Credit Counselors Career, Salary and Skills
Credit Counselors have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $52,230 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 27,770. Wage data is published for 165 locations.
Occupation description
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.
O*NET code
13-2071.00
Job zone
4
Typical education
Not recorded
Experience
Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$52,230
Hourly median
$25.11
Employment
27,770
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Active Listening | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Speaking | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.75 | 3.38 |
| Writing | 3.75 | 3.75 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.75 | 3.38 |
| Active Learning | 3.75 | 3.75 |
| Service Orientation | 3.62 | 3.62 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.25 | 3.62 |
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Create debt management plans, spending plans, or budgets to assist clients to meet financial goals.
Technology
- Web browser software
- Chat software
- Cooperative Processing Resources DMS Professional Suite
- CoreLogic DebtorTrace
- Email software
- Freddie Mac Loan Prospector
- ICCO CreditSoft
- Integrant DebtLogic
- LexisNexis
- LexisNexis Accurint
- Merlin Information Services databases
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Dynamics
- Microsoft Excel
Credit Counselors salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Credit Counselors Salary in TXMedian $48,220 · Employment 3,950
- Credit Counselors Salary in FLMedian $46,300 · Employment 2,410
- Credit Counselors Salary in CAMedian $67,120 · Employment 2,160
- Credit Counselors Salary in NYMedian $63,030 · Employment 2,020
- Credit Counselors Salary in New York, NYMedian $63,170 · Employment 1,610
- Credit Counselors Salary in MIMedian $52,160 · Employment 1,260
- Credit Counselors Salary in ILMedian $51,930 · Employment 1,170
- Credit Counselors Salary in PAMedian $58,330 · Employment 1,110
- Credit Counselors Salary in Dallas, TXMedian $51,820 · Employment 1,080
- Credit Counselors Salary in AZMedian $51,480 · Employment 980
- Credit Counselors Salary in TNMedian $38,730 · Employment 950
- Credit Counselors Salary in Houston, TXMedian $48,100 · Employment 900
Related careers
- Child, Family, and School Social WorkersNational median $59,550
- Accountants and AuditorsNational median $83,680
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing ClerksNational median $50,670
- Insurance Claims and Policy Processing ClerksNational median $49,230
- Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue AgentsNational median $62,370
- Insurance Sales AgentsNational median $62,280
- Customer Service RepresentativesNational median $44,770
- Tax PreparersNational median $54,920
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.