How much does a educational, guidance, and career counselor and advisor make?
The median educational, guidance, and career counselor and advisor in the United States earns $64,330 per year, about $30.93 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 21-1012.
Educational, guidance, and career counselor and advisor salary range
Pay for educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $45,020 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $104,770. The average (mean) wage of $71,430 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $45,020 | $21.65 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $51,270 | $24.65 | |
| Median (50th) | $64,330 | $30.93 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $82,870 | $39.84 | |
| 90th percentile | $104,770 | $50.37 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors (SOC 21-1012), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Educational, guidance, and career counselor and advisor salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors earn the most in California at $86,500 a year, and the least in South Dakota at $51,830. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| California | $86,500 | 45,140 |
| Alaska | $82,900 | 540 |
| Washington | $82,670 | 6,610 |
| District of Columbia | $80,470 | 1,690 |
| Massachusetts | $79,930 | 11,460 |
| New Jersey | $77,910 | 8,190 |
| New Mexico | $77,880 | 1,780 |
| Maryland | $75,820 | 6,600 |
| Rhode Island | $75,000 | 1,340 |
| Delaware | $74,070 | 1,700 |
| Connecticut | $73,910 | 3,370 |
| New York | $71,610 | 23,380 |
| New Hampshire | $71,080 | 1,650 |
| Texas | $67,900 | 31,730 |
| Virginia | $67,660 | 9,450 |
| Nevada | $66,710 | 2,250 |
| Oregon | $66,690 | 3,990 |
| Colorado | $64,780 | 6,530 |
| Minnesota | $64,600 | 4,200 |
| Vermont | $64,570 | 1,120 |
| Kentucky | $64,350 | 5,030 |
| Georgia | $63,720 | 11,460 |
| Wyoming | $63,430 | 770 |
| Wisconsin | $62,690 | 5,330 |
| Nebraska | $62,500 | 2,190 |
| Illinois | $62,420 | 13,580 |
| Louisiana | $61,870 | 4,820 |
| Ohio | $61,760 | 13,250 |
| Hawaii | $61,730 | 1,620 |
| Utah | $61,320 | 4,070 |
| Pennsylvania | $60,880 | 13,570 |
| South Carolina | $60,340 | 6,460 |
| Idaho | $60,320 | 1,990 |
| Tennessee | $59,960 | 6,470 |
| Arkansas | $59,770 | 2,310 |
| Alabama | $59,570 | 4,410 |
| Michigan | $59,440 | 9,170 |
| Indiana | $59,260 | 5,610 |
| North Dakota | $58,960 | 840 |
| Mississippi | $58,710 | 2,620 |
| Maine | $58,630 | 1,780 |
| Arizona | $58,250 | 7,330 |
| Missouri | $58,040 | 8,890 |
| Montana | $57,900 | 890 |
| North Carolina | $57,630 | 9,430 |
| Kansas | $56,590 | 3,100 |
| Iowa | $56,540 | 3,690 |
| West Virginia | $55,520 | 1,260 |
| Florida | $53,140 | 22,800 |
| Oklahoma | $52,040 | 4,830 |
| South Dakota | $51,830 | 1,000 |
State median wages for educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors (SOC 21-1012), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors
The BLS projects employment of educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors to grow 2.9% from 2025 to 2035. That is about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 389,500 jobs in 2025 moving toward 400,900 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 27,800 openings a year for educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become an educational, guidance, and career counselor and advisor
The typical entry-level education for educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors is a master's degree, according to the BLS.
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much an educational, guidance, and career counselor and advisor earns
Employer, license or certification, caseload, and region shape pay. Government agencies and clinical settings tend to pay above nonprofit and entry-level roles.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (California, $86,500) and the lowest (South Dakota, $51,830) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 353,310 people work as educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors in the United States. At $64,330 a year, the job pays above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Educational, guidance, and career counselor and advisor salary FAQ
How much does an educational, guidance, and career counselor and advisor make an hour?
The median hourly wage for an educational, guidance, and career counselor and advisor is $30.93. The middle half of educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors earn between $24.65 and $39.84 per hour.
What is the highest educational, guidance, and career counselor and advisor salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors earn more than $104,770 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does an educational, guidance, and career counselor and advisor make a year?
The median annual salary for an educational, guidance, and career counselor and advisor is $64,330. The average (mean) wage of $71,430 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being an educational, guidance, and career counselor and advisor a well paid job?
At $64,330 a year, an educational, guidance, and career counselor and advisor earns above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 353,310 people work as educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors in the United States.
Which state pays educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors the most?
California has the highest median salary for educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors at $86,500 a year. Alaska ($82,900) and Washington ($82,670) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being an educational, guidance, and career counselor and advisor a good career?
Employment of educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors is projected to grow 2.9% from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 27,800 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become an educational, guidance, and career counselor and advisor?
The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors as a master's degree, so a college degree is usually expected.
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