Counsellor salary in Australia
ANZSCO occupation: Counsellors
Last reviewed June 2026
Source: Jobs and Skills Australia — Occupation Profiles (ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025) · 2025 data. Annual figure derived from median weekly earnings × 52.
See your take-home pay on $112,000 →At a glance
- People employed
- 40,100
- Annual employment growth
- +2,800/yr
- Median age
- 44 yrs
- Works part-time
- 51%
- Female share
- 79%
- Main industry
- Public Administration and Safety
What does a counsellor do?
Counsellors provide information on vocational, relationship, social and educational difficulties and issues, and work with people to help them to identify and define their emotional issues through therapies such as cognitive behaviour therapy, interpersonal therapy and other talking therapies.
May work in a call centre
How to become a counsellor
Typical education for this occupation, and courses that lead to it.
Education held by people in this role
Where counsellors are employed
Share of workers by state and territory (employment distribution, not pay).
Counsellor jobs
Related occupations
Similar occupations
Jobs that pay similar to a counsellor
Frequently asked questions
How much does a counsellor earn in Australia?
The median counsellor earns $112,008 per year ($2,154 per week, or about $54/hour), based on Jobs and Skills Australia — Occupation Profiles (ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025) (2025).
What qualifications do you need to be a counsellor?
Most counsellors hold a postgraduate qualification (38.7% of workers). Pathways vary — see typical courses above.
Is counsellor a job in demand in Australia?
Around 40,100 counsellors are employed in Australia. Employment is changing by about +2,800 workers per year.
Earnings, employment and education data: Jobs and Skills Australia — Occupation Profiles (ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025) (2025). Used under CC BY 4.0. Annual figures derived from median weekly earnings × 52. Figures are estimates for guidance only.
