What Do Guidance Counselors Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for guidance counselors?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what guidance counselors do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Guidance Counselors Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about guidance counselors by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Guidance Counselors advise and assist students and provide educational and vocational guidance services.
Popular Job Titles For Guidance Counselors
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- School Counselors
- Job Coaches
- Academic Advisors
- Admissions Counselors
- High School Counselors
- Counselors
- Career Coaches
- Enrollment Coordinators
- Career Advisors
- Elementary School Counselors
- Job Developers
- Admissions Advisors
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for guidance counselors can be found.
Best Industries for Guidance Counselors
Guidance Counselors Jobs By Industry
- Education and Hospitals (Local Government): 43.9%
- Education and Hospitals (State Government): 20.1%
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools: 14.3%
- Elementary and Secondary Schools: 6.2%
- Educational Support Services: 2.7%
- Vocational Rehabilitation Services: 2.4%
- Other: 10.4%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of guidance counselors can be found working in the Education and Hospitals (Local Government) sector. In 2023, about 43.9% of all jobs for guidance counselors were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Education and Hospitals (State Government) (20.1%), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (14.3%), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6.2%), Educational Support Services (2.7%) and Vocational Rehabilitation Services (2.4%).
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What Do Guidance Counselors Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what guidance counselors do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work guidance counselors do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that guidance counselors tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for guidance counselors, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Guidance Counselors
Based on 121,633 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Guidance Counselors
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Student Services | 21,915 | 18% |
| Academic Advising | 15,626 | 13% |
| School Counseling | 15,419 | 13% |
| Social Work | 12,713 | 10% |
| Psychology | 11,067 | 9% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Guidance Counselors
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 56,711 | 47% |
| Planning | 29,304 | 24% |
| Writing | 27,272 | 22% |
| Customer Service | 23,593 | 19% |
| Leadership | 23,487 | 19% |
Based on 121,633 job postings related to guidance counselors, student services was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 18% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for academic advising, school counseling, social work, psychology and marketing were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for guidance counselors, followed by planning, writing, customer service, leadership and advising.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Student Services | 21,915 | 18% |
| Academic Advising | 15,626 | 13% |
| School Counseling | 15,419 | 13% |
| Social Work | 12,713 | 10% |
| Psychology | 11,067 | 9% |
| Marketing | 11,055 | 9% |
| Case Management | 8,677 | 7% |
| Higher Education | 7,146 | 6% |
| Student Engagement | 6,450 | 5% |
| Student Information Systems | 6,437 | 5% |
| Mental Health | 6,362 | 5% |
| Human Services | 6,299 | 5% |
| Auditing | 6,229 | 5% |
| Customer Relationship Management | 5,672 | 5% |
| Project Management | 5,623 | 5% |
| Student Recruitment | 5,430 | 4% |
| Office Equipment | 5,347 | 4% |
| Data Analysis | 5,255 | 4% |
| Disabilities | 5,077 | 4% |
| Career Management | 5,049 | 4% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 56,711 | 47% |
| Planning | 29,304 | 24% |
| Writing | 27,272 | 22% |
| Customer Service | 23,593 | 19% |
| Leadership | 23,487 | 19% |
| Advising | 22,557 | 19% |
| Management | 22,251 | 18% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 20,924 | 17% |
| Presentations | 18,276 | 15% |
| Coordinating | 17,939 | 15% |
| Teaching | 17,056 | 14% |
| Microsoft Office | 17,049 | 14% |
| Problem Solving | 16,970 | 14% |
| Coaching | 15,572 | 13% |
| Research | 15,527 | 13% |
| Detail Oriented | 15,201 | 12% |
| Organizational Skills | 14,318 | 12% |
| Microsoft Excel | 14,005 | 12% |
| Operations | 12,940 | 11% |
| Time Management | 12,263 | 10% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Guidance Counselors
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| School Counselors | 12,754 | 14.5% |
| Job Coaches | 12,828 | 14.5% |
| Academic Advisors | 13,430 | 15.2% |
| Admissions Counselors | 10,754 | 12.2% |
| High School Counselors | 2,795 | 3.2% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2022 and August 2023, the top job sought by employers was school counselors, with 4,680 unique job postings. Job coaches were second, with 4,337 postings, followed by academic advisors, admissions counselors and high school counselors.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to guidance counselors.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| School Counselors | 12,754 | 14.5% |
| Job Coaches | 12,828 | 14.5% |
| Academic Advisors | 13,430 | 15.2% |
| Admissions Counselors | 10,754 | 12.2% |
| High School Counselors | 2,795 | 3.2% |
| Counselors | 3,296 | 3.7% |
| Career Coaches | 3,086 | 3.5% |
| Enrollment Coordinators | 2,900 | 3.3% |
| Career Advisors | 2,513 | 2.8% |
| Elementary School Counselors | 2,811 | 3.2% |
| Job Developers | 2,674 | 3% |
| Admissions Advisors | 3,171 | 3.6% |
| Assessment Coordinators | 2,194 | 2.5% |
| Academic Mentors | 1,518 | 1.7% |
| Guidance Counselors | 1,894 | 2.1% |
| Middle School Counselors | 1,939 | 2.2% |
| Enrollment Counselors | 2,008 | 2.3% |
| Academic Coaches | 1,715 | 1.9% |
| Career Counselors | 2,114 | 2.4% |
| Admissions Liaisons | 1,792 | 2% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for guidance counselors? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for guidance counselors.
How much do guidance counselors make?
Guidance Counselors: How do you become one?
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