CFChooseField
Business and Finance

Credit Counselors

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.

Visual summary of pay, outlook, skills, interests, and preparation for Credit Counselors
Download graphic

Median pay

$50,480
Median annual pay for Credit Counselors.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
View source ↗

10-year growth

3.3%
Projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
View source ↗

Annual openings

2,200
Projected annual openings, including growth and replacement demand.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
View source ↗

Employment

31,800
Estimated U.S. employment for Credit Counselors in 2024.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
View source ↗

Jobs added or lost

+1,100
Projected numeric employment change from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
View source ↗

Entry preparation

Bachelor's degree
Typical additional preparation: Moderate-term on-the-job training.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024 profile
View source ↗
O*NET occupation profile

What the work involves

Strongest O*NET signals first.

Essential skills

  1. 1Speaking
  2. 2Active Listening
  3. 3Reading Comprehension
  4. 4Critical Thinking
  5. 5Writing
  6. 6Active Learning

Knowledge areas

  1. 1Customer and Personal Service
  2. 2English Language
  3. 3Mathematics
  4. 4Administrative
  5. 5Education and Training
  6. 6Economics and Accounting

Abilities

  1. 1Oral Expression
  2. 2Oral Comprehension
  3. 3Written Comprehension
  4. 4Deductive Reasoning
  5. 5Inductive Reasoning
  6. 6Problem Sensitivity

Career interests

  1. 1Conventional
  2. 2Social
  3. 3Enterprising
  4. 4Investigative
  5. 5Artistic
  6. 6Realistic

Work styles

  1. 1Dependability
  2. 2Attention to Detail
  3. 3Integrity
  4. 4Empathy
  5. 5Sincerity
  6. 6Social Orientation

Work activities

  1. 1Getting Information
  2. 2Documenting/Recording Information
  3. 3Working with Computers
  4. 4Making Decisions and Solving Problems
  5. 5Communicating with People Outside the Organization
  6. 6Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge

Work context

  1. 1E-Mail
  2. 2Telephone Conversations
  3. 3Spend Time Sitting
  4. 4Contact With Others
  5. 5Frequency of Decision Making
  6. 6Indoors, Environmentally Controlled

Representative tasks

  • Calculate clients' available monthly income to meet debt obligations.
  • Explain services or policies to clients, such as debt management program rules, advantages and disadvantages of using services, or creditor concession policies.
  • Create debt management plans, spending plans, or budgets to assist clients to meet financial goals.
  • Prioritize client debt repayment to avoid dire consequences, such as bankruptcy or foreclosure or to reduce overall costs, such as by paying high-interest or short-term loans first.
  • Assess clients' overall financial situations by reviewing income, assets, debts, expenses, credit reports, or other financial information.
  • 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.
  • 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.

Software and tools

Microsoft Word · in demandMicrosoft PowerPoint · in demandMicrosoft Outlook · in demandMicrosoft Office software · in demandMicrosoft Excel · in demandOracle PeopleSoft · hot technologyMicrosoft Access · hot technologySAP software · hot technologyChat softwarePrime Debt Software Credit RepairPrime Debt Soft Debt SettlementParagon Financial Services Paragon Financial System

Sources

BLS provides national pay, employment, and projections. O*NET provides skills, interests, preparation, tasks, work context, and tools.

ChooseField compares fields using public labor-market and professional sources.