Careers advisers and vocational guidance specialists: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time careers advisers and vocational guidance specialists in the UK earned a median £32,418 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): 17% less than the £39,039 median for all full-time jobs.
What the figures show
That puts it 238th of 382, in the middle third of occupations.
The mean, £37,472, is 16% above the median, a sign of a few very high earners.
Median full-time pay: women £31,061 a year, men £34,894 a year.
About 61% of the roughly 28,000 employee jobs are full-time.
From £26,518 in 2021, the median is up 22.2%, close to the 25.0% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 33,700 people in this line of work across the UK.
Pay distribution, 2025 provisional
| Gross pay | Full-time, annual | Full-time, weekly | Full-time, hourly | All, annual | All, weekly | All, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | – | £490.40 | £13.26 | – | – | £13.18 |
| 20th percentile | £27,328 | £529.90 | £14.36 | £18,096* | £383.40* | £14.11 |
| 25th percentile | £28,749 | £564.30 | £15.47 | £21,137* | £433.90 | £14.40 |
| 30th percentile | £29,870 | £572.80 | £16.03 | £23,567* | £471.00 | £15.13 |
| 40th percentile | £30,667 | £595.40 | £16.77 | £27,851 | £526.70 | £16.03 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £32,418 | £618.40 | £17.50 | £30,045 | £572.60 | £16.92 |
| 60th percentile | £34,027 | £664.50 | £18.27 | £32,124 | £603.60 | £17.73 |
| 70th percentile | – | £698.60 | £18.66 | £33,873 | £642.20 | £18.66 |
| 75th percentile | – | £728.70 | £19.68* | £34,945* | £671.30 | £19.75 |
| 80th percentile | – | – | – | – | £698.60 | £21.95 |
| Mean | £37,472 | £694.50 | £19.23 | £31,340 | £568.90 | £18.99 |
Pay since 2021
| ASHE year | Full-time, annual median | Full-time, weekly median | Full-time, hourly median | All, annual median | All, weekly median | Jobs (thousands, indicative) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 revised | £26,518* | £524.20 | £14.10 | £21,791* | £465.10 | 17* |
| 2022 revised | £26,430* | £517.40 | £14.24 | £23,917 | £461.90 | 21* |
| 2023 revised | £27,588* | £531.20 | £14.71 | £24,460* | £491.20 | 19* |
| 2024 revised | £30,410 | £587.30 | £15.50 | £27,570 | £526.40 | 22* |
| 2025 provisional | £32,418 | £618.40 | £17.50 | £30,045 | £572.60 | 28 |
Careers advisers and vocational guidance specialists by region
UK: 33,700 (± 7,100), April 2025 to March 2026.
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What careers advisers and vocational guidance specialists do
Careers advisers and vocational guidance specialists give advice on careers or occupations, training courses and related matters, direct school leavers and other job seekers into employment and assess their progress. (ONS SOC 2020, 3572)
Also covers: careers adviser, careers consultant, careers teacher, personal advisor, placement officer, career adviser, career coach, career consultant, careers assistant, careers leader, careers officer, employment broker, employment coach, employment officer, job coach, outplacement consultant, outplacement counsellor and personal adviser (25 titles in the ONS coding index).
- Uses an interview, questionnaire and/or psychological or other test to determine the aptitude, preferences and temperament of the client
- Advises on appropriate courses of study or avenues into employment
- Visits educational and other establishments to give talks and distribute information regarding careers
- Liaises with employers to determine employment opportunities and advises schools, colleges or individuals accordingly
- Organises careers forums and exhibitions and establishes and maintains contact with local employers, colleges and training providers
- Monitors progress and welfare of young people in employment and advises them on any difficulties
Entrants often possess a degree, an approved diploma or equivalent qualification. Professional Qualifications are available at Leve 4 and 6. NVQs/SVQs in Advice and Guidance at levels 3 and 4 are also available. Those working with young people or vulnerable adults will require a DBS check.
Related
HR, training and other vocational associate guidance professionals (median £35,486) · Human resources and industrial relations officers · Information technology trainers · salary percentile · UK average weekly earnings growth · Mean
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026