Refit
Career overview · SOC 13-2071

Credit Counselors

Advise and educate individuals or organizations on acquiring and managing debt. May provide guidance in determining the best type of loan and explain loan requirements or restrictions. May help develop debt management plans or student financial aid packages. May advise on credit issues, or provide budget, mortgage, bankruptcy, or student financial aid counseling.

Also called: Accredited Financial Counselor · Certified Consumer Credit and Housing Counselor · Certified Credit and Housing Counselor · Certified Credit Consultant · Certified Credit Counselor · Credit Counselor

Median pay (national)
$50,480
$38,980–$77,920 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
28,110
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+3.3%
~2,200 openings/yr
Typical entry
Bachelor's degree

What the numbers say

Refit analysis ·Pay for credit counselors shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $77,920 versus $38,980 at the bottom 10% — 2.0x. The median of $50,480 leaves roughly 54% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +3.3% from 2024 to 2034 — about as fast as the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 2,200 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 46 states with released data, California pays the most for this role (median $65,820, +30% vs the national median), while Mississippi sits lowest at $39,100 — a 68% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Speaking, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint as in-demand technologies for this role.

Tailor your resume to Credit Counselors

Honest tailoring

See how your resume lines up with Credit Counselors

Refit re-angles your real experience toward this role using the skills above — and never invents skills you don't have. A no-fabrication gate checks every change before you see it.

Free. No account needed to see your first re-fit.

Top skills employers ask for

Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.

  • Speaking
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Active Listening
  • Writing
  • Critical Thinking
  • Active Learning
  • Mathematics
  • Learning Strategies
  • Monitoring
  • Science

What they actually do

Core O*NET tasks for this role.

  • Calculate clients' available monthly income to meet debt obligations.
  • Explain services or policies to clients, such as debt management program rules, advantages and disadvantages of using services, or creditor concession policies.
  • Create debt management plans, spending plans, or budgets to assist clients to meet financial goals.
  • 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.
  • Assess clients' overall financial situations by reviewing income, assets, debts, expenses, credit reports, or other financial information.
  • Explain general financial topics to clients, such as credit report ratings, bankruptcy laws, consumer protection laws, wage attachments, or collection actions.
  • Estimate time for debt repayment, given amount of debt, interest rates, and available funds.
  • Maintain or update records of client account activity, including financial transactions, counseling session notes, correspondence, document images, or client inquiries.
  • Negotiate with creditors on behalf of clients to arrange for payment adjustments, interest rate reductions, time extensions, or payment plans.
  • Advise clients on housing matters, such as housing rental, homeownership, mortgage delinquency, or foreclosure prevention.

Tools & technology

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Word
  • Oracle PeopleSoft
  • SAP software
  • Chat software
  • Cooperative Processing Resources DMS Professional Suite
  • CoreLogic DebtorTrace
  • Freddie Mac Loan Prospector
  • ICCO CreditSoft
  • Integrant DebtLogic
  • LexisNexis
  • LexisNexis Accurint
  • Merlin Information Services databases

Knowledge areas

  • Customer and Personal Service
  • English Language
  • Mathematics
  • Administrative
  • Education and Training
  • Economics and Accounting
  • Psychology
  • Computers and Electronics