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CAREERMASH (EN)FROM PSYCHOLOGY →

School Counselor

Educational psychologists help children and young people learn better and feel better at school. They work with teachers and families to understand what is stopping a child from learning, and find ways to help.

School Counselor

18

Psychology

AI IMPACT
AI CAN DO18%moving to58%
THE DOOR, NOWB
THE DOOR, 20 YRSC
STARTING PAY£30,000 - £36,000
REGULATORY MOATThe law requires human oversight. That human could be you.
This job holds up well against AI
AI cannot yet do much of what this job actually involves, and the law requires human oversight. That human could be you. That is about as safe as careers get right now, though it is still worth learning to use the tools well.

Career progression path

Is this the only route?

This is the standard academic trajectory, but modern careers are highly flexible. You can often skip stagesby entering the industry with an advanced qualification (like a Master's or PhD), or pivot sideways from a related discipline.

0ACADEMIC FOUNDATIONUniversity DegreeUsually 3 to 4 years of full-time academic study, explicitly preparing you for the theoretical realities of the industry. Requires A-Levels, BTECs, or equivalent Level 3.-£157,950Avg. UK tuition & living
1FIRST STEPJunior School CounselorIn this entry-level role, you will assist senior counselors in providing support to students, conducting initial assessments, and participating in school-wide initiatives.£30,000 - £36,000
2GAINING EXPERIENCEMid-level School CounselorAs a mid-level counselor, you will take on more responsibilities, including leading workshops and developing counselling programmes tailored to student needs.£40,000 - £50,000
3PEAK CAREERSenior School Counselor/Head of CounsellingIn this peak role, you will oversee the counselling department, mentor junior staff, and implement school-wide mental health strategies.£55,000+

Recommended UK degrees

Real courses that qualify you for this career, from the same register that priced the degree above.

Master's degree in Clinical PsychologyUniversity of Central Florida · MasterCognitive Neuroscience and PsychologyThe University of Manchester · DegreeDoctorate in Experimental PsychologyTufts University · DoctorateBachelor of Arts/Science in PsychologyLingnan University · BachelorBachelor's degree in Psychology, GeneralOttawa University-Surprise · BachelorBachelor's degree in Psychology, GeneralJohnson & Wales University-Charlotte · Bachelor
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AI EXPOSURE = the share of a job's day-to-day tasks AI can already do today, from the same exposure engine used across this site (Anthropic labour market research, 2026, observed real-world AI usage by occupation). Higher means more exposed. It is a measurement of now, not a prediction. THE DOOR = how hard the job is to get into, grade A (easy) to E (extremely hard), from each career's published forecast (OpenAI, "The AI Jobs Transition Framework", Richmond 2026, CC BY 4.0). A card marked MOAT NOT YET CLASSIFIED has a real exposure score but no entry yet in our moat register, so we make no claim about what structurally protects it. Scorecard grades and verdicts are Careermash editorial judgment: we show forecasts as forecasts and own our conclusions. Salary and pathway figures are each career's own published profile. Careermash is a service provided by What School Ltd.

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