Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Master's degree
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These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
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Counselors, all other work across a range of counseling roles that do not fall into more narrowly defined specialties. Nationally, this field employs about 69,000 people, with a median annual salary of $49,830. Employment is projected to grow by 12.6%, and there are an estimated 7,000 annual openings, indicating ongoing demand for new professionals. The work draws heavily on strong interpersonal abilities, speaking and listening skills, and adaptability, reflecting the people-focused nature of counseling. Success in this career also benefits from customer service orientation, clear writing and reading, creativity and innovation, and solid problem solving and decision making. Critical and analytical thinking and comfort with computers and information technology round out the skill profile. For people considering human services careers, this role can be weighed alongside similar paths such as community and social service specialists, substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors, social workers, and educational or career counselors when evaluating long-term fit and direction.
The national median annual salary for counselors, all other is $49,830, but earnings vary across states and metro areas. Among top states by opportunity score, median salaries range from $48,850 in California to $69,530 in Washington. Massachusetts and New York are similar in pay at $58,240 and $58,500 respectively, while Colorado stands out with $66,680. At the metro level, some areas offer notably higher median salaries. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA reports $83,930, and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV shows $70,610. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ offers $63,300, while San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH are at $54,820 and $58,250. These figures show that local pay can be substantially above or below the national median, so job seekers may want to compare offers and locations carefully when planning where to work.
Counselors, all other have a national employment base of about 69,000, with projected employment growth of 12.6%. This same 12.6% growth rate appears across the highlighted states and metro areas, suggesting consistent expectations for expansion in different regions. An estimated 7,000 annual openings nationwide indicate recurring opportunities, which can come from a mix of new positions and turnover in existing roles. For individuals planning a career move or long-term path in counseling-related work, this combination of current employment size and projected growth points to a field with ongoing hiring needs. The availability of similar occupations—such as community and social service specialists, substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors, mental health and substance abuse social workers, educational and career counselors, and other social workers—also gives candidates multiple adjacent options to explore within a broader helping-professions labor market as they monitor trends and job postings over time.
Location makes a clear difference for counselors, all other in both pay and opportunity scores. Among states, California has the largest employment level at 10,770 and an opportunity score of 67.38, with a median salary of $48,850. Massachusetts and New York show higher median pay ($58,240 and $58,500) but much smaller listed employment counts, and both have opportunity scores in the mid-60s. Colorado and Washington stand out for higher median salaries of $66,680 and $69,530, though with more modest employment levels and lower opportunity scores than California and Massachusetts. At the metro level, several areas combine strong salaries with high opportunity scores. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA leads with an opportunity score of 77.42 and a median salary of $83,930. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro is similar in opportunity score (77.27) with a median salary of $63,300. Other metros such as San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV; and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH also offer notable opportunities with varying balances of pay and employment size.
The typical education for counselors, all other is a master’s degree, which signals a graduate-level commitment to entering and advancing in this field. This education level aligns with the broad and demanding skill set associated with the role. Core skills include interpersonal strengths and speaking and listening abilities, which support effective interactions with clients and colleagues. Adaptability and customer service skills help counselors work with diverse individuals and situations. Writing and reading are also important, indicating that clear documentation and understanding of written materials play a meaningful role. Creativity and innovation, along with critical and analytical thinking, contribute to addressing complex issues and situations. Problem solving and decision making are central to navigating choices and options in counseling contexts. Finally, comfort with computers and information technology and leadership skills round out the profile, suggesting that graduate programs and professional development paths that build these competencies can support success in this occupation.
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