High School Teacher vs. School Counselor vs. Instructional Coordinator
Education careers and the graduate study some of them require.
Short answer: Instructional coordinators have the highest national median wage of the group at $77,440 (May 2025). Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors are projected to grow fastest, +2.9% from 2025 to 2035. Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education typically enter with bachelor's degree; Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors typically enter with master's degree; Instructional coordinators typically enter with master's degree.
| Measure | Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education | Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors | Instructional coordinators |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage (May 2025) | $72,040 | $64,330 | $77,440 |
| 10th percentile wage | $48,780 | $45,020 | $47,980 |
| 90th percentile wage | $107,600 | $104,770 | $121,670 |
| Employment (May 2025) | 1,065,210 | 353,310 | 227,760 |
| Projected change, 2025 to 2035 | -0.2% | +2.9% | +1.6% |
| Openings per year | 63,500 | 27,800 | 23,100 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Master's degree | Master's degree |
| Related work experience | None | None | 5 years or more |
| On-the-job training | None | None | None |
| O*NET Job Zone (1 to 5) | 4 | 5 | 5 |
| Self-employed share | 0.1% | 0.6% | 2.3% |
| Top skills | Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking, Learning Strategies | Active Listening, Speaking, Reading Comprehension, Writing | Learning Strategies, Writing, Speaking, Reading Comprehension |
| Licenses and certifications in our library | CT-INITIAL-EDUCATOR-CERTIFICATE | None listed | None listed |
Wages Verified data describe all workers in each occupation, not starting pay. Growth and openings are Official projection. Highlighted cells mark the highest median wage and fastest projected growth.