Jobs for a Master's Degree in School Counseling

<h3 id="section---SchoolCounselor">School Counselor</h3> <p>School counselors (also referred to as guidance counselors), are employed in public and private K-12 institutions and work with students, parents, and faculty to help guide students in all areas of their development. They use their knowledge to assist students in their class, college, and career decisions, solve issues a student might have with a friend or teacher, or talk with a student about problems they may have at home. School counselors assess a student's behavior and academic abilities in order to help them make the best decisions for their future. </p> <h3 id="section---CareerCounselor">Career Counselor</h3> <p>Career counselors typically work in colleges with students to help them determine the right career for them. They can also work with older adults in career centers to help them find jobs, build their resumes, and practice interview skills. Career counselors use aptitude tests and background information to help clients make informed choices about what jobs they might pursue. </p> <h3 id="section---MarriageAndFamilyTherapist">Marriage and Family Therapist</h3> <p>Marriage and family therapists work with couples, individuals, and families to solve mental, emotional, and behavioral issues. They help clients identify problems in their relationships, as well as any personal or self-esteem issues. In addition to a master's degree, marriage and family therapists must pass an exam to earn a license in order to practice. </p> <h3 id="section---SocialWorker">Social Worker</h3> <p>There are different types of social workers, and for someone with a master's degree in school counseling, the most effective use of their degree could be to work with children, families, and schools. A child and family social worker helps children who are at risk of neglect, families who are in need of assistance with things like housing or food, and children in need of foster care or adoption. A school social worker meets with students, parents, and faculty to assist in the student's academic and social development, and some positions may require licensing. </p> <h3 id="section---SubstanceAbuseCounselor">Substance Abuse Counselor</h3> <p>Substance abuse counselors work with clients who are suffering from addiction to drugs and/or alcohol. They can work with individuals or groups to help them learn how to cope with stress and other difficult situations in healthy ways so that they can recover. A master's degree in school counseling could be useful for someone wishing to work specifically with teens or young adults with substance abuse issues. </p> <h3 id="section---BehavioralDisorderCounselor">Behavioral Disorder Counselor</h3> <p>Behavioral disorder counselors work with groups and individuals who are suffering from disordered behaviors such as eating disorders, OCD, or bipolar disorder. They teach clients healthy ways to cope, help them identify triggering situations, and guide them in repairing broken relationships. Behavioral disorder counselors can work with a specific demographic, so someone educated in school counseling could be useful with children and teens. </p> <h3 id="section---MentalHealthCounselor">Mental Health Counselor</h3> <p>Mental health counselors treat individuals, couples, and families for issues such as depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and grief, among many others. They can work exclusively with adolescents, so a school counseling master's can be useful. In order to practice, mental health counselors must complete a certain amount of supervised clinical work and pass an exam in order to receive a license. </p> <h3 id="section---SocialAndCommunityServicesManager">Social and Community Services Manager</h3> <p>Social and community service managers develop and manage social service programs and community organizations that might work with a particular demographic, such as children or the homeless, or with a particular issue like substance abuse or unemployment. These managers determine the effectiveness of these programs and use data to improve them, as well as advocate for them. A master's degree in school counseling could be useful for a manager wishing to work with organizations that focus on children and teens. </p> <h3 id="section---SchoolPsychologist">School Psychologist</h3> <p>Psychologists typically need a doctorate and often must be licensed, but some institutions, such as schools, may accept applicants with a master's degree. A school psychologist works with students, parents, and faculty to address student learning and behavioral problems. They might work with students individually to assess them, and they can also counsel students along with their families. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><th> Job Type </th><th> Median Salary* (2018) </th><th> Job Outlook* (2016-26)</th></tr> <tr><td> School Counselor </td><td> $56,310 </td><td> 13% (school and career counselors)</td></tr> <tr><td> Career Counselor </td><td> $49,519 (career counselor - higher education, 2019)** </td><td> 13% (school and career counselors)</td></tr> <tr><td> Marriage and Family Therapist </td><td> $50,090 </td><td> 23%</td></tr> <tr><td> Social Worker </td><td> $49,470 </td><td> 16%</td></tr> <tr><td> Substance Abuse Counselor </td><td> $53,032 (chemical dependency counselor, 2019)** </td><td> 23% (all substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors)</td></tr> <tr><td> Behavioral Disorder Counselor </td><td> $44,630 (all substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors) </td><td> 23% (all substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors)</td></tr> <tr><td> Mental Health Counselor </td><td> $41,053 (2019)*** </td><td> 23% (all substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors)</td></tr> <tr><td> Social and Community Service Managers </td><td> $65,320 </td><td> 18%</td></tr> <tr><td> School Psychologist </td><td> $75,890 (psychologists in elementary and secondary schools; state, local, and private) </td><td> 14% (all psychologists)</td></tr> </table><p><i>Sources: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; **Salary.com; ***Payscale.com</i> </p> <p>Careers in areas of counseling, psychology, and social work may be a good fit with the skills learned through a master's degree in school counseling. Some careers in psychology and counseling will typically require a license to practice, as well.</p>