Educational Guidance and Career Counselors Pay Range in California
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$51,890
- 25th Percentile — Junior$63,910
- 50th Percentile — Median$86,500
- 75th Percentile — Senior$119,790
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$136,660
Half of Educational Guidance and Career Counselors in California earn more than $86,500. The top 10% make $136,660 or more, while entry-level workers start around $51,890.
Educational Guidance and Career Counselors in California: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- California ranks 1st of 51 states for Educational Guidance and Career Counselors pay, at $93,610 per year (31.1% above the U.S. average of $71,430).
- 45,140 people work as Educational Guidance and Career Counselors in California — 12.8% of all U.S. Educational Guidance and Career Counselors jobs.
- Location quotient 1.09: Educational Guidance and Career Counselors jobs are more concentrated in California than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $51,890; the top 10% earn over $136,660.
- Hourly equivalent: $45.0 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- Among social services jobs in California, Healthcare Social Workers pays the most ($93,840).
Educational Guidance and Career Counselors Job Market in California
Key factors affecting compensation
California's key industries are Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture, and its job market is rated very strong. Educational Guidance and Career Counselors here earn $93,610 on average, placing the state 1st nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.42 (U.S. = 1.00), a California salary of $93,610 is roughly equivalent to $65,923 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Washington ($87,680), Massachusetts ($85,660), District of Columbia ($82,700) are the closest alternatives for Educational Guidance and Career Counselors weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Social Services Jobs in California
Related career salary benchmarks
- Healthcare Social Workers $93,840/yr California +0.2% vs this role
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers $91,050/yr California 2.7% vs this role
- Marriage and Family Therapists $79,440/yr California 15.1% vs this role
- Health Education Specialists $74,720/yr California 20.2% vs this role
- Child Family and School Social Workers $71,940/yr California 23.1% vs this role
- Mental Health Counselors $69,080/yr California 26.2% vs this role
- Community Health Workers $63,740/yr California 31.9% vs this role
- Social and Human Service Assistants $55,100/yr California 41.1% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Educational Guidance and Career Counselors salary in California?
The average Educational Guidance and Career Counselors salary in California is $93,610 per year (median $86,500), which is 31.1% above the national average of $71,430.
How does California rank for Educational Guidance and Career Counselors pay?
California ranks 1st out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is California ($93,610/yr).
How much do entry-level Educational Guidance and Career Counselors make in California?
The lowest-paid 10% of Educational Guidance and Career Counselors in California earn about $51,890 per year and the 25th percentile is $63,910.
How much do Educational Guidance and Career Counselors make per hour in California?
About $45.0 per hour, based on the $93,610 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Educational Guidance and Career Counselors work in California?
BLS counts 45,140 Educational Guidance and Career Counselors jobs in California (OEWS May 2025).
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