State comparison · 2025
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors salary: California vs Iowa
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors in California earn a median of $86,500. In Iowa, $56,540. After cost-of-living, the gap is 21.3% — not 53%.
Nominal pay gap
+53%
California vs Iowa
COL-adjusted gap
+21.3%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
California
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors
- Median
- $86,500
- p25
- $63,910
- p75
- $119,790
- p10
- $51,890
- p90
- $136,660
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 110.7
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -68%
Iowa
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors
- Median
- $56,540
- p25
- $48,310
- p75
- $65,820
- p10
- $43,470
- p90
- $77,110
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 87.8
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- +120%
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities (overall index). Hiring velocity from DOL OFLC public disclosure data, recent 180 days vs prior. See methodology.