BLS Official Data · OEWS May 2025

Educational Guidance and Career Counselors in Illinois

$70,230 / year · average (mean) annual wage
$33.76 per hour

▼ 1.7% below U.S. average16th of 51 states

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Dataset: OEWS May 2025 Published: May 2026 Coverage: All 50 States + DC
Average$70,230per year
Median$62,420per year
Hourly$33.76per hour
10th – 90th percentile$44,890 – $110,580per year

Educational Guidance and Career Counselors Pay Range in Illinois

Pay distribution across experience levels

  • 10th Percentile — Entry Level$44,890
  • 25th Percentile — Junior$49,720
  • 50th Percentile — Median$62,420
  • 75th Percentile — Senior$82,890
  • 90th Percentile — Top Earners$110,580

Half of Educational Guidance and Career Counselors in Illinois earn more than $62,420. The top 10% make $110,580 or more, while entry-level workers start around $44,890.

Educational Guidance and Career Counselors in Illinois: Key Facts

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

  • Illinois ranks 16th of 51 states for Educational Guidance and Career Counselors pay, at $70,230 per year (1.7% below the U.S. average of $71,430).
  • 13,580 people work as Educational Guidance and Career Counselors in Illinois — 3.8% of all U.S. Educational Guidance and Career Counselors jobs.
  • Location quotient 0.98: Educational Guidance and Career Counselors jobs are less concentrated in Illinois than in the U.S. overall.
  • Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $44,890; the top 10% earn over $110,580.
  • Hourly equivalent: $33.76 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
  • The highest-paying state is California at $93,610.
  • Among social services jobs in Illinois, Child Family and School Social Workers pays the most ($70,670).

Educational Guidance and Career Counselors Job Market in Illinois

Key factors affecting compensation

Illinois's key industries are Finance, Manufacturing, Agriculture, and its job market is rated strong. Educational Guidance and Career Counselors here earn $70,230 on average, placing the state 16th nationally.

With a cost-of-living index of 1.05 (U.S. = 1.00), a Illinois salary of $70,230 is roughly equivalent to $66,886 at the national average cost of living.

Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, New Mexico ($75,480), Delaware ($72,490), Virginia ($71,920) 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

Related career salary benchmarks

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this salary

What is the average Educational Guidance and Career Counselors salary in Illinois?

The average Educational Guidance and Career Counselors salary in Illinois is $70,230 per year (median $62,420), which is 1.7% below the national average of $71,430.

How does Illinois rank for Educational Guidance and Career Counselors pay?

Illinois ranks 16th 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 Illinois?

The lowest-paid 10% of Educational Guidance and Career Counselors in Illinois earn about $44,890 per year and the 25th percentile is $49,720.

How much do Educational Guidance and Career Counselors make per hour in Illinois?

About $33.76 per hour, based on the $70,230 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.

How many Educational Guidance and Career Counselors work in Illinois?

BLS counts 13,580 Educational Guidance and Career Counselors jobs in Illinois (OEWS May 2025).

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