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Careers adviser

Careers advisers and vocational guidance specialists — SOC 2020 3572

Careers advisers and vocational guidance specialists give advice on careers or occupations, training courses and related matters, direct school leavers and other job seekers into employment and assess their progress.

Also calledCareer consultantCareer coachCareer development practitionerCareers consultantYear abroad officerOutplacement counsellorand 20 more titles
Typical full-time pay£32,4002025 Provisional
People in the job34,000across the UK
Demand for workersCritical
New adverts a month1,600↑ 1.5%on last year · 118th of 412

Pay

ONS · ASHE 2025
What full-time careers advisers earn, 2025
£32,400 typical£27,300lowest 20%£28,70025%n/ptop 10%
n/p: top 10% not published by ONS
Show as table
Lowest 10% earn less thanNot published
Lowest 20% earn less than£27,300
25%£28,700
Median£32,400
75%Not published
Top 20% earn more thanNot published
Top 10% earn more thanNot published
Typical pay by regionUK median £32,400
Scotland!£41,200
South East!£39,000
West Midlands!£29,900
North West!£29,700
Yorkshire and The Humber!£26,200
East Midlands!£22,800
North EastNot published by ONS–
East of EnglandNot published by ONS–
LondonNot published by ONS–
South WestNot published by ONS–
WalesNot published by ONS–
!Small sample: treat with caution
Show as table
UK median, £32,400
Scotland£41,200 (small sample)
South East£39,000 (small sample)
West Midlands£29,900 (small sample)
North West£29,700 (small sample)
Yorkshire and The Humber£26,200 (small sample)
East Midlands£22,800 (small sample)
North EastNot published by ONS
East of EnglandNot published by ONS
LondonNot published by ONS
South WestNot published by ONS
WalesNot published by ONS
Typical pay over 3 years
  • 2023 £27,600
  • 2024 £30,400
  • 2025 Provisional£32,400
↑ 18% since 2023Provisional figures are revised when ONS publishes the next year’s survey.

Jobs and demand

ONS · Textkernel adverts · DfE

About 1,600 jobs for careers advisers are advertised each month. The Department for Education rates demand for workers as critical.

New job adverts a month, Jan 2017 to Aug 2026
New advertsMonth not published by ONS (2 in all)
Show as table
Aug 20262,114
Jul 20261,767
Jun 2026Not published
May 20261,782
Apr 20261,733
Mar 2026Not published
Feb 20261,359
Jan 20261,568
Dec 2025891
Nov 20251,622
Oct 20251,623
Sept 20251,745
Aug 20251,643
Jul 20251,977
Jun 20251,977
May 20252,331
Apr 20251,646
Mar 20251,723
Feb 20251,595
Jan 20251,504
Dec 2024888
Nov 20241,272
Oct 20241,476
Sept 20241,628
Aug 20241,676
Jul 20241,809
Jun 20241,695
May 20241,866
Apr 20241,760
Mar 20241,537
Feb 20241,468
Jan 20241,678
Dec 20231,594
Nov 20231,548
Oct 20231,669
Sept 20231,678
Aug 20231,480
Jul 20231,863
Jun 20232,208
May 20232,392
Apr 20231,790
Mar 20232,107
Feb 20232,107
Jan 20232,117
Dec 20221,868
Nov 20222,107
Oct 20222,090
Sept 20222,089
Aug 20221,955
Jul 20222,365
Jun 20222,238
May 20222,438
Apr 20221,873
Mar 20222,491
Feb 20222,012
Jan 20222,229
Dec 20211,851
Nov 20212,162
Oct 20212,264
Sept 20212,073
Aug 20211,930
Jul 20212,250
Jun 20212,121
May 20212,422
Apr 20211,875
Mar 20212,651
Feb 20211,651
Jan 20211,911
Dec 20201,528
Nov 20201,655
Oct 20201,880
Sept 20201,672
Aug 20201,425
Jul 20201,337
Jun 20201,155
May 20201,136
Apr 20201,400
Mar 20202,301
Feb 20202,446
Jan 20202,382
Dec 20191,899
Nov 20192,506
Oct 20192,701
Sept 20192,333
Aug 20192,305
Jul 20192,850
Jun 20192,857
May 20192,717
Apr 20191,677
Mar 20192,107
Feb 20191,898
Jan 20192,106
Dec 20181,546
Nov 20182,125
Oct 20182,002
Sept 20181,896
Aug 20181,593
Jul 20181,800
Jun 20182,003
May 20181,978
Apr 20181,722
Mar 20181,936
Feb 20182,281
Jan 20182,108
Dec 20171,252
Nov 20171,608
Oct 20171,547
Sept 20171,602
Aug 20171,664
Jul 20171,483
Jun 20171,943
May 20171,926
Apr 20171,674
Mar 20172,000
Feb 20171,727
Jan 20171,958
Is there a shortage of careers advisers?
Critical

The Department for Education rates demand as not high, elevated or critical, using five indicators. This is its 2025 assessment; in 2024 it was elevated.

  • Visas grantedAbove usual
  • Online job advertsWell above usual
  • Wage growthWell above usual
  • Pay against similar jobsUsual
  • Hours workedAbove usual
Vacancies hard to fill because of skills
25%against 27% for all jobs
Broader groupFigure for hr, training and other vocational associate guidance professionals, which includes careers advisers. DfE Employer Skills Survey 2024.
Where the most jobs are advertisedadverts a quarter
London984
Manchester205
Birmingham174
Leeds158
Bristol, City of104
Liverpool73
Sheffield72
Nottingham65
Newcastle upon Tyne63
Milton Keynes62
London is published as one area. Averages leave out quarters ONS withheld.
Where careers advisers are most concentratedShare of local job adverts, compared with the UK.

Recruitment from abroad. Fewer than 10 sponsored work visas were granted for this job from July 2025 to June 2026. Home Office

Who does it

ONS · Annual Population Survey · April 2025 to March 2026
Age of careers advisers
10%!
23%!
28%!
23%!
17%!
n/p
!Small sample: treat with cautionn/p: too few in the survey to publish
Show as table
16–2410% (small sample)
25–3423% (small sample)
35–4428% (small sample)
45–5423% (small sample)
55–6417% (small sample)
65+Not published
Highest qualification
Degree or equivalent74%
Higher education below degree!8.8%
A levels or equivalent!9.3%
GCSEs or equivalent!5.7%
!Small sample: treat with caution
Show as table
Degree or equivalent74%
Higher education below degree8.8% (small sample)
A levels or equivalent9.3% (small sample)
GCSEs or equivalent5.7% (small sample)

Main employers: tertiary education (19%), other social work activities without accommodation nec (12%), general secondary education (11%), activities of employment placement agencies (7.6%).

How to get in

Hold a degree
74%
as their highest qualification
Apprenticeships
2
from level 4
Apprenticeships take
2 years
typically

Routes in

You can get into this job through:

University

You can do a postgraduate diploma, or master's degree, in career guidance after completing an undergraduate degree in any subject.

Postgraduate courses take 1 year full time or 2 years part time and lead to the Qualification in Career Development (QCD).

People often apply to do a postgraduate career guidance qualification after working in teaching, youth work or social services.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • a degree in any subject for a postgraduate course

Apprenticeship

You could apply to do a Career Development Professional Level 6 (non-degree) Apprenticeship.

This takes 2 years to complete.

You may be able to do an Employability Practitioner Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship, if you're working in careers or education, then go on to complete a level 6 career guidance qualification.

Entry requirements

Employers will set their own entry requirements.

Other ways in

Work your way up

You could start by working as a careers co-ordinator, employment support adviser or youth worker and do further training on the job.

Your employer may support you to take work-based qualifications, such as:

  • Level 4 Diploma in Career Information and Advice
  • Level 6 Diploma in Career Guidance and Development
Volunteering

Volunteering with job support, advice or mentoring organisations could give you an advantage when applying for training or jobs.

Find out about local opportunities for voluntary work through the National Council for Voluntary Organisations or Do IT.

What you’ll need

  • pass enhanced background checks as you may work with children and vulnerable adults

Registration and professional bodies

Professional and industry bodies

Once you're qualified, you can apply to join the Career Development Institute's UK register of career development professionals.

Further information

You can find out more about becoming a careers adviser from the Career Development Institute.

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for careers adviser. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Apprenticeships

2 for this job
Level 6About 2 years

Career development professional

You gain
A level 6 or higher career-related qualification (minimum of 60 credits) approved by the…
Employers may ask for
Typically an apprentice might be expected to have already achieved level two English and maths on entry. Apprentices without level 2 English and maths will…
Details on Skills England

© Skills England 2025. This information is licensed under the Open Government Licence https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

The work

ONS · ESCO · O*NET

Typical tasks

  • uses an interview, questionnaire and/or psychological or other test to determine the aptitude, preferences and temperament of the client
  • advises on appropriate courses of study or avenues into employment
  • visits educational and other establishments to give talks and distribute information regarding careers
  • liaises with employers to determine employment opportunities and advises schools, colleges or individuals accordingly
  • organises careers forums and exhibitions and establishes and maintains contact with local employers, colleges and training providers
  • monitors progress and welfare of young people in employment and advises them on any difficulties

Skills

  • write work-related reports
  • develop employee retention programs
  • document interviews
  • interview people
  • listen actively
  • negotiate employment agreements
  • profile people
  • administer appointments
  • organise training
  • assess character
  • communicate by telephone
  • develop professional network
  • facilitate job market access
  • fix meetings

Knowledge

  • employment law
  • labour legislation
  • job market offers
  • human resource management
  • market analysis
  • advertising techniques
  • company policies
  • government policy implementation

Suits people who like

  • Leading and persuading
  • Organising and following procedures

Outlook

DfE · Skills Imperative 2035
Broader groupThese projections are for business and public service associate professionals, a group of 26 jobs that includes careers advisers.
Change in jobs, 2020 to 2035↑ 1.2%about 26,000 more jobs
Workers needed by 20351.1 millionincluding people replacing those who retire or leave

Sources

Pay
ONS, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, 2025 provisional
People in the job, who does it
ONS, Annual Population Survey, April 2025 to March 2026
Job adverts
ONS, online job adverts (Textkernel), to Aug 2026
Demand, skill shortages
Department for Education and Skills England, Occupations in demand and the Employer Skills Survey
Outlook
The Skills Imperative 2035 (2024), NFER/Nuffield/DfE/IER/CE
Routes in
National Careers Service job profiles
Apprenticeships, qualifications
Skills England occupational maps
Skills, interests
ESCO classification of the European Commission; O*NET data, U.S. Department of Labor (CC BY 4.0, modified)
Visas
Home Office, immigration system statistics

Figures as of 10 October 2026.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Occupations in demand and the Employer Skills Survey: Department for Education and Skills England. Immigration system statistics: Home Office. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

© Skills England 2025. This information is licensed under the Open Government Licence https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Source: The Skills Imperative 2035 (2024), NFER/Nuffield/DfE/IER/CE.

This service uses the ESCO classification of the European Commission.

This service includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This service has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. CC BY 4.0 licence.

jobfacts is independent. It is not part of, affiliated with or endorsed by the Office for National Statistics, the Department for Education, Skills England, the National Careers Service, the Home Office, the European Commission or the U.S. Department of Labor.