Academic Advisor
SOC 21-1012.00 · ESCO 2359 · OSCA 249431
Role snapshot
Overview
Guides students through course selection, degree requirements, and career pathways, helping them build academic plans that align with their strengths and aspirations. This role involves providing personalized support, connecting students to campus resources, monitoring academic progress, and offering guidance on educational and professional goals.
Empowers students to navigate their academic journey successfully, persist in their studies, and make informed decisions about their future careers and educational pursuits, contributing to student retention and success.
On the job
- Advise students on academic policies, degree requirements, and course registration procedures
- Assist students in developing academic plans, selecting majors/minors, and exploring career options
- Connect students with appropriate campus resources, suchs as tutoring, career services, and mental health support
- Monitor student academic progress and intervene proactively when students are struggling
- Facilitate workshops and presentations on academic success strategies and university policies
Tools & technology
Average salary
Job outlook
StableDemand is steady. This is an established role with consistent hiring across sectors.
Education & training
Bachelor's degree in education, counseling, or a related field is typically required; a master's degree is often preferred or necessary for advancement.
AI impact outlook
Note — this is our current view. AI is moving fast, so we revisit these ratings.
Show how this was assessed Hide the detail
Note — this is our current view. AI is moving fast, so we revisit these ratings.
Show how this was assessed Hide the detailWhy this role received this rating
Core task exposure
high
How much of the role’s important work could AI perform?
Rule-based advice on policies, degree requirements, and course registration could largely be handled by AI.
End-to-end automation
moderate
Can AI complete the work without substantial human involvement?
Personalized academic planning and connecting students to resources require human judgment beyond mere information provision.
Adoption pressure
high
How likely are employers to introduce AI into this work?
Universities are keen on efficiency for high-volume student services but are risk-averse regarding student welfare and reputational damage.
Human dependence
moderate
How much does success depend on human judgement, relationships and accountability?
Success hinges on building rapport, understanding individual student aspirations, and providing empathetic, contextualized guidance.
Protective — a higher rating lowers the overall score.
Role adaptability
strong
How easily can the role evolve as AI takes on more tasks?
The role can adapt to new academic policies, technology, and evolving student needs and career pathways.
Shown for context — not part of the score.
What AI may take on
These are the parts of the role most likely to be automated or significantly accelerated.
- Advising on academic policies and degree requirements
- Assisting with course registration procedures
- Monitoring student academic progress and flagging issues
- Generating standard academic plans based on student input
- Providing information on available campus resources
- Facilitating basic workshops on university policies
Where people remain essential
These parts continue to depend heavily on human judgement, relationships and accountability.
- Guiding students in exploring complex career options
- Intervening proactively with struggling students to understand root causes
- Providing personalized support based on individual student circumstances
- Building trust and rapport with students over time
- Connecting students to appropriate, nuanced campus resources
- Mediating complex academic and personal challenges
How the role may evolve
Less policy recitation. More personalized student navigation.
Academic advisors will transition from being information providers to strategic guides, focusing on complex problem-solving and emotional support as AI handles routine inquiries.
Strengthen your future fit
- Advanced coaching and active listening skills
- Expertise in career development and labor market trends
- Proficiency in leveraging AI tools for data analysis and resource discovery
- Conflict resolution and mediation
- Building strategic partnerships across campus departments
- Assessment horizon
- 3–7 years
- Confidence
- High
- Last reviewed
- August 2026
- Methodology
- v1.0
This assessment reflects current AI capabilities and expected adoption patterns. Actual impacts will vary by industry, employer and the way each role is performed.
Career pathways
WHERE YOU COULD GO
CURRENT ROLE
Academic Advisor
Teaching & Instruction
ADJACENT MOVES
STARTING POINTS
Who thrives here
Interest profile
social · SCE
People who enjoy helping others, organizing information and processes, and influencing positive outcomes tend to thrive in this role. It involves significant interaction with students and adherence to institutional guidelines.
Personality characteristics
Open-minded
Approaches student situations with an open mind, considering various perspectives and solutions to challenges.
Organized
Maintains meticulous records, manages appointments efficiently, and adheres to institutional policies and procedures.
Engaging
Connects easily with a diverse range of students and communicates complex information clearly and persuasively.
Empathetic
Shows genuine care and understanding for students' concerns, building trust and rapport.
Composed
Manages stressful situations and emotionally charged conversations with students calmly and professionally.
Best for
- Individuals passionate about supporting students' educational and personal development
- Professionals who enjoy a structured environment that also allows for significant interpersonal interaction and problem-solving
- Those who thrive on guiding others and seeing tangible results from their advice
Watch out for
- Can involve managing a high volume of student inquiries, especially during peak academic periods
- Requires navigating complex university policies and sometimes dealing with sensitive student issues
A week in the life
A representative working week for an Academic Advisor — where the deep work, meetings, and admin actually land.
Real people. Real results.
Thousands of people
can't be wrong.
Frequently asked questions about Academic Advisor roles
What does an Academic Advisor do?
An Academic Advisor guides students through course selection, degree requirements, and career pathways, helping them build academic plans that align with their strengths and aspirations. This role involves providing personalized support, connecting students to campus resources, monitoring academic progress, and offering guidance on educational and professional goals. Empowers students to navigate their academic journey successfully, persist in their studies, and make informed decisions about their future careers and educational pursuits, contributing to student retention and success.
How much does an Academic Advisor earn?
An Academic Advisor earns a median of $58,000 per year in the US, typically ranging from $45,000 to $75,000.
What qualifications do you need to become an Academic Advisor?
To become an Academic Advisor, bachelor's degree in education, counseling, or a related field is typically required; a master's degree is often preferred or necessary for advancement.
What personality suits an Academic Advisor?
Academic Advisor roles tend to suit people who are warm and cooperative — tuned in to the people around them (Agreeableness 80/100) and highly conscientious — precise, organised and strong on follow-through (Conscientiousness 70/100). The traits that matter most in the role are Open-minded, Organized, Engaging and Empathetic. Approaches student situations with an open mind, considering various perspectives and solutions to challenges. On interests, Academic Advisor maps to a SCE Holland Code profile — people who enjoy helping others, organizing information and processes, and influencing positive outcomes tend to thrive in this role. It involves significant interaction with students and adherence to institutional guidelines.
Who does an Academic Advisor role suit?
An Academic Advisor role is usually a strong fit for these reasons. Strong Social (S) alignment: the role is centered on helping, advising, and interacting with students. High Conventional (C) and Enterprising (E) elements, requiring strong organizational skills and the ability to influence positive student outcomes. Offers consistent opportunities for direct, impactful engagement with individuals, appealing to those motivated by service.
What are the downsides of being an Academic Advisor?
Academic Advisor roles come with trade-offs worth weighing up. Can involve managing a high volume of student inquiries, especially during peak academic periods. Requires navigating complex university policies and sometimes dealing with sensitive student issues.
What is the work environment like for an Academic Advisor?
Work as an Academic Advisor is mostly office-based with onsite arrangements common, semi-structured — a mix of set processes and self-directed work, a moderate pace and high exposure to clients or stakeholders. Around 20% of the week is focused deep work.
What skills do you need to be an Academic Advisor?
Core skills for an Academic Advisor include Academic planning, Active listening, Problem-solving, Interpersonal communication and Resource navigation.
How do you become an Academic Advisor?
Common entry routes into Academic Advisor roles include Junior Academic Advisor, Student Affairs Assistant and Admissions Counselor.
What career progression is there for an Academic Advisor?
From an Academic Advisor role, common next steps include Senior Academic Advisor and Assistant Director of Academic Advising; lateral moves include Career Counselor and Student Life Coordinator.
What is the job outlook for Academic Advisor roles?
The outlook for Academic Advisor roles is currently rated stable. Demand is steady. This is an established role with consistent hiring across sectors.
Will AI replace Academic Advisor roles?
Traitstack rates automation risk for Academic Advisor roles at 57 out of 100, which is moderate. While rule-based academic guidance may see automation, navigating complex student aspirations and providing empathetic support will continue to be a human domain. AI is most likely to take on advising on academic policies and degree requirements, assisting with course registration procedures and monitoring student academic progress and flagging issues. Guiding students in exploring complex career options, intervening proactively with struggling students to understand root causes and providing personalized support based on individual student circumstances stay with people. Less policy recitation. More personalized student navigation. That score measures how much of the work could change, not the likelihood the job disappears. It is Traitstack's current view, revisited as AI capability moves.