AAAcademic Advisor
AA
Career

Academic Advisor

By the numbers
Typical pay
$64,330 / yr
Education to start
Master's degree
Future demand
+3.5% by 2034
People in this job
353K
Figures shown for ·1 O*NET occupation
The work
A day, hour by hour
08:00
Inbox & early alerts

Scan overnight emails; flag students with missing grades or no-shows.

08:30
Caseload review

Pull up degree audits for today's appointments — spot gaps before students arrive.

09:00
Back-to-back appointments

Four one-on-ones: course plans, a late withdrawal, a student who's quietly failing.

11:00
Crisis judgment call

One student seems off — decide if this is stress or something that needs counseling referral.

11:30
Policy exception push

Draft an appeal for a student stuck in a bureaucratic catch-22; go to bat for them.

13:00
Notes & documentation

Log every morning meeting — what was decided, what to watch, next steps.

13:45
Afternoon appointments

Three more students: transfer credits, a major change, a graduation audit check.

15:30
Outreach & follow-up

Email the student who's gone quiet — two weeks of silence is too long to ignore.

16:00
Workshop prep

Finalize slides for tomorrow's registration workshop for 40 incoming first-years.

Things you do
  • Meet one-on-one with students to map out their path to graduation.
  • Help students pick courses that fit their major and life goals.
  • Spot struggling students early and step in before they fall behind.
  • Connect students to tutoring, counseling, or financial aid when needed.
  • Decode confusing degree requirements so students know exactly where they stand.
Decisions you’ll make
  • Is this student struggling academically, or is something bigger going on in their life?
  • Should I push back on this student's plan, or trust that they know what's right for them?
  • Do I advocate for an exception to this policy, or hold the line?
  • Is this student in crisis, or do they just need a good plan?
  • Should I reach out to this student who's gone quiet, or give them space?
Education Pathways · how you get there
100 in 100 went the college route · 0 in 100 found another way in None, typically
Education mapped from O*NET:Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors · 97% related
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