Credit Counselors earn a median of $52,230 per year ($25.11/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 3.3% through 2035, with about 2,000 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 13-2071
- Business and Financial Operations
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Credit Counselor in four numbers
- Median pay
- $52,230a year, or $25.11/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $38KTop 10% $80K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +3.3%About as fast as averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+3.3%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +3.3% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 2,00031,200 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202531.2K
- Projected 203532.3K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 31.2K Projected 2035 32.3K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
Also advertised as: Accredited Financial Counselor, Budget Credit Counselor, Certified Consumer Credit and Housing Counselor, Certified Credit Consultant, Certified Credit Counselor, Certified Financial Coach.
Pay
How much do Credit Counselors make?
Every credit counselor in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$52,230
Middle half earn $45,720 to $64,080
- 10th
- $38,350
- 25th
- $45,720
- 75th
- $64,080
- 90th
- $80,440
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $38,350 |
| 25th | $45,720 |
| Median | $52,230 |
| 75th | $64,080 |
| 90th | $80,440 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $52,230
- Median hourly wage
- $25.11/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $57,210
- People employed
- 27,770
Versus all US occupations
At $52,230, the median for Credit Counselors sits in line with the $50,980 median across all US occupations.
Versus business and financial operations occupations
Inside the Business and Financial Operations group, where the middle occupation pays $80,730, this is 35% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $80,440 or more while the bottom 10% earn $38,350, a gap of 2.1×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 25% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
California posts the highest raw median ($67,120), but once local prices are taken into account Nebraska leads at $69,376 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay Credit Counselors the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1California | $67,120 | $60,621 | 2,160 |
| 2Georgia | $64,080 | $66,547 | 460 |
| 3District of Columbia | $63,580 | $57,852 | 110 |
| 4Massachusetts | $63,240 | $59,797 | 770 |
| 5New York | $63,030 | $58,404 | 2,020 |
| 6Nebraska | $62,510 | $69,376 | 260 |
| 7Washington | $62,360 | $58,273 | 560 |
| 8Minnesota | $62,160 | $63,029 | 580 |
| 9Maryland | $60,450 | $57,594 | 350 |
| 10Oregon | $59,150 | $57,227 | 280 |
Job outlook
Is Credit Counselor a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
About as fast as average. +3.3% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Credit Counselors | +3.3% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
About as fast as average
BLS projects employment of Credit Counselors to change 3.3% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 1,000 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 2,000 openings are projected each year, 6.4% of the 31,200 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
The primary driver of demand for credit counselors is the need for individuals and businesses to manage their debt. Consumers will continue to need these counselors to assist them with planning debt payments, negotiating with creditors, and managing their budgetary goals. Credit counselors will be needed to develop debt management plans to help consumers with repayment of a variety of debts, including student loans, credit cards, and mortgages. However, automation software makes these workers more efficient and may temper employment growth over the projections decade.
Getting in
How to become a Credit Counselor
Credit counselors typically need a bachelor’s degree to enter the occupation. Candidates with a high school diploma may qualify for some jobs. Once hired, workers typically need several months of on-the-job training to attain competency.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Medium preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
Full BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook entryThe work
What does a Credit Counselor do?
Advise and educate individuals or organizations on acquiring and managing debt. May provide guidance in determining the best type of loan and explain loan requirements or restrictions. May help develop debt management plans or student financial aid packages. May advise on credit issues, or provide budget, mortgage, bankruptcy, or student financial aid counseling.
Credit counselors advise and educate individuals or organizations on acquiring and managing debt. They may also provide guidance on credit issues and on budgeting, mortgages, or student financial aid packages.
Day-to-day tasks
- Create debt management plans, spending plans, or budgets to assist clients to meet financial goals.
- Assess clients' overall financial situations by reviewing income, assets, debts, expenses, credit reports, or other financial information.
- Calculate clients' available monthly income to meet debt obligations.
- Recommend strategies for clients to meet their financial goals, such as borrowing money through loans or loan programs, declaring bankruptcy, making budget adjustments, or enrolling in debt management plans.
- Prioritize client debt repayment to avoid dire consequences, such as bankruptcy or foreclosure or to reduce overall costs, such as by paying high-interest or short-term loans first.
- Recommend educational materials or resources to clients on matters, such as financial planning, budgeting, or credit.
- Review changes to financial, family, or employment situations to determine whether changes to existing debt management plans, spending plans, or budgets are needed.
- Explain general financial topics to clients, such as credit report ratings, bankruptcy laws, consumer protection laws, wage attachments, or collection actions.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most credit counselors work full time. They usually work standard business hours but may need to work in the evenings or on weekends to meet with clients.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeSeated for more than half the working day.
Standing
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where credit counselors work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Colleges, universities, and professional schools; private23%
- Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state14%
- Junior colleges; local8%
- General medical and surgical hospitals; private6%
- Credit intermediation and related activities (5221,3)6%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Colleges, universities, and professional schools; private | 23% |
| Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state | 14% |
| Junior colleges; local | 8% |
| General medical and surgical hospitals; private | 6% |
| Credit intermediation and related activities (5221,3) | 6% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension3.9
- Active Listening3.9
- Speaking3.9
- Critical Thinking3.9
- Writing3.8
- Active Learning3.8
- Mathematics3.1
- Learning Strategies3.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 3.9 |
| Active Listening | 3.9 |
| Speaking | 3.9 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.9 |
| Writing | 3.8 |
| Active Learning | 3.8 |
| Mathematics | 3.1 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Complex Problem Solving3.8
- Judgment and Decision Making3.8
- Service Orientation3.6
- Social Perceptiveness3.3
- Persuasion3.3
- Negotiation3.1
- Systems Evaluation3.1
- Coordination3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.8 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.8 |
| Service Orientation | 3.6 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.3 |
| Persuasion | 3.3 |
| Negotiation | 3.1 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.1 |
| Coordination | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Financial analysis software
- Information retrieval or search software
- Internet browser software
- Network conferencing software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Credit Counselor?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Credit Counselor |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 1 |
| Investigative | 3 |
| Artistic | 2 |
| Social | 5 |
| Enterprising | 5 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around organising, following procedures and working precisely with data, combined with teaching, helping and working directly with other people.
- Conventional5.3
- Social4.9
- Enterprising4.7
- Investigative2.6
- Artistic1.8
- Realistic1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Credit Counselor
O*NET related occupations
- Business and Financial Operations
- Business and Financial Operations
- Office and Administrative Support
- Business and Financial Operations
- Office and Administrative Support
- Business and Financial Operations
More business and financial operations careers
Median annual pay, with credit counselors highlighted
- Financial Advisor$105,070
- Accountant$83,680
- Insurance Underwriter$81,370
- Coroner$80,730
- Claims Adjuster, Examiner, and Investigator$78,000
- Loan Officer$76,690
- Human Resources Specialist$75,940
- Appraiser and Assessor of Real Estate$67,960
- Credit Counselor$52,230
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Financial Advisor | $105,070 |
| Accountant | $83,680 |
| Insurance Underwriter | $81,370 |
| Coroner | $80,730 |
| Claims Adjuster, Examiner, and Investigator | $78,000 |
| Loan Officer | $76,690 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $75,940 |
| Appraiser and Assessor of Real Estate | $67,960 |
| Credit Counselor | $52,230 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Credit Counselor appears on
Questions
Credit Counselor: frequently asked questions
How much do Credit Counselors make?
Credit Counselors earn a median of $52,230 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), close to the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $25.11/hr. The middle half earn between $45,720 and $64,080. The top 10% earn $80,440 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Credit Counselor?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Credit Counselors, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as medium preparation. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training.
Is Credit Counselor a growing career?
It is stable rather than fast-growing: employment is projected to change 3.3% over 2025–2035, about the same as the 3.5% projected across all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 2,000 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Credit Counselor do?
Credit counselors advise and educate individuals or organizations on acquiring and managing debt. A core O*NET task: create debt management plans, spending plans, or budgets to assist clients to meet financial goals. Employers most often ask for Data base user interface and query software, Electronic mail software, Enterprise resource planning ERP software.
Which states pay Credit Counselors the most?
The highest state medians for Credit Counselors are California ($67,120), Georgia ($64,080), District of Columbia ($63,580) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Nebraska moves to the top at $69,376.
What personality type suits a Credit Counselor?
O*NET scores Credit Counselors highest on the Conventional, Social and Enterprising interest areas, so the work mixes organising, following procedures and working precisely with data with teaching, helping and working directly with other people. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ESFJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.