SOC 21-1019.00Bright outlook

    Counselors, All Other

    All counselors not listed separately.

    Median pay
    $50,860
    Growth
    +5.9%
    Faster than average
    Openings a year
    4,300
    Typical education
    Master's degree

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

    See the pathway

    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $36,240
    Median
    $50,860
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $91,940
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    28,580 people work in this occupation.

    In short

    This counseling category includes specialized professionals, such as adoption and career specialists, who do not fall under other specific counseling titles. The occupation offers a median annual pay of $50,860, with opportunities across various social and community service areas.

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What counselors, all other do

    All counselors not listed separately.

    What the work is like

    Professionals in this field provide specialized guidance and support to individuals facing specific life transitions, behavioral challenges, or career decisions. Depending on their specific role, they may work as adoption counselors, anger control specialists, or career development managers.

    Their daily activities center on assessing client needs, developing tailored action plans, and offering direct guidance. Success in this field requires strong active listening skills, empathy, and a deep understanding of human behavior and social services. These counselors must be skilled at building trust with diverse populations, communicating clearly, and maintaining organized case records to track client progress over time.

    How to get there

    Entering this field typically requires a master's degree. Students preparing for this career often major in fields such as clinical, counseling, and applied psychology, social work, or mental and social health services. Other relevant areas of study include human resources management, pastoral counseling, or thanatology.

    Depending on the specific role and location, some states list licensing requirements for this work. Additionally, professionals can pursue voluntary credentials to demonstrate their expertise, such as the Care Manager Certified Examination offered by the National Academy of Certified Care Managers.

    Pay and outlook explained

    The median annual wage for these counselors is $50,860. Earnings vary based on experience, location, and specialization, with the lowest 10 percent earning less than $36,240 and the highest 10 percent earning more than $91,940.

    There are 28,580 people employed in this occupation. Employment is projected to grow by 5.9 percent from 2025 to 2035, which is faster than the average for all occupations. This growth is expected to result in approximately 4,300 job openings each year.

    Also called

    Adoption Counselor · AIDS Counselor · Anger Control Counselor · Behavior Specialist · Business Representative · Career Development Specialist · Career Manager · Career Specialist · Case Consultant · Case Investigator

    Career pathway

    From your interests to counselors, all other

    Interests that fit the work, the career, majors that lead there and colleges whose graduates in those majors earn the most. Hover or focus a step to follow one path.

    1. This career

      • Counselors, All Other$50,860 median pay

    2. Majors

    3. Colleges

    College Scorecard program outcomes

    Colleges with strong outcomes

    Programs that lead to this career, ranked by what their graduates earn four years after finishing. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid.

    1. 1Cornell University-New York logo
      Cornell University-New York

      Ithaca, NY · Human Resources Management and Services · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $74,192
      4 yrs after
      $112,713
      Median debt
      $12,000
    2. 2Northwestern University-Illinois logo
      Northwestern University-Illinois

      Evanston, IL · Human Resources Management and Services · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $98,392
      4 yrs after
      $108,498
      Median debt
      Not reported
    3. 3University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Main Campus logo
      University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Main Campus

      Ann Arbor, MI · Human Resources Management and Services · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $69,663
      4 yrs after
      $99,594
      Median debt
      $20,596
    4. 4
      George Washington University

      Washington, DC · Human Resources Management and Services · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $58,393
      4 yrs after
      $97,126
      Median debt
      $20,000
    5. 5Brigham Young University-Provo BYU Utah logo
      Brigham Young University-Provo BYU Utah

      Provo, UT · Human Resources Management and Services · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $66,527
      4 yrs after
      $96,354
      Median debt
      Not reported
    6. 6Waldorf University logo
      Waldorf University

      Forest City, IA · Human Resources Management and Services · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $68,676
      4 yrs after
      $94,822
      Median debt
      $25,747
    7. 7University of Richmond logo
      University of Richmond

      University of Richmond, VA · Human Resources Management and Services · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $57,533
      4 yrs after
      $92,389
      Median debt
      $25,000
    8. 8University of St Francis logo
      University of St Francis

      Joliet, IL · Human Resources Management and Services · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $90,495
      Median debt
      $14,553

    Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Programs with few graduates are not listed.

    NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk

    Majors that lead here

    Related programs by four-digit CIP code. They are common routes in, not the only ones.

    CareerOneStop

    Certifications, licenses and pay by state

    What counselors, all other may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.

    Certifications

    Core certifications employers recognise for this work.

    Search all certifications on CareerOneStop

    Training

    Programs of study that prepare people for this work.

    • Clinical Pastoral Counseling/Patient Counseling
    • Counseling Psychology
    • Executive/Career Coaching
    • Infant/Toddler Mental Health Services
    • Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries, Other
    • Pastoral Studies/Counseling
    • Social Work
    • Thanatology

    Find training near you on CareerOneStop

    Licenses by state

    33 states list a license for this work. Open your state for the license and the agency that issues it.

    Check license requirements on CareerOneStop

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 6, 2026.

    Your plan

    Build my pathway plan

    Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.

    Questions about counselors, all other

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What are some common job titles in this field?

    People in this occupation work under various titles depending on their specialty. Common titles include adoption counselor, behavior specialist, career development specialist, and case consultant.

    What level of education is typically required?

    To enter this field, a master's degree is typically required. Students often pursue majors in social work, counseling psychology, human resources, or mental health services.

    Are there any certifications or licenses available?

    Yes, some states list licensing requirements for this counseling work. Additionally, professionals can earn the Care Manager Certified credential through the National Academy of Certified Care Managers.

    Sources and attribution

    Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.

    O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 6, 2026.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.