SOC 3572 Business and public service associate professionals

Careers advisers and vocational guidance specialists Salary

Median salary £30,045 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.

Gross pay, before deductions. See take-home pay on £30,000 after tax and National Insurance →

For careers advisers and vocational guidance specialists, £32,418 is the typical (median) pay. That is below the UK full-time median of £39,039 — -17% versus the national average. Experienced careers advisers and vocational guidance specialists (top 25%) earn over £34,945.

About this role

Careers advisers and vocational guidance specialists (2020 SOC) deliver professional careers guidance to support education and employment decisions. They use structured guidance frameworks to help individuals of all ages understand their options and plan career pathways.

Key responsibilities

Delivering one-to-one and group careers guidance
Using career assessment tools and psychometric instruments
Advising on labour market trends and opportunities
Supporting CV development, interview preparation and job search
Working with schools to deliver Gatsby Benchmark programmes

Qualifications and entry routes

Requires CDI-registered Level 6 qualification in career guidance and development. RCDP (Register of Career Development Professionals) registration is the professional standard.

Career outlook

Statutory guidance obligations and Gatsby Benchmarks are sustaining demand in schools. University and adult guidance roles offer established career pathways.

Key skills

Career guidance theory and practice Motivational interviewing Labour market intelligence Digital careers resources Safeguarding

Common industries

Secondary schools
FE colleges
University careers services
National Careers Service contractors
Employment services

Data coverage

SOC code 3572

Data source ONS ASHE

Years available 2015–2025

Estimated jobs 22,000

Median Salary

£30,045

Mean Salary

£31,340

Jobs (000s)

22k

Data Years

11 years

Salary Range (2025)

P25: £21,137Median: £30,045P75: £34,945

P10: --P25: £21kMedian: £30kP75: £35kP90: --

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Entry Level

£21,137

0-2 years

Mid Level

£21,137

3-7 years

Senior

£34,945

8-15 years

Potential career growth: +65% from entry to leadership

Salary Trend (2015-2025)

Adjust for inflation

Nominal growth: +24.2%Real growth: -10.0%

Gender Pay Comparison (2025)

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees

£30,045

Full-time Only

£32,418

Full-time premium: +£2,373

Careers advisers and vocational guidance specialists salary: common questions

How much do careers advisers and vocational guidance specialists earn in the UK?

Careers advisers and vocational guidance specialists earn a median of £32,418 a year (ONS ASHE 2025). The middle half earn between £21,137 and £34,945.

Is £32,418 a good salary in the UK?

What is the starting salary for careers advisers and vocational guidance specialists?

Entry-level careers advisers and vocational guidance specialists typically start near the lower end of the range. The bottom 25% earn up to £21,137, though this varies by employer and region.

Have careers advisers and vocational guidance specialists salaries kept up with inflation?

Since 2015, median careers advisers and vocational guidance specialists pay has risen from £26,213 to £32,418 — +24% in cash terms, or -10% after CPIH inflation. That is behind inflation over the period.

Figures: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, gross annual pay. UK full-time median £39,039 (2025).