State comparison · 2025
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors salary: California vs North Carolina
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors in California earn a median of $86,500. In North Carolina, $57,630. After cost-of-living, the gap is 27.9% — not 50.1%.
Nominal pay gap
+50.1%
California vs North Carolina
COL-adjusted gap
+27.9%
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%
North Carolina
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors
- Median
- $57,630
- p25
- $46,820
- p75
- $63,460
- p10
- $40,400
- p90
- $74,070
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 94.3
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -67%
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.