |
| Guam | not published | not published | 40 |
| Hawaii | $61,730 | $51,600 to $88,140 | 1,620 |
| Idaho | $60,320 | $51,060 to $72,680 | 1,990 |
| Illinois | $62,420 | $49,720 to $82,890 | 13,580 |
| Indiana | $59,260 | $47,700 to $71,860 | 5,610 |
| Iowa | $56,540 | $48,310 to $65,820 | 3,690 |
| Kansas | $56,590 | $48,150 to $67,150 | 3,100 |
| Kentucky | $64,350 | $49,080 to $78,580 | 5,030 |
| Louisiana | $61,870 | $50,770 to $75,030 | 4,820 |
| Maine | $58,630 | $49,270 to $74,330 | 1,780 |
| Maryland | $75,820 | $61,410 to $97,940 | 6,600 |
| Massachusetts | $79,930 | $65,810 to $100,580 | 11,460 |
| Michigan | $59,440 | $47,290 to $75,870 | 9,170 |
| Minnesota | $64,600 | $57,390 to $78,100 | 4,200 |
| Mississippi | $58,710 | $46,430 to $66,220 | 2,620 |
| Missouri | $58,040 | $47,620 to $65,150 | 8,890 |
| Montana | $57,900 | $46,630 to $79,440 | 890 |
| Nebraska | $62,500 | $48,380 to $80,180 | 2,190 |
| Nevada | $66,710 | $56,270 to $86,640 | 2,250 |
| New Hampshire | $71,080 | $57,090 to $82,500 | 1,650 |
| New Jersey | $77,910 | $64,160 to $98,490 | 8,190 |
| New Mexico | $77,880 | $54,110 to $87,190 | 1,780 |
| New York | $71,610 | $57,550 to $93,540 | 23,380 |
| North Carolina | $57,630 | $46,820 to $63,460 | 9,430 |
| North Dakota | $58,960 | $49,870 to $73,860 | 840 |
| Ohio | $61,760 | $48,660 to $80,120 | 13,250 |
| Oklahoma | $52,040 | $45,980 to $64,430 | 4,830 |
| Oregon | $66,690 | $59,130 to $94,430 | 3,990 |
| Pennsylvania | $60,880 | $51,160 to $78,460 | 13,570 |
| Puerto Rico | $53,000 | $35,020 to $61,090 | 1,050 |
| Rhode Island | $75,000 | $58,710 to $90,080 | 1,340 |
| South Carolina | $60,340 | $47,970 to $75,780 | 6,460 |
| South Dakota | $51,830 | $46,550 to $60,080 | 1,000 |
| Tennessee | $59,960 | $48,460 to $69,820 | 6,470 |
| Texas | $67,900 | $49,770 to $82,460 | 31,730 |
| Utah | $61,320 | $48,660 to $80,610 | 4,070 |
| Vermont | $64,570 | $57,720 to $78,800 | 1,120 |
| Virgin Islands | $62,470 | $48,600 to $68,240 | 90 |
| Virginia | $67,660 | $55,880 to $83,440 | 9,450 |
| Washington | $82,670 | $65,470 to $104,690 | 6,610 |
| West Virginia | $55,520 | $44,700 to $62,220 | 1,260 |
| Wisconsin | $62,690 | $54,010 to $77,080 | 5,330 |
| Wyoming | $63,430 | $57,730 to $74,840 | 770 |
Nationally: $64,330. Shades run from the lowest state median to the highest; a territory below that range takes the lightest. How to read this
How AI touches the work
What AI could speed up, task by task, and where people already use it.
AI could halve the time on 14 of its 33 rated tasks
| AI rating | Its main tasks | Share of Claude conversations May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| AI alone | Counsel students regarding educational issues, such as course and program selection, class scheduling and registration, school adjustment, truancy, study habits, and career planning. | 0.02% |
| AI + software | Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations. | Not published |
| Not rated | Counsel individuals or groups to help them understand and overcome personal, social, or behavioral problems affecting their educational or vocational situations. | 0.06% |
| Not much | Prepare students for later educational experiences by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks. | Not published |
| Not much | Provide crisis intervention to students when difficult situations occur at schools. | Not published |
| Not rated | Refer students to outside counseling services. | Not published |
See all 35 tasks
| Not much | Attend meetings, educational conferences, and training workshops, and serve on committees. | Not published |
| AI alone | Provide students with information on topics such as college degree programs and admission requirements, financial aid opportunities, trade and technical schools, and apprenticeship programs. | 0.02% |
| AI alone | Refer students to degree programs based on interests, aptitudes, or educational assessments. | Not published |
| AI alone | Review transcripts to ensure that students meet graduation or college entrance requirements, and write letters of recommendation. | Not published |
| Not much | Evaluate students' or individuals' abilities, interests, and personality characteristics, using tests, records, interviews, or professional sources. | 0.01% |
| AI alone | Assess needs for assistance, such as rehabilitation, financial aid, or additional vocational training, and refer clients to the appropriate services. | Not published |
| Not much | Plan and conduct orientation programs and group conferences to promote the adjustment of individuals to new life experiences, such as starting college. | Not published |
| AI + software | Conduct follow-up interviews with counselees to determine if their needs have been met. | Not published |
| Not much | Address community groups, faculty, and staff members to explain available counseling services. | Not published |
| Not much | Teach classes and present self-help or information sessions on subjects related to education and career planning. | Not published |
| Not much | Identify cases of domestic abuse or other family problems and encourage students or parents to seek additional assistance from mental health professionals. | Not published |
| Not much | Instruct individuals in career development techniques, such as job search and application strategies, resume writing, and interview skills. | under 0.01% |
| AI alone | Plan, direct, and participate in recruitment and enrollment activities. | Not published |
| AI alone | Prepare reports on students and activities as required by administration. | under 0.01% |
| Not much | 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. | Not published |
| AI + software | Plan and promote career and employment-related programs and events, such as career planning presentations, work experience programs, job fairs, and career workshops. | Not published |
| AI alone | Collaborate with teachers and administrators in the development, evaluation, and revision of school programs and in the preparation of master schedules for curriculum offerings. | Not published |
| Not much | Provide students with disabilities with assistive devices, supportive technology, and assistance accessing facilities, such as restrooms. | Not published |
| AI alone | Provide information for teachers and staff members involved in helping students or graduates identify and pursue employment opportunities. | Not published |
| Not much | Supervise, train, and direct professional staff and interns. | Not published |
| Not much | Establish and enforce administration policies and rules governing student behavior. | Not published |
| Not much | Compile and study occupational, educational, and economic information to assist counselees in determining and carrying out vocational and educational objectives. | 0.09% |
| Not much | Sponsor extracurricular activities, such as clubs, student organizations, and academic contests. | Not published |
| AI + software | Establish and supervise peer-counseling and peer-tutoring programs. | Not published |
| AI alone | Refer qualified counselees to employers or employment services for job placement. | Not published |
| Not much | Observe students during classroom and play activities to evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health. | Not published |
| Not much | Provide special services such as alcohol and drug prevention programs and classes that teach students to handle conflicts without resorting to violence. | Not published |
| Not much | Establish contacts with employers to create internship and employment opportunities for students. | Not published |
| Not much | Interview clients to obtain information about employment history, educational background, and career goals, and to identify barriers to employment. | under 0.01% |
Ordered by how important O*NET's respondents rate each task (1 to 5) times the share who say it is part of their job. The ordering is ours. 8 of the 35 have a published share of Claude conversations; “not published” means too few conversations for Anthropic to publish a figure.
Where people already use AI
The tasks above say what AI could speed up. This shows what people are using it for. Its 35 tasks fall under 26 work activities that many occupations share, and Microsoft counted how often each one came up in 200,000 conversations with its Copilot assistant in 2024.
- #4 Maintain current knowledge in area of expertise
- #5 Provide information or assistance to the public
- #20 Present research or technical information
- and 3 more, in the table below
| Work activity | This occupation's tasks under it | People asked AI for help in 10,000 conversations |
AI did it for them in 10,000 conversations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advise others on educational or vocational matters | |||
| Assist others to access additional services or resources | |||
| Assess living, work, or social needs or status of individuals or communities | |||
| Develop public or community health programs | |||
| Counsel others about personal matters | |||
| Maintain current knowledge in area of expertise | |||
| Provide information or assistance to the public | |||
| Present research or technical information |
Show all 26 activities
| Teach academic or vocational subjects | |||
| Interview people to obtain information | |||
| Prepare legal or regulatory documents | |||
| Develop educational programs, plans, or procedures | |||
| Supervise personnel activities | |||
| Investigate individuals' background, behavior, or activities | |||
| Compile records, documentation, or other data | |||
| Analyze market or industry conditions | |||
| Promote products, services, or programs | |||
| Explain medical information to patients or family members | |||
| Monitor individual behavior or performance | |||
| Develop professional relationships or networks | |||
| Teach life skills | |||
| Assess student capabilities, needs, or performance | |||
| Train others on operational or work procedures | |||
| Assist individuals with special needs | |||
| Collaborate in the development of educational programs | |||
| Confer with healthcare or other professionals about patient care |
How people in this work use Claude
What people in this work made with Claude % of conversations
- Advice or a recommendation44%
- A plan or strategy16%
- A resume or job application8%
- An explanation or answer8%
- A document or report6%
How they worked with Claude
24% of these conversations were about work. Anthropic Economic Index, May 2026.
How to read this
Work activities come from O*NET, which links every task to the broader activities it involves. Microsoft's figures are for the activity across everyone who used Copilot, not for educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors specifically. Copilot is a general chat assistant; dedicated coding tools are not included, so programming help is under-counted here. Activities are listed by how many of this occupation's tasks fall under them.
The task ratings say whether AI could halve the time a task takes: on its own (“AI alone”), or with software built on it (“AI + software”). They were made by people in 2023 (Eloundou et al.). Claude's share is the task's share of all Claude.ai conversations in May 2026; Anthropic doesn't publish a task with too few conversations. None of these add up to the BLS exposure group, which combines five research measures.
More in the Guide: task ratings · task order · work activities · Copilot figures · Claude
High exposure doesn't mean fewer jobs
BLS projects most occupations in its two most exposed groups to grow: 141 of 206 rated Very high and 165 of 206 rated High. Each dot is one of the 831 occupations BLS rates.
Career moves into and out of this occupation
From moves between occupations found in online resumes, 2002–2016. Career changes only: a first job after school isn't a move.
Where people moved next
of 280,251 moves out
- 1 Postsecondary Teachers, All Other Very high +2.0% 6%
- 2 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 5%
- 3 Teachers and Instructors, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 3%
- 4 Education Administrators, Postsecondary High +1.8% 3%
- 5 Management Analysts Very high +10.1% 3%
Where people moved in from
of 277,438 moves in
- 1 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 4%
- 2 Postsecondary Teachers, All Other Very high +2.0% 3%
- 3 Teachers and Instructors, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 3%
- 4 Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive Very high -6.0% 3%
- 5 Office Clerks, General Very high -6.0% 3%
Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).
Education and training for the occupation
O*NET survey of workers in this occupation
- 3% associate's
- 0% post-master's certificate
- 97% not published
O*NET marks 97% of the answers as too uncertain to publish, so the parts shown don't add up to 100%.
O*NET 31.0 survey of workers in this occupation · 22 people answered.
Census survey (American Community Survey)
- 2% less than high school
- 5% high school
- 7% some college
- 2% associate's
- 24% bachelor's
- 55% master's
- 2% professional degree
- 2% doctorate
Census ACS 2024, all workers in this occupation · 4,278 people surveyed.
Why the two can differ
O*NET asks about 20 people in each occupation, which makes its shares uncertain, but it reports the exact occupation and counts certificates. The Census survey reaches thousands, but it groups some occupations together and counts degrees only. More in the Guide
Median pay by highest degree full-time, year-round · Census ACS 2024, all workers in this occupation
5 programs, such as Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services, College Student Counseling and Personnel Services and Student Counseling and Personnel Services, Other.
See all
- Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services
- College Student Counseling and Personnel Services
- Student Counseling and Personnel Services, Other
- School Psychology
- Executive/Career Coaching
Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023
60.6% this occupation
45.3% all occupations
| By kind | This occupation | All occupations |
|---|---|---|
| a license | 44.6% | 19.1% |
| a certification | 2.2% | 5.8% |
| an educational certificate | not published |
Share of jobs whose employer requires it. BLS doesn't say which credential. How to read this
Look up certifications, training and licenses U.S. Department of Labor
- Certification Finder ↗ certifications CareerOneStop lists for this occupation
- Training Finder ↗ schools and programs, nationwide; narrow the place there
- License Finder ↗ licenses by state
- Apprenticeship Finder ↗ DOL lists 1 registered apprenticeship in this occupation (COUNSELOR). Apprenticeship.gov can't be linked to one occupation, so search for “Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors” there.
These open in a new tab and send only the occupation's public code. More in the Guide
BLS AI exposure categories (Aug 2026) · BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 · O*NET 31.0 · Task ratings: Eloundou et al., Science (2024) · Microsoft "Working with AI" v1.1 · Anthropic Economic Index (2026-06-26) · Schubert, Stansbury and Taska · NCES CIP–SOC · Census ACS 2024 · BLS JOLTS · Brynjolfsson, Chandar and Chen, Stanford (Aug 2026)
See it online, and explore any career: https://www.pathmosaic.com/card/21-1012.00