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State comparison · 2025

Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors salary: California vs Montana

Occupation

Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors in California earn a median of $86,500. In Montana, $57,900. After cost-of-living, the gap is 27.7% — not 49.4%.

Nominal pay gap
+49.4%
California vs Montana
COL-adjusted gap
+27.7%
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%
See full breakdown for California

Montana

Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors

Median
$57,900
p25
$46,630
p75
$79,440
p10
$39,180
p90
$87,610
COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
94.6
See full breakdown for Montana

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.