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EducationTop JobColorado Talent Pipeline Report-aligned occupation with strong annual openings, growth, and wage signals.

Student Affairs Professional

Counsel students, manage programming, or perform administrative duties in postsecondary institutions. Advisors and Counselors are generally student-facing roles with responsibility for academic, financial aid, or career advising. Depending on the office, some coordinators, supervisors, and managers create, support, and assess nonacademic (i.e., experiential or co-curricular) programs for students; plan events and advise student clubs and organizations; assign students rooms and roommates; ensure that residential facilities are well maintained; train residential advisers. In other offices, coordinators, supervisors, and managers perform programmatic and administrative duties, such as admissions, bursar, financial aid, student payments, and student records.

Annual openings

703

Median wage

$64,780

Typical education

This position usually requires a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree.

Growth 2026–2032

+10%

Median wage source: Colorado BLS OEWS (2025).

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Career requirements

What does this career require?

Explore education, required qualifications, voluntary credentials and employer preferences for this role. Check the details to see which apply.

Typical education

This position usually requires a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree.

Credential requirement

Credential requirements not reported

Credential detail

Generally, there are no additional credentials required for this occupation. However, a certification in advising is valued.

Experience detail

No previous work experience is required. However, experience in internships, research assistant positions, or regional/national organization membership is valued.

Employer competency information

  • ● Communication - Listen, speak, write, and signal so others can understand ● Problem Solving & Decision Making - Apply critical-thinking skills to solve problems by generating, evaluating, and implementing solutions ● Teamwork - Working cooperatively with others to complete work assignments ● Customer Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction ● Critical & Analytical Thinking - Use logic, reasoning, and analysis to draw conclusions and address problems

Is this work a fit?

What the work actually feels like

How people in this career tend to spend their time, the interests it draws on, and a look at a typical day.

Work style

The type of work can vary by job and employer.

  • With childrenYes
  • On a computerMay vary
  • OutdoorsNo
  • With your handsNo

Interests it draws on

  • Education
  • Teaching

Automation exposure

Low exposure

Tasks here lean on judgement and people skills that are hard to automate.

A typical day

  1. Counsel individuals or groups to help them understand and overcome personal, social, or behavioral problems affecting their educational or vocational situations.
  2. Instruct individuals in career development techniques, such as job search and application strategies, resume writing, and interview skills.
  3. Assess needs for assistance, such as rehabilitation, financial aid, or additional vocational training, and refer clients to the appropriate services.
  4. Teach classes and present self-help or information sessions on subjects related to education and career planning.
  5. Address community groups, faculty, and staff members to explain available counseling services.
  6. Prepare reports on students and activities as required by administration.
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