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Careers›Roles›Counseling Specialist
Mid-Level

Counseling Specialist

People working through personal, emotional, or developmental struggles come to you for the counseling and structured support that helps steady a life. Trained support for people at a hard point.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
S
I
C
A
E
R
Socialhelping, teaching
Investigativeanalytical, curious
Based on Holland Code framework
Industries that often hire Counseling Specialists
Healthcare · 84%Government · 7%Education · 4%Professional Services · 3%Administrative Services · 1%Consumer Services · 0%
Job markets for Counseling Specialists
Employment concentration · ~217 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
Science
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
Jump to:What it's likeCareer pathsBy the numbers
What it's like

What it's like to be a Counseling Specialist

The work tends to involve assessing needs, providing counseling or guidance, building plans, and connecting people to resources, often one-on-one across schools, clinics, or community programs. Building trust is the foundation, since progress rarely comes without it, and the work is emotionally engaged and rarely linear, moving in small steps.

What's harder than people expect is the emotional labor and the limits of what you can fix: caseloads, documentation, and systemic barriers all weigh in. Progress is often gradual, resources can be thin, and you carry others' struggles while staying grounded. Licensure, settings, and scope vary widely across the field.

It tends to fit someone compassionate, steady, and resilient to emotional weight. If you need fast outcomes or struggle with vicarious stress, the work can wear on you. But if there's real meaning in helping people find footing through a hard stretch, the work tends to give that back, person by person.

What people in this role value
RelationshipsHigh
IndependenceHigh
AchievementAbove avg
Working ConditionsAbove avg
RecognitionAbove avg
SupportLower
O*NET Work Values survey
✦ Editorial — written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.

Earning potential across this track
$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
Professional Services$92K+15%
Technology & Information$91K+13%
Energy & Utilities$82K+2%
Financial Services$81K+2%
Wholesale & Distribution$79K-1%
Compared to Science average across all industries
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Counseling Specialists (SOC 19-3033.00), not just this title · BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Related rolesExplore Science →
Counseling SpecialistCase ManagerAssessment CoordinatorBehavior SpecialistTreatment CoordinatorOutpatient TherapistElder CounselorGroup CounselorBehavioral AnalystBehavioral SpecialistMental Health ClinicianMental Health ProfessionalBehavior TherapistBehavioral TherapistChild and Adolescent TherapistPsychologistCounseling PsychologistEducational PsychologistPsychoanalystBehavior AnalystGeropsychologistFamily PsychologistHealth PsychologistClinical PsychologistBehavioral Psychologist+1 more
Exploring the Counseling Specialist career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit — and plan your path forward.
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✦ Editorial — career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$50K–$170K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
72K
U.S. Employment
+11.2%
10yr Growth
5K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$77K$74K$71K$68K$65K201920202021202220232024$65K$77K
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

Reading ComprehensionSocial PerceptivenessActive ListeningWritingCritical ThinkingSpeakingActive LearningService OrientationMonitoringComplex Problem Solving
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
Mapped SOC Codes
19-3033.00

Explore related roles

Roles with similar work and overlapping career paths

midCase Manager$66KmidAssessment Coordinator$85KmidBehavior Specialist$77KmidTreatment Coordinator$94KmidOutpatient Therapist$73KmidElder Counselor$82K
View all Science roles →

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) · BLS Employment Projections · O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.