State comparison · 2025
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors salary: California vs South Dakota
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors in California earn a median of $86,500. In South Dakota, $51,830. After cost-of-living, the gap is 33.6% — not 66.9%.
Nominal pay gap
+66.9%
California vs South Dakota
COL-adjusted gap
+33.6%
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%
South Dakota
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors
- Median
- $51,830
- p25
- $46,550
- p75
- $60,080
- p10
- $41,560
- p90
- $65,990
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 88.6
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.