Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors salary
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors earn a median of $64,330 a year ($30.93/hr) in the U.S. – from $51,830 in South Dakota to $86,500 in California. Enter your pay below to see how you compare.
Median pay, United States$30.93/hr · $64,330 a year
Pay range
90% earn more$45,020$21.65/hr
75% earn more$51,270$24.65/hr
half earn more, half less$64,330$30.93/hr
25% earn more$82,870$39.84/hr
top 10% earn more$104,770$50.37/hr
pulled up by top earners$71,430$34.34/hr
How does my pay compare?
Enter your pay to see where you stand among educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors. Nothing you type leaves your device.
Pay by state
States ranked by median annual wage for educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors. Tap a state for its minimum wage.
45,140 jobs · $41.59/hr$86,500
540 jobs · $39.86/hr$82,900
6,610 jobs · $39.74/hr$82,670
1,690 jobs · $38.69/hr$80,470
11,460 jobs · $38.43/hr$79,930
8,190 jobs · $37.46/hr$77,910
1,780 jobs · $37.44/hr$77,880
6,600 jobs · $36.45/hr$75,820
1,340 jobs · $36.06/hr$75,000
1,700 jobs · $35.61/hr$74,070
3,370 jobs · $35.53/hr$73,910
23,380 jobs · $34.43/hr$71,610
1,650 jobs · $34.17/hr$71,080
31,730 jobs · $32.64/hr$67,900
9,450 jobs · $32.53/hr$67,660
2,250 jobs · $32.07/hr$66,710
3,990 jobs · $32.06/hr$66,690
6,530 jobs · $31.14/hr$64,780
4,200 jobs · $31.06/hr$64,600
1,120 jobs · $31.04/hr$64,570
5,030 jobs · $30.94/hr$64,350
11,460 jobs · $30.63/hr$63,720
770 jobs · $30.50/hr$63,430
5,330 jobs · $30.14/hr$62,690
2,190 jobs · $30.05/hr$62,500
13,580 jobs · $30.01/hr$62,420
4,820 jobs · $29.74/hr$61,870
13,250 jobs · $29.69/hr$61,760
1,620 jobs · $29.68/hr$61,730
4,070 jobs · $29.48/hr$61,320
13,570 jobs · $29.27/hr$60,880
6,460 jobs · $29.01/hr$60,340
1,990 jobs · $29.00/hr$60,320
6,470 jobs · $28.83/hr$59,960
2,310 jobs · $28.74/hr$59,770
4,410 jobs · $28.64/hr$59,570
9,170 jobs · $28.58/hr$59,440
5,610 jobs · $28.49/hr$59,260
840 jobs · $28.35/hr$58,960
2,620 jobs · $28.23/hr$58,710
1,780 jobs · $28.19/hr$58,630
7,330 jobs · $28.00/hr$58,250
8,890 jobs · $27.91/hr$58,040
890 jobs · $27.84/hr$57,900
9,430 jobs · $27.71/hr$57,630
3,100 jobs · $27.21/hr$56,590
3,690 jobs · $27.18/hr$56,540
1,260 jobs · $26.69/hr$55,520
22,800 jobs · $25.55/hr$53,140
1,050 jobs · $25.48/hr$53,000
4,830 jobs · $25.02/hr$52,040
1,000 jobs · $24.92/hr$51,830
Related jobs
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), SOC code 21-1012. Wages exclude the self-employed. All jobs · Minimum wage by state
Questions & answers
How much do educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors make?
The median wage for educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors in the U.S. was $30.93 an hour or $64,330 a year in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $51,270 and $82,870 a year.
Which state pays educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors the most?
California has the highest median wage for educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors: $86,500 a year. The lowest published median is in South Dakota at $51,830. Living costs also differ a lot between states.
How many educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors are there?
BLS estimates 353,310 educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors were employed in the U.S. in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
What is the difference between median and average pay?
The median is the middle wage: half of workers earn more and half earn less. The average (mean) adds everyone up and divides, so a few very high earners pull it up. The median is usually the better guide to typical pay.
What does the 10th or 90th percentile mean?
The 10th percentile is the wage that only 10% of workers earn less than – often entry-level pay. The 90th percentile is the wage that only 10% earn more than – usually the most experienced or highest-paid workers.