Credit Counselors
Machines can already do 50% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 77%. Most of the work is changing now.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Credit Counselors in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 50% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 23% of them.
- Forecast: machines can already do half of its tasks, and 77% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 27,770 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $52,230 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 68% for contact with people.
- Also called: Accredited Financial Counselor, Budget Credit Counselor, Certified Consumer Credit and Housing Counselor, Certified Credit Consultant.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assess clients' overall financial situations by reviewing income, assets, debts, expenses, credit reports, or other financial information | 9% | 25% to 55% | |
| Interview clients by telephone or in person to gather financial information | 9% | 55% to 85% | |
| Maintain or update records of client account activity, including financial transactions, counseling session notes, correspondence, document images, or client inquiries | 9% | 85% to 97% | |
| Create debt management plans, spending plans, or budgets to assist clients to meet financial goals | 8% | 82% to 97% | |
| Advise clients or respond to inquiries about financial matters in person or via phone, email, Web site, or Internet chat | 7% | 28% to 55% | |
| Explain services or policies to clients, such as debt management program rules, advantages and disadvantages of using services, or creditor concession policies | 7% | 40% to 75% | |
| Calculate clients' available monthly income to meet debt obligations | 5% | 50% to 85% | |
| Recommend strategies for clients to meet their financial goals, such as borrowing money through loans or loan programs, declaring bankruptcy, making budget adjustments, or enrolling in debt management plans | 5% | 80% to 97% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills credit counselors use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Credit Counselors?
Machines can already do half of its tasks. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of credit counselors?
Machines can do 50% of the tasks of credit counselors today and 77% by 2035. Most of the routine work moves to machines, and the people in the job move to oversight, judgement and client work.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 13-2071.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Credit Counselors: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/credit-counselors/