Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors Salary
Community and Social Service Occupations · 353K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$64,330
Median hourly
$31
Average annual
$71,430
Typical range
$45,020–$104,770
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors is $64,330 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $31 an hour at a full-time schedule.
Advise and assist students and provide educational and vocational guidance services..
Most earn between $45,020 and $104,770 a year. There are roughly 353K people employed as educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors.
- Hourly
- $30.93
- Daily
- $247
- Weekly
- $1,237
- Bi-weekly
- $2,474
- Monthly
- $5,361
- Annual
- $64,330
$64,330 a year is around the 50th percentile for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisorss. The median is $64,330.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1California$86,500
- 2Alaska$82,900
- 3Washington$82,670
- 4District of Columbia$80,470
- 5Massachusetts$79,930
- 6New Jersey$77,910
- 7New Mexico$77,880
- 8Maryland$75,820
- 9Rhode Island$75,000
- 10Delaware$74,070
- 11Connecticut$73,910
- 12New York$71,610
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1El Centro, CA$141,760
- 2Grand Island, NE$109,480
- 3Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA$102,650
- 4Odessa, TX$101,810
- 5Yuba City, CA$101,350
- 6Fresno, CA$101,280
- 7Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$100,930
- 8Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA$100,790
- 9Hanford-Corcoran, CA$100,390
- 10Salinas, CA$100,360
- 11Napa, CA$99,900
- 12San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA$99,330
Related job titles
Employers advertise Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors roles under these titles.
- Academic Advisor
- Academic Counselor
- Admissions Counselor
- Adult School Counselor
- Advisor
- Articulation Officer
- Assessment Specialist
- Career Advisor
- Career Coach
- Career Consultant
- Career Coordinator
- Career Counselor
- Career Developer
- Career Development Consultant
- Career Development Counselor
- Career Development Facilitator
Related occupations
- Rehabilitation Counselors$46,850
- School Psychologists$95,990
- Social and Human Service Assistants$45,930
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers$59,550
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers$60,280
- Education Teachers, Postsecondary$75,350
- Health Education Specialists$64,070
- Marriage and Family Therapists$66,940
What a Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors does
- Counsel individuals or groups to help them understand and overcome personal, social, or behavioral problems affecting their educational or vocational situations.
- Instruct individuals in career development techniques, such as job search and application strategies, resume writing, and interview skills.
- Assess needs for assistance, such as rehabilitation, financial aid, or additional vocational training, and refer clients to the appropriate services.
- Teach classes and present self-help or information sessions on subjects related to education and career planning.
- Address community groups, faculty, and staff members to explain available counseling services.
- Prepare reports on students and activities as required by administration.
- Plan, direct, and participate in recruitment and enrollment activities.
- Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors make?
- The median annual wage for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors is $64,330 ($31 per hour). Pay ranges from about $45,020 at the 10th percentile to $104,770 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $71,430, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisorss the most?
- California has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $86,500.
- Is Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 353K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors do?
- Counsel individuals or groups to help them understand and overcome personal, social, or behavioral problems affecting their educational or vocational situations.; Instruct individuals in career development techniques, such as job search and application strategies, resume writing, and interview skills.; Assess needs for assistance, such as rehabilitation, financial aid, or additional vocational training, and refer clients to the appropriate services..