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Massachusetts School Counselors
Massachusetts has long been a trailblazer in public education. Home to the oldest college in the nation and where public elementary and high school education got its start, Massachusetts first set—and continues to set—the bar for excellence in education.
Recognized as “agents of change,” school counselors in Massachusetts are committed to multiculturally competency and social justice in education, ensuring that all students have equal access to the best academic resources and opportunities.
Counseling programs in Massachusetts model academic strength and the new and innovative ideas that continue to affect positive change in the state’s educational system.
- Top Picks
Featured Universities with School Counseling Programs
#1
Walden University
MS in School Counseling - General Program. Click here to contact Walden University and request information about their programs.
#2
Grand Canyon University
M. Ed in School Counseling (leads to initial Licensure) Click here to contact Grand Canyon University and request information about their programs.
#3
New York University (NYU)
NYU Steinhardt's accredited master of arts program in Counseling and Guidance: School and Bilingual School Counseling. Through this online program, you will gain the skills you need to become a professional Pre-K-12 school counselor, working with children and families in your community to foster academic achievement and success. Click here to contact New York University and request information about their programs.
#4
University of Denver
Earn a Master's degree in School Counseling online from the University of Denver. Learn from doctoral-level faculty in live classes and gain experience through mock counseling and in-field training. No GRE required. Click here to contact University of Denver and request information about their programs.
What do Massachusetts school counselors do?
Massachusetts’ school counselors serve as school leaders and student advocates. They create safe learning environments and implement supportive counseling programs.
Here are a few key things Massachusetts school counselors do:
They provide opportunities for interpersonal relationship development and social and emotional growth.
Counselors consider the whole child when designing and implementing counseling services. By offering interpersonal relationship development courses, Massachusetts school counselors ensure that all students learn how to relate to teachers, peers, and people in their communities. They help students become responsible, productive members of society, while offering full social/emotional support.
They offer educational and career advice while supporting academic improvement.
School counselors make education and career advice a top priority and work hard to ensure all students are allowed the opportunity to reach their full academic potential.
They work collaboratively with other members of the educational team to shape student development at both the individual level and the classroom level.
Not only do Massachusetts counselors provide individualized guidance, they also provide classroom instruction that addresses major issues and challenges of the student body. Some class sessions include bullying prevention, violence prevention, safety, and the importance of higher learning. School counselors work collaboratively with the education department and community leaders to help shape student development in the most effective ways possible.
They serve as advocates for students within the school system, family unit, and community.
There is, perhaps, no greater role for school counselors than that of student advocate. Within their schools, their families, and their communities, Massachusetts counselors make sure every student has a caring and professional adult to listen to and guide them towards their best future.
Telehealth Mental Health Services Prove to Be a Game Changer for Many Massachusetts School Districts
School counselors in Massachusetts and the students they serve are getting help through telehealth mental health services. Overwhelmed school counselors are now able to turn to telehealth mental health companies to provide their students with the services they need.
It’s an unprecedented time in education, with increasing numbers of students reporting issues with their mental health. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the percentage of students feeling persistent sadness or helplessness increased from 28 percent in 2011 to 42 percent by 2021. In Massachusetts, numbers are particularly concerning. Between 2016 and 2020, a report by the Anna E. Casey Foundation revealed that diagnoses for anxiety and depression increased by 50 percent among students aged 3 to 17 in Massachusetts.
By 2023, many Massachusetts schools had begun using telehealth mental health services for their students. During the 2023-24 school year, 15 districts throughout Massachusetts had entered into a partnership with Cartwheel Care, based in Cambridge, to provide short-term telehealth therapy. This unique partnership allows school counselors to provide a school-based referral and minimize wait times for students in need of behavioral health services.
In fact, according to many school districts, most students are able to begin telehealth therapy within the first week of referral – a major win in a healthcare environment where long wait times have become the norm. Virtual behavioral health therapy has also been a big win for students in rural areas who often have very limited options for mental health services.
By coordinating with school counselors and social workers, Cartwheel Care is able to provide short-term therapy for children ranging from elementary to high school. Most therapy terms last between two and six months. During the therapy process, the care team at Cartwheel Care remains in contact with the school counselors to ensure that students are progressing.
Cartwheel Care employs about 20 licensed therapists and child-adolescent psychiatrists, some of whom are bilingual. Care coordinators at the company also work with students and families to find longer-term care, if necessary. Cartwheel accepts most insurers in Massachusetts and provides free services for kids on MassHealth. Districts pick up any additional costs associated with the service, such as staff training.
Why should someone consider becoming a school counselor in Massachusetts?
Job Market Trends
Massachusetts School Counselor Salary (median) 1
$78,840/year
Number of School Counselors Employed 1
11,850
Projected employment growth in Massachusetts 2
13.0% from 2022-2032
If you have the desire to make a positive impact in the lives of adolescents and their families and help students reach their goals, a career in school counseling may be the perfect fit for you.
Here are a few reasons why you should consider becoming a school counselor in the state of Massachusetts:
- Massachusetts school counselors typically earn $5,000 to $10,000 more each year than teachers.
- While Massachusetts does not require students to obtain a bachelor’s degree in a particular field, relevant majors include counseling, psychology, or sociology.
- School counselors are given more opportunity to use their expertise in collaboration with other education experts in developing curriculum and educational programs.
- The Massachusetts school counseling profession is a highly rewarding career field that shows promise in job security and earning potential.
These “agents of change” in the Massachusetts school system are also agents of student advocacy and wellbeing. School counselors in this state continue to lead the way in academic success and multicultural competency. Their commitment to social justice and equal opportunity for every student cannot be overvalued.
Contact schools offering school counseling or mental health counseling programs and learn how you can begin a career as a Massachusetts school counselor.
Whether you are from Boston, Worcester, Springfield, Lowell, Cambridge, Brockton or anywhere else across the state, you will find school counseling a highly rewarding and respected career.
1.) May 2024 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics job market and salary figures for Educational, Guidance and Career Counselors and Advisors represents state data not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed May 2025.
2.) School Counselor projections data retrieved from Projections Central, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor. Data accessed May 2025.