Also called: Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Counselor, Crisis Line Specialist
Answers calls and texts on the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and helps people through mental-health crises.
Crisis counselors listen to people in distress, assess suicide risk, help them make safety plans, and send mobile crisis teams when needed. Since 988 launched in 2022, call centers have expanded quickly.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's in psychology or social work often preferred; crisis training provided.
Ways in: 4-year college, On-the-job training, Certification. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Psychology, Social Work, Counseling.
Growing faster than average. Approximate; 988 centers growing.
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. AI may screen texts and suggest replies; talking someone through a crisis stays deeply human.
Classes: AP Psychology, Sociology, Health, Spanish.
Official data: O*NET occupation 21-1018.
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.