Credit Counselors
Credit Counselors (SOC 13-2071) earn a median $52,230 a year ($25.11 an hour) in the United States, with 27,770 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is California.
What credit counselors do
Credit counselors advise and educate people and organizations about acquiring and managing debt. In a typical session, a counselor calculates the client's monthly income that is available to meet debt obligations, reviews expenses, and then explains the services or policies of the agency, such as the rules of a debt management program. They put together repayment plans and household budgets, and prioritize which debts to repay first to avoid serious consequences like foreclosure. Some counselors guide clients in choosing the right type of loan or in understanding loan requirements, and others help assemble student financial aid packages. Titles include consumer credit counselor and debt counselor. The occupation differs from loan officers, who evaluate and approve loans for a lender, from credit analysts, who assess risk, and from personal financial advisors, who plan investments. General financial topics such as credit report ratings, bankruptcy laws, consumer protection laws, and collection actions are explained to clients, and counselors interview clients by telephone or in person to gather financial information.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a bachelor's degree as the typical level of education for this occupation.
Also called: Accredited Financial Counselor, Branch Credit Counselor, Certified Consumer Credit and Housing Counselor, Certified Credit and Housing Counselor, Certified Credit Consultant.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $18.44 | $21.98 | $25.11 | $30.81 | $38.67 | $27.51 | 27,770 |
| Annual | $38,350 | $45,720 | $52,230 | $64,080 | $80,440 | $57,210 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where credit counselors earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $22.72 | $26.94 | $32.27 | $39.36 | $47.37 | $34.22 | 2,160 | 0.12 | 0.66 |
| Annual | $47,260 | $56,040 | $67,120 | $81,860 | $98,520 | $71,180 | ||||
| Georgia | Hourly | $21.47 | $23.35 | $30.81 | $30.81 | $30.81 | $27.87 | 460 | 0.10 | 0.53 |
| Annual | $44,660 | $48,560 | $64,080 | $64,080 | $64,080 | $57,980 | ||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $25.04 | $28.21 | $30.57 | $39.33 | $48.26 | $36.37 | 110 | 0.16 | 0.88 |
| Annual | $52,080 | $58,670 | $63,580 | $81,800 | $100,370 | $75,640 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $21.50 | $25.65 | $30.41 | $38.15 | $45.25 | $32.22 | 770 | 0.21 | 1.19 |
| Annual | $44,730 | $53,340 | $63,240 | $79,350 | $94,110 | $67,020 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $23.42 | $25.67 | $30.30 | $38.16 | $48.42 | $32.98 | 2,020 | 0.21 | 1.17 |
| Annual | $48,720 | $53,390 | $63,030 | $79,370 | $100,720 | $68,590 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Texas | Hourly | $17.37 | $18.87 | $23.18 | $27.47 | $32.09 | $24.24 | 3,950 | 0.28 | 1.57 |
| Annual | $36,120 | $39,240 | $48,220 | $57,140 | $66,750 | $50,420 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $18.34 | $20.88 | $22.26 | $25.43 | $32.27 | $24.10 | 2,410 | 0.24 | 1.36 |
| Annual | $38,140 | $43,420 | $46,300 | $52,900 | $67,120 | $50,130 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $22.72 | $26.94 | $32.27 | $39.36 | $47.37 | $34.22 | 2,160 | 0.12 | 0.66 |
| Annual | $47,260 | $56,040 | $67,120 | $81,860 | $98,520 | $71,180 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $23.42 | $25.67 | $30.30 | $38.16 | $48.42 | $32.98 | 2,020 | 0.21 | 1.17 |
| Annual | $48,720 | $53,390 | $63,030 | $79,370 | $100,720 | $68,590 | ||||
| Michigan | Hourly | $18.96 | $22.78 | $25.08 | $29.07 | $37.48 | $27.64 | 1,260 | 0.29 | 1.61 |
| Annual | $39,440 | $47,380 | $52,160 | $60,470 | $77,970 | $57,490 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $27.20 | $32.61 | $39.70 | $48.21 | $56.80 | $41.21 | 210 | 0.09 | 0.50 |
| Annual | $56,580 | $67,830 | $82,570 | $100,270 | $118,140 | $85,720 | ||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $29.19 | $29.19 | $38.79 | $39.64 | $46.83 | $37.22 | 120 | 0.10 | 0.57 |
| Annual | $60,720 | $60,720 | $80,680 | $82,460 | $97,400 | $77,410 | ||||
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | Hourly | $23.00 | $29.55 | $36.99 | $41.65 | $47.50 | $36.97 | 110 | 0.10 | 0.57 |
| Annual | $47,830 | $61,460 | $76,930 | $86,630 | $98,810 | $76,900 | ||||
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | Hourly | $23.26 | $28.18 | $32.27 | $39.64 | $46.84 | $35.00 | 200 | 0.13 | 0.72 |
| Annual | $48,390 | $58,600 | $67,120 | $82,440 | $97,430 | $72,810 | ||||
| Fresno, CA | Hourly | $22.86 | $22.86 | $32.05 | $39.10 | $39.90 | $32.19 | 60 | 0.14 | 0.76 |
| Annual | $47,540 | $47,540 | $66,660 | $81,330 | $82,990 | $66,940 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $22.71 | $25.67 | $30.37 | $38.31 | $48.43 | $33.26 | 1,610 | 0.17 | 0.95 |
| Annual | $47,240 | $53,390 | $63,170 | $79,680 | $100,730 | $69,170 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $18.32 | $20.27 | $24.91 | $27.89 | $32.66 | $25.16 | 1,080 | 0.27 | 1.49 |
| Annual | $38,100 | $42,170 | $51,820 | $58,000 | $67,930 | $52,330 | ||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $16.82 | $18.77 | $23.13 | $28.76 | $33.70 | $24.93 | 900 | 0.27 | 1.53 |
| Annual | $34,980 | $39,050 | $48,100 | $59,830 | $70,090 | $51,860 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $22.51 | $24.34 | $31.35 | $38.37 | $46.51 | $32.86 | 830 | 0.13 | 0.74 |
| Annual | $46,810 | $50,620 | $65,210 | $79,800 | $96,740 | $68,340 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $19.43 | $23.44 | $27.51 | $30.13 | $38.16 | $28.25 | 800 | 0.18 | 0.99 |
| Annual | $40,420 | $48,750 | $57,210 | $62,660 | $79,360 | $58,750 | ||||
Top industries employing credit counselors
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools employ 33.2% of credit counselors nationally (9,220 jobs) at a median $53,140 a year ($25.55 an hour), followed by Junior Colleges (13.8%) and General Medical and Surgical Hospitals (8.7%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools NAICS 611300 | 9,220 | 33.2% | $53,140 | $25.55 |
| Junior Colleges NAICS 611200 | 3,830 | 13.8% | $59,340 | $28.53 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals NAICS 622100 | 2,420 | 8.7% | $51,820 | $24.91 |
| Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services NAICS 541900 | 1,840 | 6.6% | $48,090 | $23.12 |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities (5221 and 5223 only) NAICS 5220A1 | 1,720 | 6.2% | $54,640 | $26.27 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (27,770). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $47,580 for credit counselors in May 2021 and $52,230 in May 2025, with employment of 31,230 and 27,770.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $47,580 | $22.87 | 31,230 |
| May 2022 | $47,320 | $22.75 | 29,090 |
| May 2023 | $48,570 | $23.35 | 27,950 |
| May 2024 | $50,480 | $24.27 | 28,110 |
| May 2025 | $52,230 | $25.11 | 27,770 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
46 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California profile | $32.27 | $67,120 | $47,260 | $98,520 | 2,160 | 0.12 | 0.66 |
| 2 | Georgia profile | $30.81 | $64,080 | $44,660 | $64,080 | 460 | 0.10 | 0.53 |
| 3 | District of Columbia profile | $30.57 | $63,580 | $52,080 | $100,370 | 110 | 0.16 | 0.88 |
| 4 | Massachusetts profile | $30.41 | $63,240 | $44,730 | $94,110 | 770 | 0.21 | 1.19 |
| 5 | New York profile | $30.30 | $63,030 | $48,720 | $100,720 | 2,020 | 0.21 | 1.17 |
| 6 | Nebraska profile | $30.05 | $62,510 | $44,550 | $95,270 | 260 | 0.25 | 1.42 |
| 7 | Washington profile | $29.98 | $62,360 | $47,920 | $82,950 | 560 | 0.16 | 0.88 |
| 8 | Minnesota profile | $29.89 | $62,160 | $47,110 | $74,140 | 580 | 0.20 | 1.10 |
| 9 | Maryland profile | $29.06 | $60,450 | $45,960 | $81,720 | 350 | 0.13 | 0.72 |
| 10 | Oregon profile | $28.44 | $59,150 | $46,300 | $81,990 | 280 | 0.14 | 0.80 |
| 11 | New Hampshire profile | $28.28 | $58,830 | $41,100 | $76,370 | 170 | 0.26 | 1.43 |
| 12 | Rhode Island profile | $28.12 | $58,480 | $48,890 | $79,770 | 130 | 0.26 | 1.46 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania profile | $28.04 | $58,330 | $41,100 | $82,190 | 1,110 | 0.18 | 1.03 |
| 14 | New Jersey profile | $27.49 | $57,180 | $40,440 | $75,740 | 530 | 0.12 | 0.69 |
| 15 | Colorado profile | $27.47 | $57,130 | $45,460 | $80,320 | 360 | 0.13 | 0.70 |
| 16 | Maine profile | $26.68 | $55,490 | $43,980 | $76,700 | 170 | 0.27 | 1.50 |
| 17 | Nevada profile | $26.67 | $55,480 | $44,440 | $75,850 | 170 | 0.11 | 0.60 |
| 18 | Connecticut profile | $26.30 | $54,710 | $43,660 | $82,740 | 100 | 0.06 | 0.33 |
| 19 | South Carolina profile | $25.57 | $53,190 | $38,960 | $64,550 | 250 | 0.11 | 0.61 |
| 20 | Delaware profile | $25.40 | $52,840 | $47,150 | $86,670 | 40 | 0.08 | 0.45 |
| 21 | North Dakota profile | $25.11 | $52,220 | $51,360 | $62,120 | 30 | 0.07 | 0.39 |
| 22 | Michigan profile | $25.08 | $52,160 | $39,440 | $77,970 | 1,260 | 0.29 | 1.61 |
| 23 | Wisconsin profile | $25.07 | $52,140 | $44,950 | $77,310 | 770 | 0.26 | 1.47 |
| 24 | Illinois profile | $24.96 | $51,930 | $39,620 | $78,990 | 1,170 | 0.19 | 1.07 |
| 25 | Virginia profile | $24.78 | $51,550 | $40,930 | $70,200 | 760 | 0.19 | 1.04 |
| 26 | Arizona profile | $24.75 | $51,480 | $43,580 | $66,480 | 980 | 0.30 | 1.69 |
| 27 | Utah profile | $24.68 | $51,330 | $40,850 | $133,970 | 190 | 0.11 | 0.63 |
| 28 | Ohio profile | $24.60 | $51,160 | $43,520 | $86,160 | 890 | 0.16 | 0.90 |
| 29 | Idaho profile | $24.58 | $51,130 | $41,270 | $76,430 | 90 | 0.10 | 0.56 |
| 30 | New Mexico profile | $24.23 | $50,390 | $41,850 | $81,480 | 200 | 0.23 | 1.27 |
| 31 | South Dakota profile | $23.50 | $48,890 | $45,400 | $51,980 | ** | ** | ** |
| 32 | Texas profile | $23.18 | $48,220 | $36,120 | $66,750 | 3,950 | 0.28 | 1.57 |
| 33 | Indiana profile | $23.16 | $48,180 | $37,840 | $60,510 | 740 | 0.23 | 1.29 |
| 34 | Kentucky profile | $23.15 | $48,150 | $37,360 | $74,210 | 220 | 0.11 | 0.62 |
| 35 | Iowa profile | $23.14 | $48,130 | $38,630 | $60,070 | 440 | 0.28 | 1.59 |
| 36 | Alabama profile | $23.14 | $48,120 | $39,260 | $73,170 | ** | ** | ** |
| 37 | Louisiana profile | $22.72 | $47,250 | $38,570 | $60,810 | 130 | 0.07 | 0.38 |
| 38 | Oklahoma profile | $22.57 | $46,950 | $38,120 | $67,750 | 230 | 0.14 | 0.76 |
| 39 | Florida profile | $22.26 | $46,300 | $38,140 | $67,120 | 2,410 | 0.24 | 1.36 |
| 40 | North Carolina profile | $22.20 | $46,180 | $31,210 | $76,940 | 320 | 0.07 | 0.36 |
| 41 | Mississippi profile | $22.11 | $45,990 | $32,020 | $57,700 | 210 | 0.18 | 1.02 |
| 42 | West Virginia profile | $22.05 | $45,860 | $37,390 | $49,400 | 150 | 0.22 | 1.22 |
| 43 | Arkansas profile | $21.67 | $45,060 | $35,000 | $62,770 | 50 | 0.04 | 0.22 |
| 44 | Wyoming profile | $20.47 | $42,580 | $33,420 | $66,080 | 40 | 0.14 | 0.76 |
| 45 | Tennessee profile | $18.62 | $38,730 | $31,200 | $105,140 | 950 | 0.29 | 1.62 |
| 46 | Missouri profile | $14.70 | $30,580 | $29,100 | $64,210 | ** | ** | ** |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (13-2070), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Business and Financial Operations Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 13-2071 Credit Counselors.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 13-2071, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 13-2071.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.