School Counselor

O*NET: Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors·21-1012.00

The Verdict:School counselors build trust through in-person sessions addressing crises, behavior, and career goals — human judgment navigates adolescent complexities AI cannot match. Administrative tools augment efficiency, but relational core endures. State certifications add barriers, with steady demand ensuring evolution over replacement in the next decade.

Resilience Score

/100

Resilient

Score tiers

Highly Resilient81–100

Resilient61–80

Moderate Risk41–60

High Risk21–40

Critical Risk0–20

How is this scored?

Task Resilience

How much of this role's daily work remains beyond AI and robotic automation.

30% of score

Physical Presence

The degree to which this job needs a human present — hands-on, in the field, or in the room.

20% of score

Human Necessity

How important the unique human edge is — for trust, accountability, or judgment.

15% of score

Regulatory Shield

How strong the legal requirement is for a human in this job (by law, licensing, or credentials).

13% of score

Technological Maturity

How far AI remains from performing this role's core functions.

10% of score

Displacement Evidence

The volume of jobs in this field being eliminated by AI or automation right now.

12% of score

Score last updated: February 2026Full methodology

Avg Salary

Median annual wage from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 release.

$65k

Job Growth (10yr)

Projected change in total number of jobs (not salary) from 2024–2034. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections.

+3.5%

AI Exposure

Percentage of this role's analyzed tasks that AI can handle autonomously or nearly so. 1 of 35 tasks are classified as AI-exposed.

Low exposure

Task Analysis

This role's core work is hard to automate.
19 of 35 tasks require human judgment, presence, or trust. The 43% that are AI-leverage offer an edge — professionals who learn these tools will outperform those who don't.

1exposed

15AI leverage

19human-essential

View all 35 tasks

AI Can Handle This1 task

Tasks AI can do autonomously or nearly so

Compile and study occupational, educational, and economic information to assist counselees in determining and carrying out vocational and educational objectives.

AI Leverage15 tasks

Master these tools — humans who do outperform those who don't

Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations.

Review transcripts to ensure that students meet graduation or college entrance requirements, and write letters of recommendation.

Refer students to outside counseling services.

Refer students to degree programs based on interests, aptitudes, or educational assessments.

Evaluate students' or individuals' abilities, interests, and personality characteristics, using tests, records, interviews, or professional sources.

Provide students with information on topics such as college degree programs and admission requirements, financial aid opportunities, trade and technical schools, and apprenticeship programs.

Instruct individuals in career development techniques, such as job search and application strategies, resume writing, and interview skills.

Assess needs for assistance, such as rehabilitation, financial aid, or additional vocational training, and refer clients to the appropriate services.

Plan and promote career and employment-related programs and events, such as career planning presentations, work experience programs, job fairs, and career workshops.

Plan and conduct orientation programs and group conferences to promote the adjustment of individuals to new life experiences, such as starting college.

Prepare reports on students and activities as required by administration.

Provide information for teachers and staff members involved in helping students or graduates identify and pursue employment opportunities.

Plan, direct, and participate in recruitment and enrollment activities.

Establish contacts with employers to create internship and employment opportunities for students.

Refer qualified counselees to employers or employment services for job placement.

Human Advantage19 tasks

Tasks requiring trust, presence, or novel judgment

Counsel students regarding educational issues, such as course and program selection, class scheduling and registration, school adjustment, truancy, study habits, and career planning.

Provide crisis intervention to students when difficult situations occur at schools.

Counsel individuals or groups to help them understand and overcome personal, social, or behavioral problems affecting their educational or vocational situations.

Prepare students for later educational experiences by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.

Conduct follow-up interviews with counselees to determine if their needs have been met.

Attend meetings, educational conferences, and training workshops, and serve on committees.

Teach classes and present self-help or information sessions on subjects related to education and career planning.

Address community groups, faculty, and staff members to explain available counseling services.

Collaborate with teachers and administrators in the development, evaluation, and revision of school programs and in the preparation of master schedules for curriculum offerings.

Identify cases of domestic abuse or other family problems and encourage students or parents to seek additional assistance from mental health professionals.

Confer with parents or guardians, teachers, administrators, and other professionals to discuss children's progress, resolve behavioral, academic, and other problems, and to determine priorities for students and their resource needs.

Provide special services such as alcohol and drug prevention programs and classes that teach students to handle conflicts without resorting to violence.

Provide students with disabilities with assistive devices, supportive technology, and assistance accessing facilities, such as restrooms.

Establish and enforce administration policies and rules governing student behavior.

Supervise, train, and direct professional staff and interns.

Interview clients to obtain information about employment history, educational background, and career goals, and to identify barriers to employment.

Establish and supervise peer-counseling and peer-tutoring programs.

Observe students during classroom and play activities to evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.

Sponsor extracurricular activities, such as clubs, student organizations, and academic contests.

Resilience Landscape

School Counselor lands in Stable, Lower Pay

Higher Resilience Paths in Education

Education

School Counselor

Task Analysis

Resilience Landscape

Higher Resilience Paths in Education

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