State comparison · 2025
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors salary: California vs Kentucky
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors in California earn a median of $86,500. In Kentucky, $64,350. After cost-of-living, the gap is 9.5% — not 34.4%.
Nominal pay gap
+34.4%
California vs Kentucky
COL-adjusted gap
+9.5%
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%
Kentucky
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors
- Median
- $64,350
- p25
- $49,080
- p75
- $78,580
- p10
- $40,840
- p90
- $99,390
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 90.2
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.