School Counselor Job Description (2026): Duties, Skills and Salary
A school counselor supports students' academic progress, social-emotional needs and plans after graduation. The job mixes scheduling and course planning with one-on-one conversations about a student's home life, anxiety or conflict with peers, and occasionally stepping in during a crisis. Counselors also coordinate with teachers, parents and outside agencies when a student needs more support than the school alone can give.
School counselors work in elementary, middle and high schools, and the balance of academic versus social-emotional work shifts with the grade level: elementary leans toward behavior and transitions, high school adds college and career planning. The toolkit includes a student information system, state-mandated reporting requirements, and a caseload that's often larger than counselors would choose themselves.
School Counselor job description template
Copy it, replace everything in [brackets] and cut what doesn't apply. Keep the requirements to what the job really needs.
Template · replace the [brackets]
School Counselor
[Company] · [City and office days, or remote with the countries or time zones you hire in] · [Full-time]
About [Company]
[Two or three sentences on what your company does, who it serves and why this team matters now.]
About the role
[School/District] is hiring a school counselor to support students at [school name]. You'll help students with academic planning, social-emotional challenges, and [college and career readiness], working closely with teachers and families.
What you'll do
- Advise students on course selection, schedules and graduation requirements.
- Provide individual and small-group counseling for social-emotional needs.
- Respond to crisis situations, including mandated reporting when required.
- Support [college and career planning, including applications and financial aid].
- Coordinate with teachers and families on students who need extra support.
- Run classroom lessons on topics like study skills, bullying or conflict resolution.
- Refer students to outside mental health or social services as needed.
- Maintain accurate, confidential records in compliance with school policy.
What you'll bring
- Master's degree in school counseling or a related field.
- State school counselor certification/license for [state].
- Experience working directly with students in a school setting.
- Knowledge of mandated reporting requirements and crisis protocols.
- Comfort managing a full caseload with competing daily demands.
- Clear communication with students, parents and teachers alike.
- Cultural sensitivity when working with a diverse student population.
Nice to have
- Experience with [college application / financial aid] advising.
- Bilingual skills relevant to the school's student population.
- Training in restorative practices or trauma-informed counseling.
- Experience with a specific student information system.
What we offer
- [Pay range: e.g. $X–$Y base salary, plus bonus or equity if offered]
- [Standard school-year schedule, health benefits, tuition reimbursement for continuing education]
- [Health cover, retirement or pension plan, paid time off, parental leave]
- [Work authorization: whether you can sponsor a visa or hire through an employer of record]
[Our process: an application review, an interview with the principal and counseling team, a reference and background check, and a final offer.]
[Your equal opportunity statement, and how candidates can ask for adjustments during the process]
Put the pay range in the ad. Several US states, including California, Colorado, New York and Washington, require it in job postings, and the EU Pay Transparency Directive gives applicants the right to know the starting pay or its range before the interview.
School Counselor duties by seniority
What the job usually looks like at each level. Pitch the ad at one level and say which in the title.
New Counselor
- Carries a caseload with regular supervision from a lead counselor.
- Handles routine scheduling and standard counseling referrals.
- Learns district policy on mandated reporting and crisis response.
Counselor
- Manages a full caseload independently, including complex cases.
- Leads classroom lessons and small-group counseling programs.
- Coordinates directly with outside agencies when students need referrals.
Lead Counselor
- Leads the counseling department and sets school-wide counseling priorities.
- Mentors newer counselors and reviews difficult or sensitive cases.
- Represents the school on district counseling and crisis-response policy.
School Counselor career path
- School Counseling Intern
- School Counselor
- Lead School Counselor
- Director of Counseling
School counselor requires a master's degree and state certification, usually reached after a few years of classroom teaching or a counseling-focused graduate program with a supervised internship. From here, people move into lead counselor roles, district counseling coordination, or school administration.
Similar roles
- Mental Health Counselor job description
Provides therapy in clinical settings rather than school-based academic support.
- Social Worker job description
Focuses more on family and community services than academic planning.
- Teacher job description
Leads classroom instruction rather than individual student support.
- Special Education Teacher job description
Delivers instruction under a student's IEP rather than general counseling.
School Counselor job description FAQ
What does a school counselor do?
Supports students with academic planning, scheduling and course selection, provides counseling for social-emotional and behavioral needs, and helps with college and career planning, while coordinating with teachers and families.
What qualifications should a school counselor job description require?
A master's degree in school counseling and the state's school counselor certification are standard requirements. Prior experience with students, such as teaching or an internship, is commonly expected too.
How is a school counselor different from a mental health counselor?
School counselors split their time between academic advising, scheduling and social-emotional support within a school. Mental health counselors provide ongoing therapy in clinical settings and aren't tied to a school calendar.