Educational Guidance and Career Counselors Pay Range in South Dakota
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$41,560
- 25th Percentile — Junior$46,550
- 50th Percentile — Median$51,830
- 75th Percentile — Senior$60,080
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$65,990
Half of Educational Guidance and Career Counselors in South Dakota earn more than $51,830. The top 10% make $65,990 or more, while entry-level workers start around $41,560.
Educational Guidance and Career Counselors in South Dakota: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- South Dakota ranks 51st of 51 states for Educational Guidance and Career Counselors pay, at $53,980 per year (24.4% below the U.S. average of $71,430).
- 1,000 people work as Educational Guidance and Career Counselors in South Dakota — 0.3% of all U.S. Educational Guidance and Career Counselors jobs.
- Location quotient 0.96: Educational Guidance and Career Counselors jobs are less concentrated in South Dakota than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $41,560; the top 10% earn over $65,990.
- Hourly equivalent: $25.95 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is California at $93,610.
- Among social services jobs in South Dakota, Health Education Specialists pays the most ($62,030).
Educational Guidance and Career Counselors Job Market in South Dakota
Key factors affecting compensation
South Dakota's key industries are Agriculture, Finance, Tourism, and its job market is rated moderate. Educational Guidance and Career Counselors here earn $53,980 on average, placing the state 51st nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.87 (U.S. = 1.00), a South Dakota salary of $53,980 is roughly equivalent to $62,046 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Mississippi ($57,380), Oklahoma ($56,830), North Carolina ($56,710) 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 South Dakota
Related career salary benchmarks
- Health Education Specialists $62,030/yr South Dakota +14.9% vs this role
- Healthcare Social Workers $59,640/yr South Dakota +10.5% vs this role
- Mental Health Counselors $54,760/yr South Dakota +1.4% vs this role
- Rehabilitation Counselors $54,400/yr South Dakota +0.8% vs this role
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers $53,400/yr South Dakota 1.1% vs this role
- Child Family and School Social Workers $53,320/yr South Dakota 1.2% vs this role
- Community Health Workers $49,030/yr South Dakota 9.2% vs this role
- Marriage and Family Therapists $46,380/yr South Dakota 14.1% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Educational Guidance and Career Counselors salary in South Dakota?
The average Educational Guidance and Career Counselors salary in South Dakota is $53,980 per year (median $51,830), which is 24.4% below the national average of $71,430.
How does South Dakota rank for Educational Guidance and Career Counselors pay?
South Dakota ranks 51st 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 South Dakota?
The lowest-paid 10% of Educational Guidance and Career Counselors in South Dakota earn about $41,560 per year and the 25th percentile is $46,550.
How much do Educational Guidance and Career Counselors make per hour in South Dakota?
About $25.95 per hour, based on the $53,980 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Educational Guidance and Career Counselors work in South Dakota?
BLS counts 1,000 Educational Guidance and Career Counselors jobs in South Dakota (OEWS May 2025).
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