Career comparison
College Administrator vs. School Counselor
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
College administrators earn more at the median ($104,590 vs. $64,330), while college administrators usually get to work faster (Master’s plus campus experience of training). College administrators run the offices that keep colleges and universities working. School counselors help students succeed academically, socially and in planning their futures.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| College Administrator | School Counselor | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $104,590 ($50.29/hr) | $64,330 ($30.93/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $64,560 – $215,620 | $45,020 – $104,770 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +1.8% (slower than average) | +2.9% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 14,500 | 27,800 |
| Typical entry education | Master's degree | Master's degree |
| Training time | Master’s plus campus experience | Bachelor’s plus 2-year master’s |
| Key credential | Master’s in higher education | State school counselor certification |
| Work setting | Administrators work in campus offices, with meetings across campus.. | Counselors work in schools, colleges and career centers, in offices and classrooms.. |
What each job does
College Administrator
- Manage a college office or division
- Set policies and procedures
- Oversee budgets
- Supervise staff
- Track enrollment and retention data
School Counselor
- Meet with students individually and in groups
- Help with academic and graduation planning
- Guide college and career planning
- Support social and emotional needs
- Respond to crises
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working with people and teamwork. Both are part of the education & childcare field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose college administrator if…
- I love campus life
- I like managing people
- I’m organized
Choose school counselor if…
- I want to help students succeed
- I’m a good listener
- I can handle emotional situations
Still torn? Take the College Administrator fit quiz and the School Counselor fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, college administrator or school counselor?
College Administrators earn more at the median: $104,590 versus $64,330 for school counselors, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
College Administrators typically train faster (Master’s plus campus experience) than school counselors (Bachelor’s plus 2-year master’s).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects school counselors to grow +2.9% from 2025–35, compared with +1.8% for college administrators.