Credit counselors
SOC Code: 13-2071
Credit counselors carries a 40% AI exposure score (High automation risk), with a median annual wage of $50,480 and +3.3% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 31,800 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.
Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)
AI Exposure vs Industry Growth
Total occupations tracked
832
Covering all SOC major groups
Data currency
2024
BLS Employment Projections
AI exposure avg
40%
Fleet-wide median across all roles
Composite score weighing O*NET task data completeness, BLS projection methodology, and cross-validation with employer risk grades.
Employment Projections
Occupation Insight
Credit counselors (SOC 13-2071) carries an AI exposure score of 40%, placing it in the High automation-risk tier. This score is computed from O*NET Database 30.0 task-level analysis, where each task an occupation performs is evaluated against current generative AI, robotic process automation, and machine-learning capabilities. A score in the 40–70% range indicates meaningful automation pressure on specific task categories, but the role as a whole still requires human judgment for coordination, exception handling, or client interaction.
The economic context matters alongside the risk score. BLS counted approximately 31,800 workers in this occupation in 2024, and projects a +3.3% change through 2034 — modest growth that keeps the occupation viable even as tasks evolve. Median annual compensation stands at $50,480, reflecting both skill scarcity and the value employers place on the tasks that remain difficult to automate. Entry typically requires Bachelor's degree, plus None of related experience.
For career planners, this profile should be read alongside the task, skill, and knowledge breakdowns below and the list of employers whose workforce composition includes Credit counselors. Adjacent occupations shown further down offer lateral moves that preserve industry knowledge while potentially reducing exposure. Pair the AI exposure score with the BLS employment projection and wage percentiles above for a complete career assessment.
Education & Entry Requirements
Top Tasks (O*NET)
- 1. Calculate clients' available monthly income to meet debt obligations.
- 2. Explain services or policies to clients, such as debt management program rules, advantages and disadvantages of using services, or creditor concession policies.
- 3. Create debt management plans, spending plans, or budgets to assist clients to meet financial goals.
- 4. Prioritize client debt repayment to avoid dire consequences, such as bankruptcy or foreclosure or to reduce overall costs, such as by paying high-interest or short-term loans first.
- 5. Assess clients' overall financial situations by reviewing income, assets, debts, expenses, credit reports, or other financial information.
- 6. Recommend strategies for clients to meet their financial goals, such as borrowing money through loans or loan programs, declaring bankruptcy, making budget adjustments, or enrolling in debt management plans.
- 7. Explain general financial topics to clients, such as credit report ratings, bankruptcy laws, consumer protection laws, wage attachments, or collection actions.
- 8. Disburse funds from client accounts to creditors.
- 9. Interview clients by telephone or in person to gather financial information.
- 10. Estimate time for debt repayment, given amount of debt, interest rates, and available funds.
Key Skills Required
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Service Orientation
- Complex Problem Solving
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Persuasion
Knowledge Areas
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Administrative
- Education and Training
- Economics and Accounting
- Psychology
- Computers and Electronics
- Communications and Media
- Administration and Management
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Credit counselors?
Credit counselors has an AI exposure score of 40%, indicating a high level of automation risk. The majority of tasks in this role require human judgment, creativity, or physical presence that AI cannot easily replicate.
What is the job outlook for Credit counselors?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, Credit counselors is projected to grow by 3.3% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 31,800 workers.
What skills are needed for Credit counselors?
Key skills for Credit counselors include Speaking, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, and others. Typical entry-level education is Bachelor's degree.
How much do Credit counselors earn?
The median annual wage for Credit counselors is $50,480, according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Actual earnings vary by location, experience, industry, and employer. The BLS publishes detailed wage percentiles by region in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program.
What education is required for Credit counselors?
The typical entry-level education for Credit counselors is Bachelor's degree. Employers generally expect None of related work experience. On-the-job training typically involves Moderate-term on-the-job training. Requirements can vary by employer and specialization.
Which companies employ Credit counselors?
Credit counselors roles exist across many industries and employers. Workforce composition is estimated from BLS industry-occupation employment distributions matched to SEC-registered public companies.
AI Exposure Rating
High automation risk based on 10 analyzed tasks. A moderate share of tasks may be augmented by AI tools.
Related Occupations
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Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET Database 30.0. Employment figures are rounded. Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (OES).