Data current as of August 2026 · sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET
Average base salary, Illinois
$58,000 / year
≈ $4,850 per month · $27.88 per hour
BLS May 2025 state data for Illinois · median $53,500
25th percentile
$48,000Average
$58,00075th percentile
$63,000
$48,000Average
$58,00075th percentile
$63,000
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Credit Counselor salary by state
Alabama$54,000
Arizona$56,000
Arkansas$51,000
California$73,500
Colorado$61,000
Connecticut$59,000
Delaware$64,000
District of Columbia$78,500
Florida$52,000
Georgia$60,000
Idaho$59,000
Illinois$58,000
Indiana$51,500
Iowa$52,000
Kentucky$55,000
Louisiana$50,500
Maine$60,000
Maryland$65,500
Massachusetts$69,500
Michigan$59,500
Minnesota$63,500
Mississippi$47,000
Missouri$41,500
Nebraska$70,000
Nevada$59,500
New Hampshire$62,500
New Jersey$58,500
New Mexico$58,000
New York$71,000
North Carolina$53,000
North Dakota$58,000
Ohio$61,000
Oklahoma$51,500
Oregon$64,000
Pennsylvania$63,000
Rhode Island$65,500
South Carolina$55,000
South Dakota$50,000
Tennessee$56,000
Texas$52,000
Utah$72,500
Virginia$56,500
Washington$68,000
West Virginia$46,500
Wisconsin$59,500
Wyoming$46,000
About this role
Credit Counselor is a professional role within the function in the Business and Financial Operations job family.
Pay for this title reflects both its level and its scope; see our Title Level and Organization Responsibility guides for how WePayFairly defines them.
What Credit Counselors do
Typical education: Bachelor's Degree
- 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.
Top skills: Speaking Reading Comprehension Active Listening Writing Critical Thinking Service Orientation
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Credit Counselor pay by experience level
Entry level$39,500
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$47,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$54,000
Mid-career median pay
Senior$66,500
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$83,500
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+3.3%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
2,200
projected openings per year
Growing about as fast as average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Credit Counselor salary by industry
Educational Services
14,910 workers
$61,000Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools
9,220 workers
$60,000Educational Services, Privately Owned
7,480 workers
$60,000Educational Services, State Government Owned
4,650 workers
$59,000Junior Colleges
3,830 workers
$64,000Credit Intermediation and Related Activities
3,310 workers
$61,500Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
2,930 workers
$54,500Educational Services, Local Government Owned
2,780 workers
$66,500Hospitals
2,490 workers
$54,500General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
2,420 workers
$54,000National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Credit Counselor pays 38% below the average across 47 roles in the Business and Financial Operations job family (family average $94,500).
Similar-paying roles in Business and Financial Operations
Farm Labor Contractor$60,500
Tax Preparer$63,000
Fundraiser$80,000
Human Resources Specialist$85,000
Careers related to Credit Counselor
Personal Financial Advisor$162,000
Loan Officer$91,000
Credit Analyst$104,500
Loan Interviewers and Clerks$54,500
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Credit Counselor make?
The average base salary for a Credit Counselor in the United States is $59,000 per year, or about $28.37 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $47,500 and $66,500 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Business and Financial Operations roles?
The Business and Financial Operations job family averages $94,500 across 47 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role?
WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
Put this data to work
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