# Credit Counselors

US SOC code 13-2071. Markdown version of https://futurehistory.earth/timeline/13-2071

Also called: Financial counselor, Debt counselor, Consumer credit counselor, Debt management counselor, DMP counselor.

## In brief

In May 2025, [BLS](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip) counted **27,770** US credit counselors, with median pay of **$52,230** a year. Of the BLS counts since 2012, the highest was **35,900**, in May 2017. The earliest figure here is [an estimate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Foundation_for_Credit_Counseling) of **500** from 1960, not measured the same way as today's count. The last full technology era for credit counselors: Integrated DMP administration software and mobile client portals, 2012 to 2020.

## What the sources say

### Official outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 3.3% from 2025 to 2035. Source: [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=13-2071&ioType=o).

### AI exposure studies

- **69.3%** of this job's tasks are exposed to large language models. Not a forecast of job losses. [Eloundou and others, 2023](https://github.com/openai/GPTs-are-GPTs/blob/main/data/occ_level.csv)

Data as of BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025-35. BLS publishes these counts as yearly survey snapshots and cautions against reading them as a precise trend. In May 2021 BLS changed how it estimates these counts (a model-based method using three years of survey data) and moved fully to the 2018 occupation codes, so part of a change across 2021 can come from the method rather than the work.

## Credit Counselors employment and pay by year

- On record since: 1951
- Latest US employment: 27,770 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [5]
- Latest US median pay: $52,230 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [8]
- Outlook: +3.3% by 2035. Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 [21]

### All 27 years of cited US data

| Year | US employment | Annual pay (median unless marked) | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1960 | 500 (estimate) | n/a | Est., National Foundation for Credit… [1] |
| 1980 | 6,000 (estimate) | $12,000 (estimate) | Est., Credit counseling Wikipedia (employment) [2]; Est., Consumer Credit Counselor (pay) [6] |
| 1990 | 12,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., Credit Counseling [3] |
| 2000 | 30,000 (estimate) | $29,000 (estimate) | Est., Bills.com [4] |
| 2003 | 30,810 | $33,470 | BLS OEWS May 2003 [5] |
| 2004 | 31,160 | $33,970 | BLS OEWS May 2004 [5] |
| 2005 | 28,030 | $35,680 | BLS OEWS May 2005 [5] |
| 2006 | 30,430 | $35,790 | BLS OEWS May 2006 [5] |
| 2007 | 30,150 | $36,550 | BLS OEWS May 2007 [5] |
| 2008 | 29,430 | $37,470 | BLS OEWS May 2008 [5] |
| 2009 | 30,360 | $37,320 | BLS OEWS May 2009 [5] |
| 2010 | 29,560 | $38,140 | BLS OEWS May 2010 [5] |
| 2011 | 29,400 | $38,430 | BLS OEWS May 2011 [5] |
| 2012 | 27,640 | $39,420 | BLS OEWS May 2012 [5] |
| 2013 | 27,710 | $40,280 | BLS OEWS May 2013 [5] |
| 2014 | 29,600 | $42,110 | BLS OEWS May 2014 [5] |
| 2015 | 30,510 | $43,840 | BLS OEWS May 2015 [5] |
| 2016 | 34,110 | $44,380 | BLS OEWS May 2016 [5] |
| 2017 | 35,900 | $44,710 | BLS OEWS May 2017 [5] |
| 2018 | 35,740 | $45,180 | BLS OEWS May 2018 [5] |
| 2019 | 32,110 | $45,950 | BLS OEWS May 2019 [5] |
| 2020 | 30,770 | $46,170 | BLS OEWS May 2020 [5] |
| 2021 | 31,230 | $47,580 | BLS OEWS May 2021 [5] |
| 2022 | 29,090 | $47,320 | BLS OEWS May 2022 [5] |
| 2023 | 27,950 | $48,570 | BLS OEWS May 2023 [5] |
| 2024 | 28,110 | $50,480 | BLS OEWS May 2024 (employment) [5]; BLS OEWS May 2024 (pay) [9] |
| 2025 | 27,770 | $52,230 | BLS OEWS May 2025 [5] |

## Sources (89)

### Employment series

1. [National Foundation for Credit Counseling Wikipedia / GetOutOfDebt.org history article -- NFCC founding and early agency growth](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Foundation_for_Credit_Counseling), Wikipedia / National Foundation for Credit Counseling
2. [Credit counseling Wikipedia -- industry history: 200 agencies by early 1990s, growth through 1970s-1980s](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Credit_counseling), Wikipedia
3. [Credit Counseling -- Encyclopedia.com: approximately 200 firms by early 1990s, all NFCC members](https://www.encyclopedia.com/finance/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/credit-counseling), Encyclopedia.com
4. [Bills.com -- Debt Relief Options: CCCS History, credit counseling industry growth and late-1990s expansion](https://www.bills.com/learn/debt/debt-credit-counseling-history), Bills.com
5. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2024](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)

### Wage series

6. [Consumer Credit Counselor -- Encyclopedia.com: wage context for nonprofit credit counseling roles (historical)](https://www.encyclopedia.com/economics/news-and-education-magazines/consumer-credit-counselor), Encyclopedia.com
7. [NFCC history and nonprofit wage context -- Bills.com credit counseling industry history](https://www.bills.com/learn/debt/debt-credit-counseling-history), Bills.com
8. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)
9. [BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook -- Credit Counselors: median annual wage $50,480 in May 2024](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/credit-counselors.htm), Bureau of Labor Statistics

### Tool eras

10. [National Foundation for Credit Counseling Wikipedia -- NFCC founding at Barbizon-Plaza, 1951, early operations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Foundation_for_Credit_Counseling), Wikipedia
11. [NFCC history summary -- GetOutOfDebt.org: early NFCC structure, fairshare model, manual counseling processes](https://getoutofdebt.org/29299/national-foundation-for-credit-counseling-yesterday-today-and-tomorrow), GetOutOfDebt.org
12. [Bills.com -- Credit Counseling History: CCCS agency growth and operational development through 1970s-1980s](https://www.bills.com/learn/debt/debt-credit-counseling-history), Bills.com
13. [Wikipedia -- Fair Credit Reporting Act: 1996 amendments, digital access to credit reports, consumer rights](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_Credit_Reporting_Act), Wikipedia
14. [Credit Counseling Wikipedia -- history: development of telephone counseling and multi-state NFCC agencies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Credit_counseling), Wikipedia
15. [Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act Wikipedia -- mandatory credit counseling requirement, US Trustee approval](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bankruptcy_Abuse_Prevention_and_Consumer_Protection_Act), Wikipedia
16. [US Courts -- bankruptcy filings surged in CY2005 to 2,039,214, up 30% from 2004, driven by pre-BAPCPA rush](https://www.insidearm.com/news/00008879-us-courts-bankruptcy-filings-surge-in-cal/), InsideARM / US Courts
17. [GreenPath Financial Wellness -- DMP administration and counselor workflow: NFCC member technology overview (2025)](https://www.greenpath.com/), GreenPath Financial Wellness
18. [Apprisen -- technology roadmap: DMP software automation and counselor productivity tools (2025 annual report)](https://www.apprisen.com/), Apprisen (formerly Consumer Credit Counseling Services)
19. [NFCC and AICCCA Joint Statement on AI in Nonprofit Credit Counseling: AI augments but does not replace the counseling relationship (Mar 2026)](https://www.nfcc.org/), NFCC / AICCCA
20. [Cleo AI -- AI-powered budget categorization and debt coaching, 7M+ users (2025)](https://web.meetcleo.com/), Cleo AI

### Forecasts and exposure studies

21. [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35, National Employment Matrix: 13-2071 Credit counselors (2025: 31.2 thousand; 2035: 32.3 thousand; +3.3%)](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=13-2071&ioType=o), Bureau of Labor Statistics
22. [Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin & Rock (2023), "GPTs are GPTs", occupation-level exposure data occ\_level.csv (O\*NET-SOC 13-2071.00, human-rated β 0.693)](https://github.com/openai/GPTs-are-GPTs/blob/main/data/occ_level.csv), OpenAI

### Historical notes

23. [National Foundation for Credit Counseling Wikipedia -- founding 1951, Barbizon-Plaza, fairshare model](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Foundation_for_Credit_Counseling), Wikipedia
24. [Wikipedia -- Consumer Credit Protection Act of 1968 (Truth in Lending Act): standardized APR disclosure](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_Credit_Protection_Act_of_1968), Wikipedia
25. [AFCPE About page -- founded 1984 at Iowa State University; AFC credential history](https://www.afcpe.org/about/), Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education
26. [Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act Wikipedia -- effective October 17, 2005; mandatory counseling requirement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bankruptcy_Abuse_Prevention_and_Consumer_Protection_Act), Wikipedia
27. [CFPB -- Supervisory Highlights: Credit Counseling and Debt Management (2024): CFPB oversight of credit counseling agencies](https://www.consumerfinance.gov/data-research/research-reports/supervisory-highlights/), Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

### Predecessors & successors

28. [NFCC Wikipedia -- NFCC founded 1951 as structured alternative to exploitative debt adjusters and proraters](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Foundation_for_Credit_Counseling), Wikipedia
29. [Encyclopedia.com -- Consumer Credit Counselor entry: early CCCS workers drawn from social work and community service backgrounds](https://www.encyclopedia.com/economics/news-and-education-magazines/consumer-credit-counselor), Encyclopedia.com
30. [BLS OOH -- Personal Financial Advisors: +13% growth 2024-34; natural progression for experienced credit counselors](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/personal-financial-advisors.htm), Bureau of Labor Statistics
31. [BLS OOH -- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers: +11% growth 2024-34; integrated financial/behavioral health settings](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/social-workers.htm), Bureau of Labor Statistics

### Present-day analysis

- [Eloundou et al. 2024 — GPTs are GPTs (Science)](https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.10130), accessed 2026-05-23
- [O\*NET 30.3 — Credit Counselors (13-2071.00)](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/13-2071.00), accessed 2026-05-23
- [BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — Credit Counselors: -2% employment projection 2024–2034](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/loan-officers.htm), accessed 2026-05-23
- [BLS OES May 2025 — Credit Counselors: 33,180 employed; $48,190 median annual wage](https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes132071.htm), accessed 2026-05-23
- [NFCC — Client Impact: DMP completion rates, human counselor impact, and 500,000 people counseled annually (2025)](https://www.nfcc.org/client-impact/), accessed 2026-06-22
- [CFPB — Here's How Coaching Can Help You Meet Your Financial Goals: one-on-one coaching relationship drives measurable gains in savings, debt reduction, and financial confidence (2025)](https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/blog/heres-how-coaching-can-help-you-meet-your-financial-goals/), accessed 2026-05-23
- [HUD — Housing Counseling for Professionals: Housing Counseling Handbook 7610.1 and program requirements for HUD-certified counselors](https://www.hud.gov/hud-partners/single-family-housing-counseling-prof), accessed 2026-06-22
- [NFCC + AICCCA Joint Statement on AI in Nonprofit Credit Counseling (Mar 2026)](https://www.nfcc.org/), accessed 2026-05-23
- [AFCPE Insights — AI and the Future of Financial Counseling: empathy and motivational interviewing remain human (Mar 2026)](https://www.afcpe.org/news-and-publications/the-standard/), accessed 2026-05-23
- [Upsolve — 100,000+ free bankruptcy petitions filed via AI-assisted tool (2025 impact report)](https://upsolve.org/impact/), accessed 2026-05-23
- [Cleo AI — 7M+ users; AI-powered budget categorization and debt coaching (2025)](https://web.meetcleo.com/), accessed 2026-05-23
- [Albert AI — automated budget analysis and personalized financial advice (2025)](https://albert.com/), accessed 2026-05-23
- [Microsoft — Microsoft 365 Copilot for Nonprofits: documentation, email drafting, and workflow automation (2025)](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/nonprofits/microsoft-365), accessed 2026-05-23
- [Apprisen — counselor productivity tools and case management automation for nonprofit credit counseling (2025)](https://www.apprisen.com/), accessed 2026-05-23
- [Money Management International — AI-powered intake and budget pre-population before counselor session (MMI blog, 2025)](https://www.mymmi.org/blog/), accessed 2026-05-23

How to read these figures: https://futurehistory.earth/methodology. Every figure links to its own source; gaps stay gaps.