Counseling Careers

Updated on August 30, 2024

Edited by

•

Reviewed by

Counseling means helping people every day — whether that’s families, students, or individuals. Explore popular counseling careers and what they entail.

Portions of the following article were drafted using an in-house natural language generation platform. The article was then reviewed, fact-checked, and edited by multiple members of our editorial team prior to publishing.

Passionate about mental health? Want to make a positive impact on people’s lives? Then, consider a career in counseling. Counseling entails tons of specialties, including mental health, marriage and family, and substance use.

But before you start looking for jobs, it’s important to understand what counseling careers entail — and how to get started.

Why Consider a Counseling Career?

Counseling careers offer the opportunity to help others overcome personal challenges and foster personal growth.
The demand for counselors is rapidly growing — according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), counselor jobs are projected to grow up to 18% between 2022 and 2032.
Counseling roles emphasize personal development, allowing you to cultivate key soft skills like empathy, communication, and cultural knowledge.
Many counselors enjoy flexible schedules by using telehealth and setting their own hours.

Popular Counseling Careers

Here are some of the most popular counseling careers to consider. All data comes from the BLS.

Popular Counseling Careers
Job	Median Annual Salary (May 2023)	Job Growth Rate (2022-2032)	Minimum Degree Required
Mental Health Counselor	$53,710	18%	Master’s Degree
Marriage and Family Counselor	$58,510	15%	Master’s Degree
Substance Use Counselor	$53,710	18%	Bachelor’s Degree
School Counselor	$61,710	5%	Master’s Degree
Career Counselor	$61,710	5%	Master’s Degree
Rehabilitation Counselor	$44,040	2%	Master’s Degree

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

Learn More

Visit Site

Learn More

Visit Site

Learn More

Visit Site

1. Mental Health Counselor

Median Annual Salary (May 2023): $53,710
Job Growth Rate (2022-2032): 18%
Minimum Requirements:Master’s in mental health counseling, internship, state licensure

Mental health counselors help clients navigate emotional challenges and enhance their overall mental well-being. They establish therapeutic goals, develop strategies to address patients’ personal obstacles and promote healthy behavioral changes.

These professionals can specialize in individual, family, couple, and/or group counseling. Typically, mental health counselors treat people who have conditions such as anxiety, depression, or a substance use disorder. They may also work with patients experiencing relationship problems or life transitions.

Mental health counselors work in various settings, from private practices and schools to hospitals and community health centers.

Learn More

Visit Site

Learn More

Visit Site

2. Marriage and Family Counselor

Median Annual Salary (May 2023): $58,510

Job Growth Rate (2022-2032): 15%

Minimum Requirements:Master’s in marriage and family counseling, internship, state licensure

Marriage and family counselors, also known as marriage and family therapists, are mental health professionals trained in psychotherapy and family systems. They work with individuals, couples, and families to address diverse conditions and circumstances, such as depression, marital problems, anxiety, and child-parent issues.

These counselors often work at private practices, outpatient mental health centers, and hospitals.

3. Substance Use Counselor

Median Annual Salary (May 2023): $53,710

Job Growth Rate (2022-2032): 18%

Minimum Requirements:Bachelor’s in addiction counseling, state licensure

Substance use counselors, also called addiction counselors, provide guidance to people recovering from substance use and addiction disorders. They evaluate patients’ health, recommend treatments, and help patients develop skills for recovery. They also work with families to help them understand loved ones’ illnesses and give advice on how to support them.

Substance use counselors aim to create a supportive, judgment-free environment and may engage in community outreach, job placement services, or support groups to help patients lead healthier lives.

4. School Counselor

Median Annual Salary (May 2023): $61,710

Job Growth Rate (2022-2032): 5%

Minimum Requirements:Master’s in school counseling, state licensure

School counselors are essential in fostering students’ academic and social development. These professionals help students hone the skills needed for academic success and personal growth, provide guidance on college and career readiness, and offer support for social and emotional challenges.

They work in both public and private schools at all levels, from elementary to high school. Depending on the school’s size and resources, school counselors may work with the entire student body or focus on specific grades or individual students who need additional support.

5. Career Counselor

Median Annual Salary (May 2023): $61,710

Job Growth Rate (2022-2032): 5%

Minimum Requirements: Master’s in career counseling, state licensure

Career counselors work closely with clients to identify strengths and weaknesses and to explore career possibilities. They administer personality and career tests, provide referrals to job training opportunities, help clients create strong resumes and cover letters, and teach effective interviewing techniques.

Career counselors serve as advisors, coaches, confidants, and instructors, customizing their services to meet each client’s individual needs and goals. They can work in many settings, including schools, colleges, career centers, and private practices.

6. Rehabilitation Counselor

Median Annual Salary (May 2023): $44,040

Job Growth Rate (2022-2032): 2%

Minimum Requirements: Master’s in rehabilitation counseling, state licensure

Rehabilitation counselors provide guidance and support to people with developmental, emotional, physical, and/or mental disabilities so they can live more independent lives. These professionals work with clients to set and achieve goals around daily living skills and school, work, and social activities.

They also identify barriers that prevent their clients from achieving their goals and then develop strategies to address those obstacles. Rehabilitation counselors often work at rehabilitation centers, schools, government agencies, and private practices.

Learn More

Visit Site

Learn More

Visit Site

How to Start a Counseling Career: 4 Steps

Here are the basic steps you must take to kickstart your counseling career.

Step 1| Identify Your Interests

Start by thinking about your biggest career goals and interests.

Ask yourself questions like:

What types of people do you want to help? (e.g., students, families, couples, etc.)
What kind of environment do you want to work in? (e.g., community health facilities, private practices, schools, etc.)

You might also want to connect with a real-life counselor so you can learn more about their day-to-day duties. Another option to help you explore counseling careers is to get a part-time job or internship at a counseling clinic.

Step 2| Earn a Bachelor’s Degree

Almost all counselors have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college.

Even if you don’t know what type of counseling you want to specialize in, it’s best to earn a bachelor’s in psychology, counseling, or social work.

Step 3| Get a Master’s in Counseling

Most counseling careers require you to have a master’s degree in counseling, whether that’s marriage and family counseling or mental health counseling.

Counseling master’s programs typically last 2-3 years and cover coursework like ethical conduct, cognitive behavior theories, and humanistic theories.

Internships normally make up a critical part of these programs. An internship provides you with practical counseling experience and generally counts toward the supervised clinical hours necessary for state licensure.

Step 4| Apply for State Licensure

Nearly all states require counselors to be licensed.

To become a licensed counselor, you must meet your state’s licensure requirements, which you can find at the National Board for Certified Counselors.

While licensure requirements vary by state and type of counselor, they typically entail:

Completing a minimum number of supervised clinical hours and/or an internship
Passing a licensure exam
Meeting continuing education requirements every 1-2 years to maintain licensure

Is a Counseling Career Right for You?

Whether a counseling career is right for you will depend on several factors, including your goals, budget, and overall interests.

Consider a counseling career if:

You have a genuine interest in helping others and can easily empathize with people’s experiences.
You seek to understand human behavior and the mind and have a desire to promote mental well-being.
You want to continually learn and grow, both professionally and personally.
You can efficiently handle stress and find ways to cope when hearing about people’s trauma and hardships.
You have strong communication and active listening skills.
You’re open-minded and nonjudgmental.

The decision to pursue a counseling career is a personal one. Take time to explore your options — sign up for psych classes, talk to professionals about what they do, and enjoy learning what the field is about before committing to a counseling career.

Frequently Asked Questions About Counseling Careers

Psychologists usually have a doctorate in psychology and may have more responsibilities. For example, they can treat severe mental health conditions and perform psychological evaluations. In contrast, counselors often have a master’s degree and focus more on providing goal-oriented treatment for specific challenges, such as marriage or addiction issues.