Occupation · SOC 21-1019
Counselors, All Other
All counselors not listed separately.
Median wage
$49,830
$36,160–$91,420
Projected growth
+12.6%
Faster than average
Annual openings
870
per year
Employed (US)
33,340
Job Zone —
Core skills
Active ListeningSpeakingSocial PerceptivenessReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingService OrientationWritingJudgment and Decision Making
Knowledge areas
PsychologyTherapy and CounselingCustomer and Personal ServiceEnglish LanguageEducation and Training
Technology & tools
Spreadsheet softwareOffice suite softwareElectronic mail softwarePresentation softwareWord processing software
Representative tasks
Complete and maintain accurate records or reports regarding the patients' histories and progress, seCounsel clients or patients, individually or in group sessions, to assist in overcoming dependenciesAssess individuals' degree of drug dependency by collecting and analyzing urine samples.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Client intake forms and basic case records — complete accurately under supervisor guidance in a community counseling setting.Session notes and progress reports — draft using standard templates with direct oversight from a licensed counselor.Active listening techniques — apply during initial client interviews to identify presenting concerns in a structured intake environment.Basic psychological and counseling terminology — recognize and use correctly when communicating with supervisors and interdisciplinary staff.Urine sample collection procedures — follow established protocols under supervision to support drug dependency screening.Individual client sessions — assist a licensed counselor in delivering structured support activities within a group home or outpatient clinic.Electronic mail and office suite software — use to schedule appointments and route client correspondence in a community services office.Client confidentiality and HIPAA requirements — demonstrate awareness of and adherence to during all record-handling tasks.Behavioral and emotional cues — identify in clients and report observations to supervising counselors during case review meetings.Service orientation principles — apply by responding respectfully and promptly to client needs under direct professional supervision.
developing
Client case histories and progress records — maintain and update with reduced oversight using electronic records systems in an outpatient facility.Individual and small-group counseling sessions — facilitate independently to help clients address dependency issues or life adjustment challenges.Drug dependency assessment data — collect and analyze urine samples and document findings in accordance with facility protocols.Treatment plans — contribute to development by applying knowledge of psychology and counseling theory within a structured clinical workflow.Discharged client follow-up contacts — conduct at scheduled intervals to track progress and assess treatment effectiveness.Critical thinking skills — apply when evaluating client responses to interventions and adjusting session approaches in familiar counseling contexts.Written progress summaries and referral documents — compose clearly using word processing software for interdisciplinary team review.Social perceptiveness — exercise to detect shifts in client motivation or emotional state and respond with appropriate counseling strategies.Community resource information — identify and communicate relevant referral options to clients navigating substance use or psychosocial challenges.Spreadsheet software — use to track caseload data, appointment attendance, and outcome metrics across an assigned client roster.
proficient
Complex client cases involving co-occurring disorders — assess and manage autonomously, integrating psychology and counseling knowledge in a community mental health setting.Comprehensive case records and clinical documentation — produce and audit to ensure accuracy, completeness, and regulatory compliance across a full caseload.Group counseling programs — design and lead independently to address dependency recovery, coping skills, or social adjustment for diverse client populations.Urine analysis results and dependency severity indicators — interpret and integrate into individualized treatment recommendations without supervisory review.Post-discharge follow-up programs — implement systematically and evaluate outcomes to inform continuous improvement of counseling services.Judgment and decision-making skills — exercise in high-stakes situations such as crisis intervention or mandatory reporting within an outpatient or residential facility.Multidisciplinary case conferences — participate in and lead by presenting well-reasoned client assessments and treatment recommendations to clinical teams.Client reading comprehension and literacy barriers — identify and adapt written materials and verbal communication to improve service accessibility.Presentation software — use to develop and deliver psychoeducational content for clients and community stakeholders on dependency and mental health topics.Ethical and professional standards — uphold independently across all counseling, documentation, and referral activities in compliance with state licensure requirements.
advanced
Counseling program frameworks and service delivery models — design and implement at organizational scale to meet community mental health and dependency recovery needs.Clinical supervision and mentorship — provide to emerging and developing counselors, shaping professional practice standards across the department.Outcome measurement systems — establish and oversee using data from discharge follow-up and caseload records to guide evidence-based program improvements.Organizational policies for client documentation and records management — develop and enforce to ensure regulatory compliance and quality assurance across the facility.Interdisciplinary collaboration — lead across social work, medical, and administrative teams to coordinate comprehensive care for high-complexity client populations.Staff training curricula — create and deliver on counseling techniques, cultural competency, and ethics for new and continuing counselors in the organization.Strategic partnerships with community agencies — cultivate and maintain to expand referral networks and resource access for underserved client groups.Quality improvement initiatives — champion by analyzing aggregated client outcome and dependency assessment data to drive organizational learning.Departmental budget and resource allocation — oversee to sustain counseling program capacity and staffing levels aligned with community service demands.Professional and ethical culture — model and reinforce organization-wide through policy leadership, peer accountability structures, and public representation of the counseling profession.
Also known as
60 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Adoption CounselorAIDS CounselorAnger Control CounselorBehavior SpecialistBusiness RepresentativeCareer Development SpecialistCareer ManagerCareer SpecialistCase ConsultantCase InvestigatorCase ManagerCase ReviewerCase WorkerChildren's CounselorChristian CounselorCommunity Center WorkerCommunity Chest OfficerCommunity Organization WorkerCommunity OrganizerCorrections CounselorDebt CounselorDelegateDomestic Violence CounselorEcclesiastical WorkerEmployment CoachExecutive CoachFaith DoctorFaith HealerField ReporterField WorkerGospel WorkerGrand ScribeGrief CounselorGroup CounselorHIV CounselorHousing CounselorLicensed Professional Counselor (LPC)Life CoachMental Health ConsultantMental Hygiene Consultant