Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors
SOC Code: 21-1012 Job Zone 5: Extensive Preparation Needed
Advise and assist students and provide educational and vocational guidance services.
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Prevailing Wage Levels (National)
DOL/OFLC prevailing wage thresholds for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors. Hourly rates x 2,080 = annual.
FY2027 Weighted Lottery Impact
| Level | Lottery Entries | Est. Selection Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | 1 entry | ~16% |
| Level II (Qualified) | 2 entries | ~31% |
| Level III (Experienced) | 3 entries | ~45% |
| Level IV (Expert) | 4 entries | ~61% |
Prevailing Wages by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Centro, CA | $71,864 | $99,278 | $126,693 | $154,107 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $64,771 | $85,030 | $105,269 | $125,528 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $66,206 | $85,842 | $105,477 | $125,112 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $62,795 | $82,243 | $101,712 | $121,160 |
| Napa, CA | $57,533 | $78,582 | $99,611 | $120,661 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $77,334 | $91,749 | $106,184 | $120,598 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $58,032 | $78,728 | $99,445 | $120,141 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $68,245 | $85,280 | $102,315 | $119,350 |
| Fresno, CA | $59,842 | $78,915 | $98,010 | $117,083 |
| Salinas, CA | $57,720 | $77,272 | $96,845 | $116,397 |
H-1B Filing Data
Top H-1B Employers
| Employer | Filings | Avg Wage |
|---|---|---|
| The Parachute Project Inc. | 19 | $104,000 |
| InGenius LLC | 14 | $58,359 |
| Case Western Reserve University | 13 | $51,093 |
| Savannah College of Art and Design | 12 | $57,159 |
| The Ohio University | 11 | $54,001 |
| Guo Consulting, LLC | 10 | $72,715 |
| SAVANNAH COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN, INC. | 10 | $52,366 |
| C2 Educational Systems, Inc. | 9 | $64,629 |
| Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska | 9 | $47,222 |
| Oregon State University | 9 | $63,559 |
Filing Trend
| Year | Filings | Avg Wage |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 30 | $50,785 |
| 2021 | 52 | $57,962 |
| 2022 | 54 | $56,508 |
| 2023 | 140 | $53,786 |
| 2024 | 292 | $57,956 |
| 2025 | 333 | $60,502 |
| 2026 | 43 | $57,986 |
Key Skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Active Listening | 4.4 | |
| Social Perceptiveness | 4.1 | |
| Speaking | 4.1 | |
| Service Orientation | 4.0 | |
| Critical Thinking | 3.9 | |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.9 | |
| Writing | 3.9 | |
| Monitoring | 3.8 | |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.8 | |
| Active Learning | 3.8 |
Knowledge Areas
| Knowledge | Importance |
|---|---|
| Customer and Personal Service | 4.1 |
| English Language | 3.9 |
| Therapy and Counseling | 3.6 |
| Education and Training | 3.4 |
| Psychology | 3.1 |
| Administrative | 3.1 |
| Administration and Management | 2.9 |
| Sociology and Anthropology | 2.8 |
Education Requirements
| Education Level | % of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree | 56.3% |
| Doctoral degree | 40.7% |
| Associate's degree | 2.5% |
Typical Tasks
- Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations.
- Provide crisis intervention to students when difficult situations occur at schools.
- Prepare students for later educational experiences by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.
- Provide students with information on topics such as college degree programs and admission requirements, financial aid opportunities, trade and technical schools, and apprenticeship programs.
- Teach classes and present self-help or information sessions on subjects related to education and career planning.
- Conduct follow-up interviews with counselees to determine if their needs have been met.
- Prepare reports on students and activities as required by administration.
- Plan and conduct orientation programs and group conferences to promote the adjustment of individuals to new life experiences, such as starting college.
Technology Skills
Green = Hot Technology in demand
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