Credit counselors help people manage debt and plan repayments. They interview clients about their finances, explain options such as debt management and student loan repayment, assess income, assets, debt and expenses, build budgets and repayment plans and put recommendations in writing. Much of the calculating can be done with software. Helping someone through money trouble stays with people.
The short answer: high exposure for some tasks, with modest growth projected. The ILO's 2025 index rates the closest groups at 0.60 for credit and loans officers (gradient 4) and 0.57 for financial and investment advisers (gradient 3). The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 3 percent growth from 2025 to 2035, with about 2,000 openings a year. Projections are estimates, not guarantees.
How exposed credit counselors are
The International Labour Organization scores occupations' tasks from 0 (cannot be automated with generative AI) to 1 (could be done without a human operator), and groups them into gradients from 1 to 4, with 4 the most exposed; below them sit minimal exposure and not exposed (ILO Working Paper 140, 2025).
| Occupation (ISCO-08) | ILO category | Mean task score (0 to 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Credit and Loans Officers | Gradient 4 | 0.60 |
| Financial and Investment Advisers | Gradient 3 | 0.57 |
The ILO scores groups of occupations, so these are the closest groups for credit counselors, not a score for the job title itself.
What the BLS projects
| Occupation | Projected change 2025 to 2035 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|
| Credit counselors | Grow 3% | About 2,000 |
The BLS says automation software makes credit counselors more efficient and may temper employment growth over the decade. Many projected openings come from replacing workers who leave or retire.
Where AI is helping
- Calculating available income and drafting budgets and repayment plans.
- Drafting letters and written recommendations for a counselor to review.
- Explaining common debt and repayment terms in plain language.
What stays with credit counselors
- Trust: talking with people under financial stress.
- Judgment: choosing a plan that fits a person's real situation.
- Responsibility: standing behind the advice and the agreements.
- Checking AI help: generated figures and explanations can be wrong, which NIST calls confabulation (NIST AI 600-1). See checking AI output.
How the job is changing
Software handles more of the calculation, which the BLS says may temper growth, while clients still need someone to explain options and support them. Counselors who use the tools and focus on clients are better placed. This page is general information, not career advice.
See also will AI replace financial advisors?, will AI replace bill collectors? and will AI replace tax preparers?
Pay and how to get in
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median annual pay for credit counselors at $52,230 in May 2025, against $50,980 for all workers. The typical education needed to enter is: bachelor's degree. See how this job compares in AI exposure by pay and AI exposure by education level.
Questions and answers
Will AI replace credit counselors?
Not on current projections. The BLS projects 3 percent growth from 2025 to 2035, though it says automation software may temper growth.
How exposed are credit counselors to AI?
The closest ILO groups score 0.60 for credit and loans officers and 0.57 for financial and investment advisers.
Are there still openings?
Yes. The BLS projects about 2,000 openings a year.
What do credit counselors do?
They assess a client's finances, build budgets and debt management plans, and advise on repayment, including student loans.