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Careersβ€ΊRolesβ€ΊPersonal Finance Counselor
Mid-Level

Personal Finance Counselor

Provides experienced one-on-one financial coaching β€” handling complex client situations, supervising case work, and helping shape programs. Mid-career role inside credit counseling agencies, employee assistance programs, or financial wellness providers.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
C
S
E
I
A
R
Conventionalorganizing, detail-oriented
Socialhelping, teaching
Based on Holland Code framework
Industries that often hire Personal Finance Counselors
Education Β· 50%Healthcare Β· 14%Financial Services Β· 14%Professional Services Β· 12%Consumer Services Β· 2%Administrative Services Β· 1%
Job markets for Personal Finance Counselors
Where Personal Finance Counselor jobs concentrate Β· ~112 metro areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
Finance
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
Jump to:What it's likeCareer pathsBy the numbers
What it's like

What it's like to be a Personal Finance Counselor

Most weeks involve complex client cases, supervision, and program contribution. You'll often handle clients facing foreclosure, bankruptcy considerations, identity theft fallout, or major life transitions; supervise newer counselors on case approach; and contribute to program design or client education materials. The AFC credential through AFCPE tends to be expected by this point in the career.

What's harder than people expect is the emotional sustainability over years β€” at this level, you've sat with hundreds of people in their worst financial moments, and maintaining genuine care while protecting your own wellbeing is its own skill. Variance is meaningful between nonprofit credit counseling agencies (DMP-focused, often high case volume), employer-sponsored financial wellness (preventive, often higher-comp employee populations), and specialty programs (military, veterans, disaster response).

People who tend to thrive here are non-judgmental over years, resilient with hard cases, and skilled at slow-motion behavior change. If you want high-comp investment or sales work, this isn't the path. If you find satisfaction in helping people regain financial agency, sometimes after years of trying, the work tends to be deeply meaningful and lead into supervisory roles, financial coaching practice ownership, or nonprofit financial services leadership.

What people in this role value
RelationshipsAbove avg
AchievementAbove avg
IndependenceAbove avg
Working ConditionsModerate
RecognitionModerate
SupportLower
O*NET Work Values survey
✦ Editorial β€” written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

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

Earning potential across this track
$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying386 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
Energy & Utilities$94K+10%
Technology & Information$94K+9%
Professional Services$92K+7%
Financial Services$83K-3%
Government$82K-4%
Compared to Finance average across all industries
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Personal Finance Counselors (SOC 13-2071.00), not just this title Β· BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Related rolesExplore Finance β†’
Personal Finance CounselorPersonal BankerDebt CounselorCredit CounselorLoan CounselorPersonal Banking OfficerPersonal Loan SpecialistBudget CounselorInvestment CounselorSecurities CounselorEstate Planning CounselorPersonal Investment AdvisorHome Lending AdvisorFinancial Aid AdvisorFinancial Aid OfficerFinancial Aid CounselorFinancial Aid CoordinatorFinancial Assistance AdvisorCredit SpecialistHousing CounselorCredit RepresentativeCredit AssociateCredit Card SpecialistCredit Balance SpecialistLoan Advisor+1 more
Exploring the Personal Finance Counselor career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit β€” and plan your path forward.
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✦ Editorial β€” 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 β€” helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$39K–$78K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
28K
U.S. Employment
+3.3%
10yr Growth
2K
Annual Openings

How Personal Finance Counselor pay & employment are changing

$77K$74K$72K$69K$66K201920202021202220232024$66K$77K
BLS OEWS May 2024 Β· BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

SpeakingActive ListeningReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingWritingService OrientationActive LearningComplex Problem SolvingJudgment and Decision MakingPersuasion
O*NET OnLine Β· Bureau of Labor Statistics
Mapped SOC Codes
13-2071.00

Explore related roles

Roles with similar work and overlapping career paths

directorFinance Director$162KjuniorJunior Personal Finance Counselor$50KseniorSenior Personal Finance Counselor$50KmidPersonal Banker$67KmidDebt Counselor$76KmidCredit Counselor$76K
View all Finance roles β†’

Common questions about what it's like to be a Personal Finance Counselor

What does a Personal Finance Counselor do?

Provides experienced one-on-one financial coaching β€” handling complex client situations, supervising case work, and helping shape programs. Mid-career role inside credit counseling agencies, employee assistance programs, or financial wellness providers.

How much does a Personal Finance Counselor make?

Median pay for a Personal Finance Counselor is about $50K nationally, with the field ranging roughly from $39K to $78K depending on experience, employer, and metro (BLS).

What skills does a Personal Finance Counselor need?

Core skills for this role include Speaking, Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, and Writing.

What education do you need to be a Personal Finance Counselor?

Most people in this role hold a bachelor's degree.

Is a Personal Finance Counselor in demand?

Employment in this field is projected to grow about 3.3% through 2034, with roughly 28,110 people working in it today (BLS).

What jobs are similar to a Personal Finance Counselor?

Closely related roles include Finance Director, Junior Personal Finance Counselor, and Senior Personal Finance Counselor.

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