Academic Advisor

Also called: College Advisor

Helps college students choose classes, stay on track to graduate, and plan for the future.

A day in the life

Meets 12 students in 30-minute appointments, helps a freshman who failed chemistry rethink her plan, and flags students at risk of dropping out.

Pay over a career

Starting
$38k
Typical
$50k
High
$70k

Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.

Training

Master's degree, about 5 years after high school. Bachelor's minimum; most universities prefer a master's in higher education or counseling.

Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $60k – $150k.

Majors to look at: Higher Education, Counseling, Psychology.

Outlook

Growing about average (about 4% over 10 years).

Will it last? Our AI estimate

Medium risk for 10 years. AI degree planners handle routine scheduling questions; helping a struggling student rethink plans stays human.

Start now, in high school

Classes: Psychology, Statistics, Speech.

Official data: O*NET occupation 21-1012.

More Workforce & Career Services careers

Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.