California Median
$86,500
per year
Hourly Rate
$41.59
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+34% vs US median
US median $64,330
State Rank
#1 of 51
45,140 employed here
How much do Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors make in California?
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors in California take home a median of $86,500 annually — roughly $41.59 an hour — which runs 34% above the national median of $64,330.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $51,890 while the top 10% make $136,660 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $63,910 and $119,790 a year.
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $51,890 | $24.95 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $63,910 | $30.73 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $86,500 | $41.59 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $119,790 | $57.59 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $136,660 | $65.70 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 1st out of 51 states and territories for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors salary in other states
Alaska $82,900Washington $82,670District of Columbia $80,470Massachusetts $79,930New Jersey $77,910New Mexico $77,880Maryland $75,820Rhode Island $75,000Delaware $74,070Connecticut $73,910New York $71,610New Hampshire $71,080Texas $67,900Virginia $67,660Nevada $66,710Oregon $66,690Colorado $64,780Minnesota $64,600Vermont $64,570Kentucky $64,350Georgia $63,720Wyoming $63,430Wisconsin $62,690Nebraska $62,500Illinois $62,420Louisiana $61,870Ohio $61,760Hawaii $61,730Utah $61,320Pennsylvania $60,880South Carolina $60,340Idaho $60,320Tennessee $59,960Arkansas $59,770Alabama $59,570Michigan $59,440Indiana $59,260North Dakota $58,960Mississippi $58,710Maine $58,630Arizona $58,250Missouri $58,040Montana $57,900North Carolina $57,630Kansas $56,590Iowa $56,540West Virginia $55,520Florida $53,140Oklahoma $52,040South Dakota $51,830
Working as Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors in California
Nationally, about 353,000 people work as Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($86,500) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much do Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors make in California?
The median Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors salary in California is $86,500 per year, or about $41.59 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $51,890 at the entry level to $136,660 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors about 34% more than the national median of $64,330. California ranks 1st out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $86,500 a year. About 45,140 Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.