Business and finance
Credit counselor
Advise and educate individuals or organizations on acquiring and managing debt. May provide guidance in determining the best type of loan and explain loan requirements or restrictions. May help develop debt management plans or student financial aid packages. May advise on credit issues, or provide budget, mortgage, bankruptcy, or student financial aid counseling.
Median pay
$52,230
Growth to 2035
+3%
about as fast as average
Openings a year
2,000
Time to qualify*
6 months
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Credit counselor
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Credit counselor: 10% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Create debt management plans, spending plans, or budgets to assist clients to meet financial goals.
- Assess clients' overall financial situations by reviewing income, assets, debts, expenses, credit reports, or other financial information.
- Calculate clients' available monthly income to meet debt obligations.
- Recommend strategies for clients to meet their financial goals, such as borrowing money through loans or loan programs, declaring bankruptcy, making budget adjustments, or enrolling in debt management plans.
- Advise clients or respond to inquiries about financial matters in person or via phone, email, Web site, or Internet chat.
- Explain general financial topics to clients, such as credit report ratings, bankruptcy laws, consumer protection laws, wage attachments, or collection actions.
- Interview clients by telephone or in person to gather financial information.
- Maintain or update records of client account activity, including financial transactions, counseling session notes, correspondence, document images, or client inquiries.
Also called: Accredited Financial Counselor · Budget Credit Counselor · Certified Consumer Credit and Housing Counselor · Certified Credit Consultant · Certified Credit Counselor · Certified Financial Coach · Certified Personal Finance Counselor · Financial Coach
Outlook and AI
Credit counselors held 31,200 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 32,300 by 2035 (+3%, about as fast as average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
- Credit counselor vs. Personal financial advisor
- Credit counselor vs. Loan officer
- Credit counselor vs. Credit authorizers, checkers, and clerks
- Credit counselor vs. Credit analyst
- Credit counselor vs. Loan interviewers and clerks
- Credit counselor vs. Financial analyst
- Credit counselor vs. Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents
- Credit counselor vs. Eligibility interviewers, government programs
- Credit counselor vs. Financial manager
- Credit counselor vs. Bill and account collectors