Becoming a Career Counselor via Online Education?
At the very least, online education can help you lay a foundation and/or open up alternate career paths.
Liberty University Online, one of the highest ranking online
schools,
is a US school (accredited) offering counseling courses to train individuals
to become top-notch
counseling psychologists,
school counselors,
counselors,
christian counselors,
organizational psychologists,
pastoral counselors, etc.
Currently, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics there are 251,050 people employed as
educational, vocational, and school counselors alone in America, and their average annual salary is
$55,030.
Colleges and universities like Liberty University Online that provide online education are successfully launching workers into
this
field.
Typical Work Locations for a Career Counselor
- High school
- Community center
- University
- Government office
- Staffing agency
- Unemployment office
- Career placement firm
- Trade school
- Job training center
- Career information center
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as a Career Counselor
- Work in a professional environment
- Help people meet their career goals
- Help people understand problems affecting their vocational situation
- Solve complex problems
- Establish and maintain interpersonal relationships
- Make a difference in society
- Work indoors
- Meet with interesting people
- Make a secure living
- Have normal office hours
Potential Drawbacks
- Administer aptitude tests
- May involve public speaking
- Work with difficult people
- Schedule not flexible - must maintain normal business hours
- Work within potentially limited resources
- Dependent on client follow-through
- Often a public funded position
- Work with people for a limited time only
- Primarily in an office setting
- Potentially high workload
Related Professions to Consider
- Drug/alcohol counselor
- Teacher
- Psychologist
- Social worker
- Registered nurse
- Occupational therapist
- Physical therapist
- Human resource specialist
- Life coach
- Executive coach
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be a Career Counselor
- What is your professional experience?
- What computer skills do you have?
- Are you comfortable with public speaking?
- Why have you chosen to pursue a career in this field?
- How do you help someone decide on a career to pursue?
- What are your best and worst qualities?
- Are you a patient person?
- What is your educational background?
- Tell me about a person you have helped decided on a career, what was the process like?
- Give me an example in your previous experience of job that was satisfying?
Common Collaborating Professions
- Teacher
- School administrator
- Social worker
- Admissions counselor
- Counselor
- Human resources specialist
- Administrative assistant
- Probation officer
- Psychologist
- Therapist
Career Counselor Training books
Career Counselor (More) Popular books
Potential Companies to Work For
Common College Majors
- Human Development:Life Span Perspective
- Development and Learning in Early Childhood Education
- Organizational Analysis
- Educational Statistics for Research and Measurement
- Advanced Study in Child and Adolescent Development
- Counseling for Career Adjustment and Change
- Motivation in Learning and Development
- Fundamentals of Counseling and Guidance
- Law and Ethics
- Individual and Group Assessment
Career Counselor Salary Information
Category: Educational, vocational, and school counselors
| Total # Employed in the US |
251,050 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$26.46/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $14.97 |
$19.35 |
$25.27 |
$32.29 |
$40.42 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$55,030 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $31,140 |
$40,260 |
$52,550 |
$67,160 |
$84,080 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 1.3% |
7.3% |
10.5% |
5.6% |
25.0% |
45.9% |
4.4% |
|
Educational, vocational, and school counselors — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
| North Dakota |
$34.42/hr
|
$71,600
|
| Alaska |
$30.63/hr
|
$63,720
|
| Mississippi |
$30.56/hr
|
$63,560
|
| Virginia |
$29.99/hr
|
$62,370
|
| Kansas |
$29.34/hr
|
$61,020
|
| Oklahoma |
$29.33/hr
|
$61,020
|
| Colorado |
$29.28/hr
|
$60,910
|
| Delaware |
$28.16/hr
|
$58,580
|
| South Carolina |
$27.53/hr
|
$57,260
|
| Missouri |
$27/hr
|
$56,160
|
| Maryland |
$26.93/hr
|
$56,020
|
| Idaho |
$26.52/hr
|
$55,150
|
| New York |
$26.4/hr
|
$54,920
|
| Ohio |
$26.28/hr
|
$54,670
|
| District of Columbia |
$26.16/hr
|
$54,420
|
| Kentucky |
$26.15/hr
|
$54,400
|
| Wyoming |
$26.12/hr
|
$54,330
|
| Indiana |
$26.04/hr
|
$54,170
|
| Hawaii |
$26.03/hr
|
$54,150
|
| Montana |
$25.76/hr
|
$53,580
|
| Utah |
$25.47/hr
|
$52,990
|
| Alabama |
$25.08/hr
|
$52,160
|
| Puerto Rico |
$24.94/hr
|
$51,880
|
| Florida |
$24.77/hr
|
$51,520
|
| California |
$24.62/hr
|
$51,210
|
| North Carolina |
$24.32/hr
|
$50,590
|
| Tennessee |
$24.28/hr
|
$50,500
|
| Massachusetts |
$24.25/hr
|
$50,430
|
| New Mexico |
$24.1/hr
|
$50,120
|
| Maine |
$23.61/hr
|
$49,100
|
| Nevada |
$23.47/hr
|
$48,830
|
| Connecticut |
$23.29/hr
|
$48,430
|
| Washington |
$23.14/hr
|
$48,140
|
| Nebraska |
$22.95/hr
|
$47,740
|
| Guam |
$22.91/hr
|
$47,650
|
| Michigan |
$22.66/hr
|
$47,120
|
| Oregon |
$22.51/hr
|
$46,830
|
| New Hampshire |
$22.48/hr
|
$46,750
|
| Pennsylvania |
$22.34/hr
|
$46,470
|
| Iowa |
$21.8/hr
|
$45,350
|
| Arkansas |
$21.73/hr
|
$45,190
|
| Wisconsin |
$21.34/hr
|
$44,380
|
| Louisiana |
$21.31/hr
|
$44,320
|
| New Jersey |
$20.78/hr
|
$43,220
|
| South Dakota |
$20.52/hr
|
$42,690
|
| West Virginia |
$18.67/hr
|
$38,840
|